Dare to imagine an island built for defense. Prøvestenen is such a place. This artificial island off Amager’s coast holds a compelling story. It’s a tale of naval might and petroleum storage.
Prøvestenen’s primary mission was clear. It had to defend Copenhagen Harbour’s entrance. Its history began in 1713. A floating dock named “Prøvestenen” was sunk. This created a base for a defensive structure.
Construction wasn’t swift. It wasn’t until around 1860 that Prøvestenen was completed. Back then it stood as one of Denmark’s oldest concrete structures.
However Prøvestenen’s role evolved. By 1922 it was decommissioned as a defense work. The 1930s saw its transformation. A harbor was built here with space for oil and petrol depots. This kept flammable products safely away from populated areas. A roughly 500-meter-long causeway connected it to the land. It even had railway tracks.
Post-World War II oil imports surged. The harbor expanded. The combined quay lengths reached almost a kilometer. An oil refinery was built near Prøvestenen in the 1950s. It was located by Raffinaderivej.
Today the “petrol island” is not open to the public. But its story remains fascinating.
Prøvestenen has seen several iterations. In 1713 a marine battery was established by wrecking the floating dock Prøvestenen. Ole Judichær led the work. Trekroner Fort was also built then.
Neglect followed. Storms and ice caused severe damage in 1723-24. Decommissioning was proposed in 1736. But it never happened. A single guard remained until 1767. Prøvestenen played a role in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.
In 1802 a new marine fortress was built further north. Three ships were wrecked. It fell into disrepair after the English Wars in 1814. It was decommissioned in 1828.
A third Prøvestenen Fortress was built from 1859–63. Ferdinand Meldahl designed it.
The Royal Danish Navy bought the decommissioned fortress in 1922. It was converted into a Petroleum Harbour. Copenhagen’s Port Authority took over in 1933. Land reclamations expanded the island. The embankment connecting Prøvestenen to Amager was replaced.
Today Prøvestenen still houses Copenhagen’s Petroleum Harbour. But less capacity is needed. This is due to the 1970s oil crisis. Also, oil and gas were discovered in the North Sea.
Remains of Meldahl’s fortress can still be seen.
Plans for a large marina with 1500 boat spaces were put on hold in 2011.
So as you stand here take a moment. Think of Prøvestenen’s layered past. From naval fortress to petrol depot this island reflects Copenhagen’s changing needs. It is an enduring landmark.