Holmens Church Copenhagen - Copenhagen Tourist

Holmens Church - Copenhagen

*A Part of the Danish Cultural Heritage*

Holmens Church

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Holmens Church
The old Royal Naval Church

Final Resting Place for Naval Danish Heroes


	20 - worth seeing sites

Holmens Church - The old Royal Naval Church

Holmens Church from 1619 with the great Chapel and burial plot for many prominent persons.

Holmens Church
When the new skipper’s cottages was built in 1617 - as homes for naval officers on the Southside of the city - the need for a church for men of the navy was highly required - and in 1619 Bishop Hans Resen was able to consecrate the Old Anchor Forge on Bremerholm Island - as the prime Navy Church after King Christian IV (1577-1648 - ruled Denmark and Norway 1588-1648) - had dedicated that the old anchor smithy on Bremerholm was to be used as a church for the Danish navy personal and named it Holmens Church.

Holmens Church painted in 1748.

Four Wing Church
The church was rebuilt during 1641-43 - with the present choir part and the two aisles creating a four wing plan. To the east lies "The Skipper’s Aisle" - to the west "The Choir Aisle". To the north "The Captain’s Aisle" - and to the south "The Garden Aisle". The main portal is from Roskilde Cathedral - and was placed here in 1871.

The Altar-Piece is made of solid oak - and decorated in the middle of Jesus Passion - starting with the Holy Community to the Crucifixion and then the Entombment. On top is the figure of Christ blessing and the font is from 1646.

The Altarpiece from 1661

The Altarpiece in Holmens Church from 1661 is made of solid oak.

The Votive Ship "Christianus Quintus" - 1674

The Votive Ship is a model of Niels Juel's warship from 1674 - "Christianus Quintus".

The Great Burial Chapel - 1709

The Votive Ship
The votive ship hanging in the cross intersection of the Church - is a model of the Danish naval hero Niels Juel's warship "Christianus Quintus" from 1674 - and as admiral onboard of this grand battleship he defeated with his fleet the Swedish armada at Køge Bay in June 1677.

The Organ
At the side of the organ from 1738 are four big sculptures of prophets placed. The Organ is built with 53 stops and 4.300 pipes together with a carillon. Famous organists like Niels W. Gade and Thomas Laub have played in the church. The organ has been rebuilt several time and last in 1956.

The Great Burial Chapel - 1709

The Church Organ from 1738

The organ is from 1738 - with 53 stops and 4.300 pipes - and rebuilt several times.

The Burial Chapel - 1709

The great Burial Chapel from 1709 - with coffins of many prominent persons.

The Chapel
The chapel of the church was ordered by King Frederik IV (1671–1730 - ruled from 1699-1730) - and the church’s patron Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve (Son of King Christian IV) laid the foundation stone to a spacious chapel along Børskanalen (The Exchange Canal) in 1705.

Burial Plot for Naval Heroes
In the chapel one can find two very famous men buried in Holmens Church - the naval heroes Niels Juel (1629-1697) - and Peter Wessel Tordenskiold (1690 -1720). One of the greatest victories ever won by Commander Niels Juel was in June 1677 in the battle at sea at Køge Bay - where he with his armada of 25 battleships defeated the Swedish admiral Evert Horn with his 36 battleships. The top photo illustrates the battle in 1677 - painted by Viggo Fauerholt. Peter Tordenskiold was best known for is services in the Great Northern War - 1700-1721 - where he rose the rank of Vice Admiral in the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway.

Admiral Niels Juel

Admiral Niels Juel's - and his wife Margrethe Ulfeld’s final resting place is in the end of the chapel of Holmens Church. The portrait was painted by Jocob Coning in 1685 - and displayed at Frederiksborg Castle.

Vice-Admiral Peter Wessel Tordenskiold

Naval Hero and Vice-Admiral Peter Wessel Tordenskiold is buried in the Chapel of Holmens Church. The portrait was painted by Balthasar Denner in 1719 - and displayed at Frederiksborg Castle.

Prominent Sarcophaguses
The sarcophagus of the Danish naval hero admiral Niels Juel and his wife Margrethe Ulfeld are placed at the end of the chapel - and the sarcophagus of the Norwegian-Danish naval hero vice-admiral Peter Wessel Tordenskiold - who was killed in a duel with a Swedish colonel in North Germany in 1720 - is placed in the great Chapel Hall. Tordenskiold's Sarcophagus is made of the remaining marble from the Copenhagen’s Cathedral (The Church of Our Lady) - which was damaged during the bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807.

The Burial Plot of Admiral Niels Juel

The sarcophagus of the Danish Naval Hero Admiral Niels Juel and his wife Margrethe Ulfeld are placed at the end of the chapel.

Sarcophagus of Vice-Admiral Peter W. Tordenskiold

Sarcophagus and burial plot of the Norwegian-Danish Naval Hero Vice-Admiral Peter Wessel Tordenskiold in the great Chapel Hall.

The Great Burial Chapel - 1709

Statue of Tordenskiold
In the little yard vest of Holmens church is a statue of the Danish naval hero vice-admiral Peter Wessel called Tordenskiold created by sculptor Vilhelm Bissen (1836-1913).

Royal Wedding
On June 10th 1967 - our present Queen Margrethe was married in Holmens Church to French - Henri Marie Jean André greve de Laborde de Monpezat - who later became Prince Henrik of Denmark.

Location
Holmens Church is situated next to Christiansborg Palace - and the Old Stock Exchange.

Holmens Church

Address
Holmens Kirke (Holmens Church)
Holmens Kanal
1060 Copenhagen K

Holmens Church
The Old Royal Naval Church

To be continued and updated!

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