Ordrup

Was Ordrup always a suburb of Copenhagen? Absolutely not. Ordrup started as a humble village. It consisted of just eight farms and a forge. Imagine the quiet life in the 17th century. Copenhagen’s citizens sought out Ordrup. It became a popular spot for day trips. Farmers found a way to supplement their income. They harvested peat and sold it in Copenhagen’s markets. A significant shift happened in the 1760s. Ordrup came under the ownership of Bernstorff Palace. Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff, the Foreign Minister, had received the entire area as a gift from King Christian V. Bernstorff was a key figure in agricultural reforms. A detailed map of the land was created. The land was then divided into lots. These lots were distributed to local farmers in a draw at Bernstorff Palace on September 1, 1765. The eight farms had distinct names: Lindegaarden, Teglgaarden, Eigaarden, Holmegården, Skjoldgaarden, Hyldegaarden, Damgaarden, and Skovgaarden. The reforms proved beneficial. Profits rose for both farmers and Bernstorff. Ordrup continued to evolve. An inn opened in 1768. A devastating fire swept through the village in 1798. It destroyed most of the farms and houses. The fire originated in Teglgården’s workshop. The reconstruction efforts led to a new layout. The farms were rebuilt on their respective fields. The old village lots were sold. Craftsmen and Copenhagen residents bought them. They built summer homes, transforming Ordrup into a more residential area. The arrival of the Klampenborg Railway in 1863 further accelerated this transformation. Many farms were converted into country houses. Ordrup’s accessibility increased, attracting more residents. Ordrup’s growth continued into the 20th century. Single-family homes and apartment buildings sprung up. The farmland gradually disappeared. Ordrup solidified its place as a suburb of Copenhagen. Today, visitors can still find traces of Ordrup’s past. The Ordrupgaard art museum stands as a testament to the area’s rich history. And the Ordrup Church, completed in 1876, adds to the area’s charm.