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Sankt Annæ Plads ( English: St. Ann's Square) is a
public square A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Relat ...
which marks the border between the
Nyhavn Nyhavn (; New Haven) is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Stretching from Kongens Nytorv to the Inner Harbour just south of the Royal Playhouse, it is lined by brightly coloured 17th and early ...
area and
Frederiksstaden Frederiksstaden is a district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Constructed during the reign of Frederick V of Denmark, Frederick V in the second half of the 18th century, it is considered to be one of the most important rococo complexes in Europe and was in ...
neighborhoods of central
Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
,
Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
. It is a long narrow rectangle which extends inland from the waterfront, at a point just north of the
Royal Danish Playhouse The Royal Danish Playhouse () is a theatre building for the Royal Danish Theatre in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is situated on the waterfront of the Inner Harbour in the Frederiksstaden neighbourhood. It was created as a purpose-built venue ...
at the base of the Kvæsthus Pier, now known as Ofelia Plads, until it meets
Bredgade Bredgade (literal translation, lit. "Broad Street") is one of the most prominent streets in Copenhagen, Denmark. Running in a straight line from Kongens Nytorv for just under one kilometre to the intersection of Esplanaden, Copenhagen, Esplanaden ...
. A major renovation of the square was completed in 2016.The Garrison Church is located on the south side of the square.
Amaliegade Amaliegade () is a street in central Copenhagen, Denmark, which makes up the longer of the two axes on which the Rococo district Frederiksstaden is centred. Amaliegade extends from Sankt Annæ Plads to Esplanaden, passing through the central pl ...
, one of the two axes on which Frederiksstaden is centered, extends from the square. The square has a central garden complex along its length with an
equestrian statue An equestrian statue is a statue of a rider mounted on a horse, from the Latin ''eques'', meaning 'knight', deriving from ''equus'', meaning 'horse'. A statue of a riderless horse is strictly an equine statue. A full-sized equestrian statue is a ...
of
Christian X of Denmark Christian X (; 26 September 1870 – 20 April 1947) was King of Denmark from 1912 until his death in 1947, and the only King of Iceland as Kristján X, holding the title as a result of the personal union between Denmark and independent Icel ...
facing Bredgade.


History


18th century

Sankt Annæ Plads was originally part of a canal which continued along present-day Bredgade and Esplanaden, surrounding Sophie Amalienborg. The
Royal Naval Hospital A Royal Naval Hospital (RNH) was a hospital operated by the British Royal Navy for the care and treatment of sick and injured naval personnel. A network of these establishments were situated across the globe to suit British interests. They were p ...
was built by
Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger (24 June 1587 – 6 August 1639) was a Flemish- Danish architect who specialised in the Dutch Renaissance style, typical of prestigious Danish buildings from the first half of the 17th century. Along with hi ...
on reclaimed land on the south side of the canal in 1686. It later moved to
Christianshavn Christianshavn () is a neighbourhood in Copenhagen, Denmark. Part of the Indre By District, it is located on several artificial islands between the islands of Zealand and Amager and separated from the rest of the city centre by the Inner Harbour, ...
and the building was then used as poorhouse and later storage space. The Garrison Church was built in 1703–06.


19th century

The square was created when the canal was filled in connection with the foundation of the ambitious new
Frederiksstaden Frederiksstaden is a district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Constructed during the reign of Frederick V of Denmark, Frederick V in the second half of the 18th century, it is considered to be one of the most important rococo complexes in Europe and was in ...
district in circa 1750. The central garden complex was established in 1852. It was the result of one of the first successful initiatives of the recently founded Society for the Beautification of Copenhagen. With the establishment of the Kvæsthus Pier at the end of the square, the site had become a hub for the new steam ferries that had begun to operate between Copenhagen and the largest cities in the provinces. The ferry company
Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish international shipping and logistics company. The company's name is an abbreviation of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (literally ''The United Steamship Company''). DFDS was founded in 1866, when C.F. Tietgen merged the three ...
(The United Steam Ferry Companies) was from 1871 based in the former naval hospital. The building was later expanded. The company would for the next many years dominate the square with hectic activity around the clock, both with passengers and goods. Eventually first cargo ships and later also passenger boats disappeared from the area. In 2003 the Royal Naval Hospital building was acquired by the Danish Nurses' Organization which has since been headquartered in it. The neighbouring building, originally built by DFDS in 1890, has since 1871 housed the JL Foundation which owns the J. Lauritzen shipping company as well as 56% of DFDS.


20th century

In 1942, it was proposed to extend Sankt Annæ Plads westwards to Landegreven and onwards to Kronprinsessegade. The proposal involved the demolition of Bredgade 27–33. Another proposal would extend the square in a more northernly direction. Neither of the proposals were realized. In 2014 a major renovation began, with a scheduled completion in 2016. The stated aims of the renovation were to provide a better experience for pedestrians and cyclists, as the waterfront project of Kvæsthusmolen plans to draw more activity to the area. The project resulted in the removal of some of the trees that lined the center of the street, although more trees are due to be planted in their place.


