Gammel Strand

{{Short description|Square in Copenhagen}} {{for|the metro station|Gammel Strand Station}} {{Infobox street | name = Gammel Strand | native_name = | image = Gammel Strand winter 2026 1.jpg | image_size = 320px | caption = | location = [[Indre By]], [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]] | postal_code = 1200 | length_m = 164 | width = | metro = [[Gammel Strand Station|Gammel Strand]] | coordinates = {{coord|55|40|39|N|12|34|41.16|E}} }} '''Gammel Strand''' (modern [[Danish language|Danish]] for "old beach"; originally meant "the old shoreline", i.e. prior to land reclamations) is a street and [[public square]] in [[Indre By|central]] [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]]. On the south side it borders on the narrow [[Slotsholmen|Slotsholmens Canal]] while the north side is lined by a row of brightly coloured houses from the 18th and 19th century. Across the canal, [[Thorvaldsens Museum]] and [[Christiansborg Palace]] are seen on the island [[Slotsholmen]].

The art gallery [[Kunstforeningen]] and the [[Ministry of Culture of Denmark|Ministry of Culture]] are the most notable institutions facing the street.

==History==

===Copenhagen's cradle=== [[Image:Museum of Copenhagen miniature town - Gammel Strand.jpg|thumb|left|The [[16th century]] shoreline at Gammel Strand as reconstructed in the miniature town of [[Museum of Copenhagen]].]] Gammel Strand used to be the site of a [[harbor#Natural harbors|natural harbour]], sheltered by a few small islets later to develop into [[Slotsholmen]]. It was around this harbour that Copenhagen was founded as a small fishing and trading settlement in the 11th century. However, archeological finds of ship parts and railings under several of the buildings at Gammel Strand indicate that the coast line at that time was located considerably further inland than the present canal.<ref name=cphmuseum>{{cite web|url=https://cphmuseum.kk.dk/om-museet/historier-fra-koebenhavn/bygningshistorie/gammel-strand|title=Gammel Strand|publisher=[[Museum of Copenhagen]]|access-date={{date|09-02-2026}}|language=da}}</ref> The area was marshy and boats were initially merely pulled up on the beach.<ref name=cphmuseum/> Recent archaeological discoveries during work on the [[Copenhagen Metro]] have revealed traces of [[jetty|jetties]] at Gammel Strand, which date back to around the year 700.<ref>{{Cite news|title=København er langt ældre end vi troede|url=http://avisen.dk/koebenhavn-er-langt-aeldre-end-vi-troede_63229.aspx|newspaper=avisen.dk|date={{date|22-09-2007}}|access-date={{date|17-12-2010}}}}</ref> Later [[land reclamation]]s moved the coastline forward and a proper harbour developed.<ref name="Kulturministeriet">{{cite web|url=http://www.bymuseum.dk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=139&Itemid=515|title=Gammel Strand - København|publisher=Københavns Bymuseum|access-date=2009-11-24}}</ref>

===The fish market=== [[Image:Senn and Lahde - Skovserkone c. 1800.jpg|thumb|Skovser women, c. 1800]] Later Gammel Strand became the site of a fish market, known for the women who would sit in the square at all seasons to sell their fish. It was also known as Skovserkoner (English: Skovser women) because they would buy their fish in the small fishing village [[Skovshoved]] north of Copenhagen and walk the long way to Gammel Strand to sell them in the market.<ref name="Kulturministeriet"/> They were recognized by their characteristic white scarves.<ref name=DSD>{{cite web|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_historie/K%C3%B8benhavns_historie/Gammel_Strand|title=Gammel Strand|publisher=Gyldendal|access-date=2010-02-10}}</ref>

===Destroyed by fire=== [[Image:Fire of 1795 (Gammel Strand).jpg|thumb|Gammel Strand on fire]] Most of the buildings along Gammel Strand were completedly destroyed in the [[Copenhagen Fire of 1795]]. It began in a coal and timber storage at [[Gammelholm]], and spread to the area around [[St. Nicolas' Church, Copenhagen|St. Nicolas' Church]] before moving along Gammel Strand to the area around [[Gammeltorv]] and [[Nytorv]]. In the following years the houses were rebuilt.

===Later developments=== In the [[post-war years]] space for the market became too scarce, and in 1958 a new fish market opened in the [[Kongens Enghave|South Harbour]].<ref name=DSD/> In 1991, the parking lots which took up the square were abandoned and the square was paved with granite stones. It has since been home to several small flea markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indenforvoldene.dk/gammel-strand |title=Gammel Strand |website=indenforvoldene.dk |access-date=9 February 2026 |language=da }}</ref>

==Buildings== Most of the houses have been rebuilt and extended with an extra story over the years and exhibit a multitude of different styles. In spite of this the overall impression is very harmonic, and Gammel Strand is now considered one of the most iconic urban spaces in Copenhagen.

The oldest house in the street is No. 48. Built in 1750 to the design of [[Philip de Lange]], it survived the fire of 1795 without severe damage. In 1796 it was extended with an extra story. Today it houses the Kunstforeningen art gallery.

<gallery class="center" widths=160px heights=130> File:Gammel Strand 48 København.jpg|No. 48: [[Kunstforeningen]] File:Gammel Strand seen from Thorvaldsens Plads.jpg|Gammel Strand seen from [[Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads]] File:Gammel Strand (Copenhagen).jpg|View along Gammel Strand File:Gammel Strand - Kulturministeriet.jpg|Gammel Strand</gallery>

==See also== * [[Ved Stranden]] * [[Fishwife (statue)]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Gammel Strand}} * [http://www.indenforvoldene.dk/gammel%20strand.html Gammel Strand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113080936/http://www.indenforvoldene.dk/gammel%20strand.html |date=2013-11-13 }} on indenforvoldene.dk * [https://www.danishfamilysearch.dk/sogn2090/gader/gader11736/gm211543 Nybrogade census]

[[Category:Squares in Copenhagen]] [[Category:Streets in Copenhagen]]