Mastekranen, Baroque crane in Nyholm, Denmark
Mastekranen is a timber crane housed within a masonry tower on Holmen, built between 1748 and 1751. The structure was designed to lift and position heavy masts vertically onto sailing vessels using mechanical leverage systems.
The master builder Philip de Lange designed and constructed this innovative lifting device for the royal shipyard. During World War II, the site witnessed the deliberate sinking of Danish naval vessels at its adjacent docks.
The structure shows how workers in the 18th century equipped ships and what tools they used for the job. You can still see today how the mechanics worked and what role this crane played in the daily operations of the shipyard.
The structure sits within the former royal shipyard grounds and can be viewed from the waterfront area. Walking through the Holmen district offers the best way to explore the crane and see the surrounding shipyard landscape.
The lower windows of the stone tower are arranged to make the structure visually appear taller than it actually is. This design detail reveals the skill of craftsmen in creating spatial illusions with simple architectural elements.
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