Notable buildings

A number of buildings on the square date from back when it was first established. These include the symmetrically arranged twin houses at No. 7–9 (1750) and the Jegind House at No. 15, which were all designed by
Nicolai Eigtved Nicolai Eigtved (4 June 1701 – 7 June 1754), also known as Niels Eigtved, was a Denmark, Danish architect. He introduced and was the leading proponent of the French rococo or late baroque style in Danish architecture during the 1730s–1740s. ...
who also created the masterplan for Frederiksstaden. Copenhagen Mason's Guild is headquartered in No. 7 while No. 15 houses the Embassy of Sweden. The Prince William Mansion at No. 13 was completed in 1751 by an unknown architect but has later been extended with an extra floor. Slightly younger are
Andreas Hallander Andreas Hallander (13 November 1755 – 3 April 1828) was a Danish master carpenter and architect who made a significant contribution to the city of Copenhagen. Together with the buildings of Johan Martin Quist, his classically styled apartment h ...
's building at No. 10 (1785, listed) and city builder Jørgen Henrich Rawert's two consecutive homes at No. 5 and No. 11, built in 1796 and 1801 respectively. Other buildings are in the Historicist style that dominated Danish architecture in the second half of the 19th century. Listed in 1932, No. 1–3 was built between 1847 and 1849 to designs by Gustav Friedrich Hetsch as an extension of the Lindencrone Mansion on Bredgade. Also listed is No. 2, on the opposite corner with Bredgade, which was completed by
Niels Sigfred Nebelong Niels Sigfred Nebelong (14 October 1806 – 9 October 1871) was a Danish architect who worked in the Historicist style. He was city architect in Copenhagen from 1863 and also designed many lighthouses around Denmark in his capacity as reside ...
in 1866. The
Neo-Gothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half of the 19th century ...
mansion at No. 17 was built in 1868 as winter residence of the
Knuthenborg Knuthenborg is a manor house located north of Maribo on the Danish island of Lolland. Originally known as Årsmarke, it was first mentioned in 1372. Today's building was completed in 1866 to a design by Henrik Steffens Sibbern. The medieval man ...
counts. The former DFDS headquarters at No. 24–30 was designed by
Albert Jensen Albert Jensen (25 December 1847 – 26 June 1913) was a Danish architect. He collaborated with Ferdinand Meldahl on several projects, including the completion of Marble Church in Copenhagen and Charlottenborg Exhibition Hall. He also desig ...
. The two corner pavilions now houses the Embassy of Finland (No. 24) and the Danish Nurses' Organization (No. 30). No. 26–28 has housed the shipping company J. Lauritzen A/S as well as the Lauritzen Foundation, but they have moved and the building is now for sale (2016). Albert Jensen also designed the original home of the Brock School of Commerce on the other side of the square, at No. 19, which is from 1891. The square is also home to two hotels. Hotel Skt. Annæ, a boutique hotel which reopened after a major renovation in 2016, is located at No. 18. Hotel Scandic Waterfront overlooks Ofelia Plads.


Public art and monuments

The
Carl Frederik Tietgen Carl Frederik Tietgen (19 March 1829 – 19 October 1901) was a Danish financier and industrialist. He played an important role in the industrialisation of Denmark as the founder of numerous prominent Danish companies, many of which are stil ...
statue was originally located at
Børsen ( Danish for "the bourse" or "the stock exchange"), is a 17th-century commodity bourse and later stock exchange in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. The historic building is situated next to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parli ...
but moved to its current site in 1904. It was designed by Rasmus Andersen. A statue depicting composer
Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann (14 May 1805 – 10 March 1900) was, together with his son-in-law Niels W. Gade, the leading Danish composer of the 19th century, a period known as the Danish Golden Age. According to Alfred Einstein, he was "the rea ...
was also installed on the square in 1904. It was designed by
August Saabye August Vilhelm Saabye (7 August 1823 – 12 November 1916), also known as August Wilhelm Saabye, was a Danish sculptor. Early life and education Saabye was born in Skivholme, , Aarhus, the son of vicar Erhard Saabye (1778–1851) and Susan ...
. The equestrian statue of
Christian X Christian X (; 26 September 1870 – 20 April 1947) was King of Denmark from 1912 until his death in 1947, and the only King of Iceland as Kristján X, holding the title as a result of the personal union between Denmark and independent Ice ...
, which faces Bredgade, was added to the garden complex in 1954. It was designed by
Einar Utzon-Frank Aksel (Axel) Einar (Ejnar) Utzon-Frank (30 March 1888 – 15 July 1955) was a Danish sculptor and professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. During his lifetime, he produced many sculptures, some of which stand as public monuments. U ...
. A memorial with a bust of
Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...
was unveiled at the square on May 5, 1953, to commemorate America's role in
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. It is a copy of a bust created by
Jo Davidson Jo Davidson (March 30, 1883 – January 2, 1952) was an American sculptor. Although he specialized in realistic, intense portrait busts, Davidson did not require his subjects to formally pose for him; rather, he observed and spoke with them. ...
in 1933. A bust of
Herman Bang Herman Joachim Bang (20 April 1857 – 29 January 1912) was a Danish journalist and author, one of the men of the Modern Breakthrough. Biography Early life and education Bang was born in Asserballe, on the small Danish island of Als, the son o ...
by Ingeborg Plockross Irminger from 1901 was installed on the square in 2012.


Cultural references

Sankt Annæ Plads is used as a location in several ''
Olsen-banden The ''Olsen Gang'' (, ) is a Denmark, Danish comedy film series created by Danish director Erik Balling and special effects expert Henning Bahs about the eponymous fictional criminal gang. The gang's leader is the criminal genius and habitual o ...
'' films. It is for instance seen at 0:34:43 in ''
The Olsen Gang Outta Sight ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
'' (1977) and the gang steals a precious Ming vase in one of the mansions on the square at0:10:06 in '' The Olsen Gang Sees Red''.


See also

* Store Strandstræde


References


External links


Sankt Annæ Plads
on indenforvoldene.dk
Source
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sankt Annae Plads 1750s establishments in Denmark Former canals in Copenhagen Odonyms referring to religion Squares in Copenhagen