Søkvæsthuset is a former

Naval A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operatio ...

hospice located on Christianshavn Canal in the

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, ...

district of

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 ...

. The listed building housed the

Royal Danish Naval Museum The Royal Danish Naval Museum ( Danish: Orlogsmuseet) is a museum dedicated to the history of the Royal Danish Navy. The displays include a collection of naval models which dates back to late 17th century. The museum is based in '' Søkvæsthuset' ...

indtil 2016. The collection has been moved to and is exhibited at the Arsenal Museum (Tøjhusmuseet) at

Christiansborg Christiansborg Palace (, ) is a palace and government building on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the seat of the Danish Parliament (), the Danish Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court of Denmark. Also, ...

History

Earlier locations

It is known that a hospital for boatsmen was founded in 1618, most likely at

Church of Holmen The Holmen Church () is a Parish church in central Copenhagen in Denmark, on the street called Holmens Kanal. First built as an anchor forge in 1563, it was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. It is famous for having hosted the weddi ...

. It was moved to

Gothersgade Gothersgade (; see #The name, below) is a major street in the Indre By, City Centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. It extends from Kongens Nytorv to The Lakes, Copenhagen, Sortedam Lake, passing Rosenborg Castle and Rosenborg Castle Gardens, Gardens, Nø ...

in 1628 and again in 1658 to ''Sejlhuset'' at

Bremerholm Gammelholm () is a predominantly residential neighbourhood in the city centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is bounded by the Nyhavn canal, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Kanal, Niels Juels Gade and the waterfront along Havnegade. For centuries, the area ...

. In 1668, the hospital moved to '' Børnehuset'' in Christianshavn and in 1675 to ''Guldhuset'' in Rigensgade. The name ''Kvæsthus'' was introduced with the inauguration of a new building for the institution at present day

Sankt Annæ Plads Sankt Annæ Plads (English language, English: St. Ann's Square) is a Town square, public square which marks the border between the Nyhavn area and Frederiksstaden neighborhoods of central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is a long narrow rectangle which e ...

in 1685. It was designed by Hans van Steenwinckel the Youngest. The institution was later split into a ''Søkvæsthus'' for the Navy which remained in the old building and a ''Landkvæsthus'' for the Army, which took over '' Københavns Ladegård'', a former farm under

Copenhagen Castle Copenhagen Castle () was a castle on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built in the late 14th century and was located at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace. History In 1167, Bishop Absalon (c. 112 ...

At Christianshavn Canal

The current building was originally built as a royal orphanage (''Opfostringshuset'') in 1754-1755. The architect and builder was Johan Christian Conradi. The Royal Naval Hospital took over the building when the Royal Orphanage moved to

Store Kongensgade Store Kongensgade (; ) is the longest street in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It extends northeast from Kongens Nytorv to Esplanaden, Copenhagen, Esplanaden, running parallel to Bredgade, where it breaks left, continuing northwest to Grønningen, ...

in 1775. Johan Bernhardt Schottmann expanded the building with a new wing on Bådsmandsstræde in 1780-1781.

The Heiberg's home

A garden house was built by the architect G. E. Rosenberg in 1779. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1838. The poet and professor Johan Ludvig Heiberg together with his wife, the actress

Johanne Luise Heiberg Johanne Luise Heiberg (; née Pätges; 22 November 1812 – 21 December 1890) was a Danish actress of the 19th century. She is most famous for her work at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, where she achieved great success. Though she was cl ...

, had his home in the building from 1844 until his death in 1860. It was frequented by many of the leading writers, politicians, priests and other cultural figures of the day. Johan Ludvig Heiberg's mother, Thomasine Gyllembourg who was also a writer, also lived in the house from 1844 until her death.

Later use

The

Danish Maritime Safety Administration The Danish Maritime Safety Administration (DaMSA) () was a department of the Danish Ministry of Defence with administration located in Christianshavn, Copenhagen. DaMSA operated throughout Denmark as part of the Danish Search and Rescue (SAR) org ...

was based in the building from its formation in 1973 until its abolition in 2011.

Architecture

The long building stands in yellow-dressed masonry with light grey pilasters. The rounded pediment is decorated with war trophies.

Current use

The

was located in the Bådsmandsstræde wing.

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sokvaesthuset Buildings and structures completed in 1755 Defunct hospitals in Copenhagen Listed buildings and structures in Christianshavn