Helsingør Custom House () is a former
custom house
A custom house or customs house was traditionally a building housing the offices for a jurisdictional government whose officials oversaw the functions associated with importing and exporting goods into and out of a country, such as collecting ...
situated next to
Helsingør station
Helsingør ( , ; ), classically known in English as Elsinore ( ), is a coastal city in northeastern Denmark. Helsingør Municipality had a population of 63,953 on 1 January 2025, making it the 23rd most populated municipality in Denmark. Helsin ...
in central
Helsingør
Helsingør ( , ; ), classically known in English as Elsinore ( ), is a coastal city in northeastern Denmark. Helsingør Municipality had a population of 63,953 on 1 January 2025, making it the 23rd most populated municipality in Denmark. Helsin ...
,
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
. Completed in 1891 to a
Historicist
Historicism is an approach to explaining the existence of phenomena, especially social and cultural practices (including ideas and beliefs), by studying the process or history by which they came about. The term is widely used in philosophy, ant ...
design by
Johan Daniel Herholdt
Johan Daniel Herholdt (13 August 1818 – 11 April 1902) was a Danish architect, professor and royal building inspector. He worked in the Historicist style and had a significant influence on Danish architecture during the second half of the 19th ...
, it replaced Øresund Custom House, which had played a central role in Denmark's collection of
Sound Dues
The Sound Dues (or Sound Tolls; ) were a toll on the use of the Øresund, or "Sound" strait separating the modern day borders of Denmark and Sweden. The tolls constituted up to two thirds of Denmark's state income in the 16th and 17th centurie ...
before it was demolished in connection with an expansion of the harbour in the 1860s. The new custom house remained in use until 1976 and is today part of the
Kulturværftet
Kulturværftet () is a cultural centre located in Helsingør, Denmark.
The center was established in 2010, in the buildings of the former :da:Helsingør Skibsværft og Maskinbyggeri, Helsingør Værft or Elsinore Shipyard. Kulturværftet is part ...
, a nearby cultural centre, hosting smaller concerts, exhibitions and other events.
History
Øresund Custom House
The first custom house in Helsingør was called Øresund Custom House, reflecting its role in the collection of
Sound Dues
The Sound Dues (or Sound Tolls; ) were a toll on the use of the Øresund, or "Sound" strait separating the modern day borders of Denmark and Sweden. The tolls constituted up to two thirds of Denmark's state income in the 16th and 17th centurie ...
from all ships that passed through the
Øresund
Øresund or Öresund (, ; ; ), commonly known in English as the Sound, is a strait which forms the Denmark–Sweden border, Danish–Swedish border, separating Zealand (Denmark) from Scania (Sweden). The strait has a length of ; its width var ...
.
In 1681, the custom house moved to a Late Medieval building on Strandgade which was acquired from a bookkeeper named Claus Liime. In 1737–1739,
Niels Eigtved,
Lauritz de Thurah
Laurids Lauridsen de Thurah, known as Lauritz de Thurah (4 March 1706 – 5 September 1759), was a Danish architect and architectural writer. He became the most important Danish architect of the late baroque period. As an architectural write ...
and
Philip de Lange
Philip de Lange (c. 1705 – 17 September 1766) was a leading Dutch-Danish architect who designed many different types of building in various styles including Dutch Baroque and Rococo.
Early life and family
Philip de Lange was probably born ...
—three of Denmark's most significant architects of the time—all created design proposals for a new custom house. In the end, none of their designs were used when a new custom house was built on the corner of Sophie Brahes Gade and Strandgade in 1740–1742. The building was instead designed by the otherwise unknown architect N in a mixture of
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
and
Rococo
Rococo, less commonly Roccoco ( , ; or ), also known as Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpte ...
style. It measured approximately 25 by 11 metres and was topped by a
Mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof (also called French roof or curb roof) is a multi-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterised by two slopes on each of its sides, with the lower slope at a steeper angle than the upper, and often punctured by dormer wi ...
. The central three-bay projection was topped by a triangular pediment with
Christian VI's gilded monogram. The relief and the building's other sandstone decorations were executed by
Jacob Fortling
Jacob Fortling (23 December 1711 – 16 July 1761) was a German- Danish sculptor, architect and industrialist, described as one of the most industrious people in the Denmark of his day. He came to Denmark at age 18 and embarked on a successful ...
. Below the triangular pediment was an architrave and frieze with the inscription ("Øresund's Custom House Anno 1740"). The building contained a large central hall flanked by offices on each side.
On the corner of Sophie Brahes Gade and Stengade, to the rear of the Custom House, its director, Wilhelm August von der Osten, constructed a private residence. The house was in 1774 sold to the Custom Authority and used as official residence for its directors. A wing on Sofie Brahe Gade contained stables, servants quarters and a gate. In 1830–31, Øresund Custom House was expanded with two new wings as a result of the increasing number of ships that passed through the Øresund. A clock face replaced Christian VI's monogram above the entrance in the main wing.
The current custom house
Following the abolition of the Sound Dues in 1867, it was decided to expand Helsingør's docklands to create room for ship repair as well as a coal station for the passing steam vessels. The custom house was pulled down in 1859 and the director's house in 1862.
Royal Building Inspector
Johan Daniel Herholdt
Johan Daniel Herholdt (13 August 1818 – 11 April 1902) was a Danish architect, professor and royal building inspector. He worked in the Historicist style and had a significant influence on Danish architecture during the second half of the 19th ...
was charged with the design of a new building which was inaugurated on 16 November 1891. The custom house remained in use until 1976. In 1989, Kulturhuset Toldkammeret, a self-owning cultural venue, opened at the site.
Architecture
The building, which occupies an entire block, is designed in the
Historicist
Historicism is an approach to explaining the existence of phenomena, especially social and cultural practices (including ideas and beliefs), by studying the process or history by which they came about. The term is widely used in philosophy, ant ...
style which is typical of Harholdt as well as of Danish architecture in the late 19th century. The three-winged complex surrounds a cobbled courtyard which is closed on Strandgade by a wall.
Directors
* 1664–1668
Marcus Meibom
* 1738–1764
Wilhelm August von der Osten
* 1764–1766
Niels Krabbe Vind
* 1766–1770
Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff
* 1770–1772
Adolph Sigfried von der Osten
* 1772–1772
Jørgen Erik Skeel
* 1772–1776
Joachim Godske Moltke
* 1776–1811
Christian Numsen
* 1811–18??
Frederik Moltke
* 1833–1839
Adam Gottlob von Krogh
* 1839–1850
Nicolai Abraham Holten
* 1850–1857
Christian Albrecht Bluhme
Christian Albrecht Bluhme (27 December 1794 – 6 November 1866) was a Danish lawyer and conservative politician who was the second Prime Minister of Denmark (first time from 1852 to 1853 with title of Prime Minister, second time from 1864 to ...
See also
*
Skibsklarerergaarden
*
Classen Mansion (Helsingør)
References
External links
Official websiteToldkammeretat Kongernes Nordsjælland
Helsingør Custom Houseat arkark.dk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Helsingor Custom House
Listed buildings and structures in Helsingør Municipality
Historicist architecture in Denmark
Government buildings completed in 1891
1891 establishments in Denmark
Custom houses
1880s architecture in Denmark