By Tim Lambert
Medieval Copenhagen
By the 11th century, a small village existed on the site of Copenhagen. However, the town of Copenhagen was founded in 1167 by Bishop Absalon. He built a fort on an island off the coast, and he fortified the settlement with a rampart and a moat. Its name means Merchant’s Harbour.
Copenhagen thrived on the trade in herrings, and in the 15th century, it became the capital of Denmark. In 1416, King Erik VII resided there. In 1428, ships from German Hanseatic League cities bombarded Copenhagen and badly damaged its defences.
However, the town continued to thrive and grow. The University of Copenhagen was founded in 1479. In 1500, Copenhagen had a population of about 10,000. By the standards of the time, it was a large town.
Renaissance Copenhagen
In 1535-36, Copenhagen was besieged during a civil war. However, in the 17th century, the town continued to flourish, and it grew larger. By 1650, its population was about 50,000.
Several famous buildings were erected in Copenhagen in the 17th century. The Caritas Fountain was built in 1608. The Børsen (Copenhagen Stock Exchange) was built in 1625. The Holmen Church was first built as an anchor forge in 1563, but in 1619 it was converted into a church. Rosenborg Castle was built in 1634. The Round Tower was built in 1642. Trinitatis Church (Trinity Church) was consecrated in 1656. A square, Kongens Nytorv, was laid out in 1670.
Copenhagen was besieged in 1658-1660 during a war with Sweden. The Swedes failed to capture the city.
Unfortunately, Copenhagen suffered from an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1711. At least 20,000 people died, around one-third of the population of the city.
On 20 October 1728, a fire began in Copenhagen. It burned until 23 October, and it destroyed about one quarter of the buildings in the city. Another disastrous fire occurred in 1795.
Despite these disasters, Copenhagen continued to grow. It had a population of about 100,000 in 1800.
19th Century Copenhagen
In 1807, the British navy bombarded Copenhagen, causing fires and many deaths. The Church of Our Lady was destroyed, but was rebuilt. The rebuilt church was consecrated in 1829. However, the same year, 1807, the National Museum of Denmark was founded.
During the 19th century, Copenhagen continued to grow. After 1856, the ramparts around the old city were demolished. By 1900, the population of Copenhagen had risen to over 450,000.
Unfortunately, in 1853, an outbreak of cholera killed more than 4,000 people in the city.
Yet amenities in Copenhagen improved. In 1857, work began on creating a system of sewers. However, it wasn’t until 1892 that the old system of emptying latrines by hand ended completely. Meanwhile, Copenhagen Waterworks opened in 1859. In the 18th century, Copenhagen was lit by oil lamps. However, in the mid-19th century, they were replaced by gas.
Tivoli Gardens opened in 1843. The Thorvaldsen Museum opened in 1848. Copenhagen Zoo was founded in 1859. The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek was founded in 1882. The Marble Church opened in 1894. The National Gallery of Denmark was founded in 1896.
In 1863, horse-drawn started in Copenhagen. In the 1880s, they were replaced by steam trams. From 1892, the city had an electricity supply, and from 1897, electric trams began running in the streets.
Carlsberg Brewery in Copenhagen opened in 1847.
20th Century Copenhagen
During the 20th century, Copenhagen continued to develop. City Hall was built in 1905. The Gefion Fountain was switched on in 1908. The iconic Little Mermaid Statue was made in 1913. Copenhagen Airport opened in 1925. Christiansborg Palace was built in 1928.
Strøget was pedestrianised in 1962. The Tycho Brahe Planetarium opened in 1989. The Experimentarium opened in 1991. The Royal Library, AKA The Black Diamond, was built in 1999.
During the 20th century, Copenhagen changed from a manufacturing centre to a city dominated by service industries.
21st Century Copenhagen
In the 21st century, Copenhagen continued to thrive. The Øresund Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö opened in 2000. The Copenhagen Metro opened in 2002. The Copenhagen Opera House opened in 2005, and the Royal Danish Playhouse opened in 2008.
In 2026, the population of Copenhagen was 667,000.
The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen
Last revised 2026