Beneath the towering spire of Sankt Nikolaj Kirke, a tale of transformation unfolds. Sankt Nikolaj Kirke started as one of Copenhagen’s oldest churches. Its story began in the early 1200s. Sankt Nikolaj Kirke got its name from St. Nicholas. He is the patron saint of seafarers. This was because of the church’s location near the city harbor.
Originally, Sankt Nikolaj Kirke had no tower or spire. But in 1529, Hans Tausen became a parish pastor here. He was a strong supporter of the Reformation. Tausen became known as the Danish Luther. Sankt Nikolaj Kirke became the center of the Reformation in Copenhagen. The first divine service in Danish was held here.
By 1591, Sankt Nikolaj Kirke had become popular. A Dutch Renaissance spire was added. It stretched 90 meters into the sky. A winter storm in 1628 caused the spire to fall. The church remained without a spire until it was rebuilt in 1669.
Tragedy struck in 1795. A massive fire engulfed Copenhagen for three days. It destroyed a quarter of the city’s buildings. The fire reached Sankt Nikolaj Kirke. The spire fell for the second time. The church was left in ruins. The state could not afford to rebuild Sankt Nikolaj Kirke. The congregation was dissolved in 1805. The church ruin and the churchyard were torn down. Only the tower remained. Today, you can see the top of the old spire in the entrance hall.
Throughout the 1800s, the Nikolaj Tower had different uses. City watchmen used it as a fire tower. They would hold out a lantern to show the direction of a fire. From 1868 to 1908, the tower had a time ball. The ball dropped at 1 p.m. every day to signal the time. Butcher shops opened around the tower. The area became known as the Stomach.
Hans Christian Andersen’s drama Love of Nicolai Tower was set here. It was performed at the Royal Theatre in 1829.
In 1905, Carl Jacobsen financed the spire’s rebuilding. He was a Danish brewer and art patron. The new spire was celebrated in 1909. P.N. Rentzmann and his sister Ida left their money to rebuild Sankt Nikolaj Kirke. Architect Hans Christian Amberg redesigned the church between 1915 and 1917. The building features red bricks. It also has Neo-Baroque windows and a 35-meter tower. The tower is decorated in iridescent green copper. P.N. Rentzmann lived in an apartment here until he died in 1923.
The mayor of Copenhagen decided it should be used for cultural purposes. It housed the Copenhagen Public Library until 1958. Later, it became a Naval Museum from 1958 to 1978. The church organ was built in 1930. It was the first mechanical organ in Scandinavia.
In 1957, Knud Pedersen started an art library here. In 1962, he organized Fluxus art performances with Arthur Köpcke.
Since 1981, the building has been Nikolaj Kunsthal. It is a platform for art and culture. It was named Nikolaj Kunsthal in 2011. The goal is to be Copenhagen’s center for contemporary art.
In 2018, Helene Nyborg Bay became director. The tower opened to the public. It offers the best city view. A new cafe and shop were introduced in 2022. They blend the building’s history with its current use.
Today, Sankt Nikolaj Kirke stands as a testament to Copenhagen’s evolving spirit. It showcases art within its historic walls. This tells a story of resilience and rebirth. It is a cultural beacon in the heart of the city.