Royal Danish Library, National library in Slotsholmen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Royal Danish Library consists of both a historic red brick building and a modern glass extension called The Black Diamond overlooking Copenhagen harbor.
Founded in 1648 by King Frederik III, the library opened its doors to the public in 1793 and now holds over 35 million physical volumes.
The library maintains extensive collections of Danish literature, manuscripts, and documents, including works from Hans Christian Andersen and Carl Linné.
Visitors can access reading rooms, study areas, exhibition spaces, and digital resources throughout the building from Monday through Saturday.
The library houses Denmark's national internet archive and preserves every Danish webpage since July 2005 for future generations.
Location: Copenhagen Municipality
Inception: 1648
Address: Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, 1221 København K 1221 1221
Phone: +(+45)33474747
Website: https://kb.dk
GPS coordinates: 55.67480,12.58140
Latest update: May 11, 2025 23:20
European historic libraries and bookshops preserve written heritage accumulated over centuries. From Livraria Bertrand in Lisbon, founded in 1732 and still operating at the same location, to the Bodleian Library in Oxford, which has housed over 13 million works since 1602, these sites reflect the evolution and dissemination of books. Livraria Lello in Porto is notable for its curved wooden staircase and neo-Gothic woodwork from 1906, while Dominicanen Bookshop in Maastricht is housed in a converted 13th-century church. These spaces are distinguished by their architecture, from baroque to neo-Gothic, and by their function preserved across centuries. The Celsus Library in Izmir, built in 135 AD, used double walls to protect its 12,000 parchments from humidity. Hatchards in London has been operating since 1797 over five floors in Piccadilly, whereas Shakespeare and Company in Paris has maintained its English-language tradition since 1951 opposite Notre-Dame. These institutions offer visitors the chance to explore places where the history of the book is engraved in stone and wood.
Christiansborg Palace
195 m
Børsen
187 m
Danish Jewish Museum
75 m
Absalon's Castle
185 m
Danish War Museum
93 m
Royal Stables
220 m
Royal Library Garden
23 m
KVINFO
170 m
National Museum of Photography
178 m
Christian IV's Brewhouse
214 m
Frederick VII
195 m
Christiansborg Ridebane
206 m
The War Museum
97 m
Søren Kierkegaard
40 m
Proviantgården
52 m
Christian IX
187 m
The Lapidarium of Kings
213 m
Chancery Building
98 m
Christian IV's Arsenal
81 m
Kunstkammeret
67 m
Staldmestergården
180 m
Storm House
119 m
Faroese Warehouse
204 m
Lerche House
153 m
The Theatre Museum at The Court Theatre
129 m
Holmens Bro
213 m
Peder Griffenfeld
54 m
Ruinerne under Christiansborg
196 mReviews
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