Nyhavn 43
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate |
| Founder | Bent Fabricius-Bjerre and his two sons |
| Headquarters | Copenhagen , Denmark |
| Owner | Bent Fabricius-Bjerre and his two sons |
Nyhavn 43 is a notable historic townhouse situated along the Nyhavn Canal in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark. It has been officially protected as part of the Danish registry of protected buildings and places since 1945 and underwent a restoration in 1987.
The property is presently owned by Matorion, a real estate firm managed by Bent Fabricius-Bjerre and his two sons. The ground floor accommodates Restaurant Ved Kajen (By the Quay), which takes its name from a song by Osvald Helmuth.
Early period
Originally, Nyhavn 41–47 formed a single estate recorded in Copenhagen's earliest cadastre from 1578 as No. 28 within St. Ann's East Quarter, belonging to tanner Villum Lydersen. Around 1730, this large property was subdivided into four smaller lots. The street Toldbodgade was extended southward from Sankt Annæ Plads reaching Nyhavn. By 1731, the current Nyhavn 43 was owned by Anders Møller.
The Hvidsten family
Later on, brewer Poul Christensen Hvidsten (1712–1791) acquired the site, which appeared as No. 22 in St. Ann's East Quarter on the 1756 cadastre. The building standing today was erected for him prior to 1788.
According to the 1787 census, Hvidsten’s household consisted of his wife Gunnild Cecilie Hvidsteen, their young son Lars Christian, alongside two brewery workers, a caretaker, a coachman, and two maids.[1] Additionally, two other households were recorded: ship captain Daniel Friederich Kiølmen with his family and servants,[2] and beer vendor Ole Bonsøe with his family and maid.[3]
Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin
Following Poul Hvidsten’s passing, his widow Gunnild Cecilie Hvidsteen remarried scholar Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin in 1792. The 1801 census lists Thorkelin and Gunhild Hvidsteen residing there with their son Frederik Stephan Thorkelin, Gunhild’s daughter Jensenius Johan Hvidtsteen, two younger children, a brewery worker, and three maids. Naval officer Hans Lindholm also lived on the premises with his family and staff.
In the 1806 cadastre, the property remained registered as No. 22 under Thorkelin’s ownership until his death in 1829. It remains uncertain whether he sold it before passing away. Merchant Hans Puggaard occupied the building between 1827 and 1829.
The Hertz family
By the time of the 1834 census, No. 22 accommodated four distinct households. Jeppe Adam Hertz, who worked as a brewer and distiller, lived on the ground floor with his family and brewery employees. Supreme Court justice Hans Jacob Koefoed resided on the first floor alongside his family and servants. Judge Jørgen Smith occupied the second floor with his family and a lodger. Meanwhile, tavern keeper Frederece Jeppesen operated from the basement together with his son and lodgers.
In 1840, No. 22 housed a total of 41 individuals including Royal Danish Navy captain Hans Carl Bodenhoff and Major Frederik Rubech Bülow of the Jutland Infantry Regiment; among their lodgers was future politician Johan Christian Henrik Fischer.
By 1850, the number of residents had decreased to 25 under owner Johanne Hertz. Christian Hertz (born 1820) managed both the brewery and distillery operations. Lieutenant and artist Johan Peter Ferdinand Ekman lived there with his family and staff. Medical professor Carl Ludvig Frederik Henck also resided at the address with his wife, children—including architect Johan Wilhelm Emanuel Henck—and household maids.
1880 census
In 1880, the building accommodated a total of 26 individuals. On the ground floor lived August Feuerhacke, a business manager (handelsbestyrer), together with his wife Gunhilde Madsen, a housekeeper, their foster daughter, two apprentices, and a domestic maid. The first floor was occupied by Victor Christian Frederik Bondesen, a chief physician, his wife Rebekka Baumann, their four children aged between 17 and 27, along with a cook and a maid. In the rear wing resided Jens and Ole Madsen, both hauliers, each with their spouses. The third floor was home to Frederik Sporleder, a skipper, who lived there with his wife Karen Svendsen and their three sons. Also on the third floor of the rear wing lived Hans Hansen, a workman, accompanied by his wife Mariane Philipsen and two daughters.
20th century
The wholesale firm Jacobsen & Saabye, initially established by Louis Hansen in 1875, later operated from this address. Ownership transferred in 1919 to Hans Jacobsen (1872–1949) and A. Saabye; Saabye departed the company in 1929. Following Jacobsen’s passing in 1949, control of the business was inherited by his heirs Herman Jacobsen (born 1899) and J. Højby Hansen (born 1908).
Architecture
This structure consists of three floors above an elevated cellar and spans six bays in width. It is topped with a black-glazed tile roof featuring three dormer windows. The central dormer includes a small balcony. Below the roofline runs a cornice supported by decorative brackets. The entrance gateway is guarded on each side by cannon barrels designed to shield the corners from carriage wheel damage and is surmounted by a projecting keystone.
Within the courtyard are two former warehouse buildings as well as a rear wing that once housed stables.