Ever wondered where Denmark’s great proletarian writer spent his childhood? Here at Andersen Nexøs Hus, the answer awaits. This building is more than just a house. It is a portal into the formative years of Martin Andersen Nexø. He later adopted Nexø as his artist name.
Martin Andersen Nexø was born in Copenhagen in 1869. His family moved to Nexø on Bornholm when he was eight. The museum reveals how he lived from the age of 13. His father built this house. He was a Bornholmer and a paver. Martin and his brother helped. The house was completed in 1882.
Step inside Andersen Nexøs Hus. Imagine the life of a young boy in late 19th-century Bornholm. Martin’s childhood memories from Bornholm appear in his works. Especially in “Bornholm Tales” and “Pelle the Conqueror.” “Pelle” is from Bornholm. Figures need a place where they belong. Otherwise, they seldom win importance for a whole world.
Andersen Nexø’s works have been translated into 29 languages. The film “Pelle the Conqueror” won an Oscar in 1988. This sparked renewed interest in his writing. The house provides insight into his humble beginnings. It showcases how he lived his early years.
Notice the building itself. It is a one-story building with a red tile roof. The sandstone base is plastered and painted red. The walls are plastered and yellow. The trim is painted white under the roof.
Sandstone walls surround the property. These walls and the house are protected. They represent a simple self-built house from the late 1800s. The house had living space for a dozen people. The outbuilding held the henhouse, woodshed, and pigsty.
Consider the interior. It has a traditional layout. The living rooms face the street. Secondary rooms face the courtyard. These include the toilet, kitchen, and pantry. Many original features remain. These features include plank floors and plastered walls. Beams and ceiling planks are visible in the kitchen.
Look for the tile stove in the corner of the living room. Notice the cast-iron stove in the kitchen. These details bring the past to life. They show the conditions in which Andersen Nexø grew up.
The house became a museum in 1990. The bust in front of the house was moved here when the museum opened. It was previously located at the town boundary to the south.
Andersen Nexøs Hus is located at Ferskesøstræde 36. It is at the corner of Andersen Nexø Vej. The location marks the southern end of Nexø’s historic town center.
Take a moment to appreciate the lush little garden behind the sandstone wall. The garden offers a peaceful retreat. It is a reminder of the nature that influenced Andersen Nexø.
Andersen Nexø’s childhood home connects to a significant cultural environment. The extensive use of local sandstone is remarkable. It emphasizes Nexø’s history as a sandstone supplier.
Leaving Andersen Nexøs Hus you can reflect on the writer’s legacy. His works brought international fame to Denmark. His childhood home stands as a testament to his journey. It is a journey from poverty to literary acclaim.