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Freedom, Equality and the Bourgeoisie

While Copenhagen expands beyond its ramparts, the Bourgeoisie spend money recklessly and the town's streetlights have recently become fuelled by gas.  Join us while we revisit a period of expansion within the history of Copenhagen, where the foundations of the ensuing industrialised democratic welfare society established. This exhibition tells the story of Copenhagen from the passing of the Constitution during the 1840s up until the enfranchisement of Danish women in 1908.

The City overflows its banks

If a city could overflow its banks, this would be a fitting description of Copenhagen during the second half of the 19th century. While the military ramparts that had protected the town from the world beyond it for centuries were blown up in 1857 and the town gates were torn down, the city expanded beyond Vesterbro, Nørrebro and Amager.

Amusements and the poor

The recently emerged industrial bourgeoisie became the new ruling class in the city, gaining great influence on the development of the city following the passing of the Constitution in 1849, and the establishment of new industrial- and working-class neighbourhoods and new residential neighbourhoods. Shopping and amusement facilities, new factories and political measures - all leave their mark on the street- life. While women, servants, the poor, imbeciles and criminals were not quite as visible in the life of the community, the exhibition also tells the story of their lives.

Gas and steam

A ballot-box from Copenhagen's first municipal council in 1840, the first gas pipeline, model steam-engines, trains and trams, fragments of the old town-gates that had been torn down and souvenirs from the recently opened Tivoli gardens and amusement park. The exhibition shows all the innovations that took place around the year 1850.

The 1888 Art exhibition

You can also meet the new era in a special exhibition room dedicated to the 1888 Nordic Industrial, Farming and Art Exhibition. Here,amongst other things, you can see the original model of the huge exhibition building that was situated on the site of the present day City Hall .

Maintaining a high profile

Top hat and high profile. The industrial Bourgeoisie promoted themselves during the ensuing period by hosting a wealth of functions. See images representing the bourgeoisie's activities around the city that were painted on the targets of the Royal Shooting Society who as a matter of fact owned the building in which the Museum of Copenhagen is housed today.

Guided Tours

If you would like to hear more about 19th century Copenhagen, feel free to book a guided tour of the exhibition.