Memorial Anchor at Nyhavn

4.5 (2259)

A massive frigate anchor turned national memorial, honouring Danish WWII sailors at the colourful gateway between Nyhavn’s canal and Copenhagen’s historic heart.

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Memorial Anchor

Set at the landward end of Copenhagen’s postcard‑perfect Nyhavn canal, the Memorial Anchor is a powerful open‑air monument to Danish civilian sailors who died at sea during the Second World War. The massive 19th‑century anchor from the frigate Fyn rests on a cobbled plinth with commemorative plaques and a buried capsule listing the names of the dead. Surrounded by colourful 17th‑century townhouses and historic wooden ships, it combines maritime history, quiet remembrance and one of the city’s most photogenic urban scenes.

A brief summary to Memorial Anchor

Nyhavn 1F, Copenhagen, København K, 1051, DK
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Free
Outdoor
Mobile reception: 5 out of 5

Monday 12 am-12 am
Tuesday 12 am-12 am
Wednesday 12 am-12 am
Thursday 12 am-12 am
Friday 12 am-12 am
Saturday 12 am-12 am
Sunday 12 am-12 am

Local tips

Visit early in the morning for calmer light and fewer people; you can photograph the anchor with Nyhavn’s colourful facades and moored ships almost to yourself.
Look for the plaques around the plinth to understand the memorial’s dedication and the story of the lead capsule with sailors’ names buried beneath the anchor.
If you are in Copenhagen on 5 May, Denmark’s Liberation Day, stop by for the commemorative ceremony when fresh flowers and flags surround the monument.
Combine a reflective pause at the anchor with a slow walk along Nyhavn’s canal or a harbour boat tour departing nearby to appreciate the wider maritime setting.
In winter, bring warm layers; the open waterfront can feel noticeably colder and windier than streets a few blocks inland.

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Getting There

Metro and short walk from central Copenhagen

From Kongens Nytorv Metro Station in central Copenhagen, it typically takes 5–10 minutes on foot to reach the Memorial Anchor at the Nyhavn end closest to the square. Metro lines M1, M2, M3 and M4 all serve the station frequently throughout the day, with standard single tickets within the city centre usually costing around DKK 20–30. The route follows broad, mostly level pavements suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, though it can become busy around Nyhavn during weekends and summer evenings.
City bus to Kongens Nytorv area

Several city bus lines stop around Kongens Nytorv, from where you can walk to the Memorial Anchor in about 5–10 minutes along wide pavements. Typical travel times from other central districts are 10–20 minutes depending on traffic, and single bus tickets within the inner zones generally cost about DKK 20–30 when bought via machines or travel apps. Buses run frequently during the day and early evening; services may be less frequent late at night and on some holidays.
Bicycle from inner Copenhagen

Cycling to the Memorial Anchor is straightforward using Copenhagen’s extensive bike lanes, with journeys from many inner‑city neighbourhoods taking around 10–20 minutes. Public bike‑share schemes and rental shops typically charge from about DKK 20–40 for a short ride or hourly rental, depending on the provider. Nyhavn itself can be crowded, so it is common courtesy and often required to dismount and walk the last stretch along the canal, especially in peak tourist seasons.
Car or taxi within Copenhagen

Reaching the Nyhavn area by car or taxi from other parts of Copenhagen usually takes 10–25 minutes, depending on traffic. Taxis in the central zones commonly start around DKK 30–40, with total fares for short inner‑city trips often falling between DKK 80 and 160. Parking near Nyhavn is limited and almost always paid, with hourly rates in central Copenhagen frequently in the range of DKK 30–50. Expect to park a short walk away and be aware that spaces can be scarce at weekends and on sunny days.

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Discover more about Memorial Anchor

A maritime monument in the heart of Nyhavn

The Memorial Anchor stands at the inland end of Nyhavn, the 17th‑century canal that forms one of Copenhagen’s most iconic vistas. Here, where sailors once entered the city from the sea, a single monumental anchor has been set on a raised cobbled platform, framed by the canal on one side and the broad square of Kongens Nytorv just behind. The setting is deliberately symbolic: this was the gateway for generations of merchant seafarers, and it is now where Denmark honours those who never came home.Walk around the anchor and you notice its sheer scale and weathered iron surface, the thick shank and flukes scarred by use. Low stone surrounds define the memorial area, and informative plaques provide a sober explanation of its purpose. Yet the backdrop is vivid and lively, with brightly painted facades, rigged masts and café terraces drawing the eye beyond the monument.

Remembering sailors lost in the Second World War

The site has been a place of remembrance since shortly after the end of the Second World War. In 1945 a tall wooden cross was first erected here, later replaced by a marble cross as a more durable marker to the merchant and civilian sailors who died between 1939 and 1945. Eventually it was decided that a maritime symbol would better capture their story. The present anchor was inaugurated in 1951, transforming the space into the memorial seen today.Beneath the anchor lies a sealed lead capsule containing the names of around 1,600 sailors, creating an invisible roll of honour under visitors’ feet. The memorial is dedicated to more than 2,000 Danish seafarers who died in Danish and Allied service, many in convoys and merchant ships far from home waters. Every year on 5 May, Denmark’s Liberation Day, wreaths, flowers and flags gather around the base during official ceremonies that temporarily turn this busy square into a solemn open‑air sanctuary.

An anchor with its own seagoing past

The anchor itself did not begin life as a monument. Cast in the 19th century, it once served on the Royal Danish Navy frigate Fyn, a ship that lay at Holmen Naval Base during the Second World War. When selected for Nyhavn, it was repurposed from a practical tool of seamanship into a sculptural object dense with symbolism: stability amid storms, the bond between ship and shore, and the weight of sacrifice.Its substantial size and traditional form contrast with the light timber hulls and slender masts of the historic vessels moored along the canal. Standing close, you can trace details such as old fixing points and join lines, reminders that this was a working piece of naval equipment before being anchored permanently on land.

The atmosphere of Nyhavn around the memorial

Part of the memorial’s power comes from the contrast between its theme and its surroundings. Nyhavn today is a pedestrian‑friendly waterfront of colourful 17th‑ and 18th‑century houses, restaurant terraces and vintage ships, once a rough‑and‑ready working harbour and now one of Copenhagen’s most recognisable streetscapes. From the anchor, the canal opens like a painted corridor of facades, while behind you the grand buildings of Kongens Nytorv frame the city’s historic core.Despite the constant flow of people, there are moments of quiet here. Early in the morning the cobbles can glisten with dew, the canal still and reflective; in winter the anchor may be dusted with frost or snow, surrounded by muted colours and low light. At other times the air hums with buskers, clinking cutlery and boat engines, emphasizing how remembrance is woven into everyday city life rather than kept apart from it.

Experiencing the memorial up close

Visiting the Memorial Anchor is an informal experience: there are no barriers, tickets or set visiting hours. You can step right up to the plinth, read the inscriptions and walk all the way around to view the harbour and square from different angles. The surrounding paving is broad and almost level, making it accessible for wheelchairs and strollers and providing space for groups during ceremonies.Photographers often use the anchor as a foreground motif, framing it against the canal, or capturing close‑up details of rust and rivets. For those interested in maritime or wartime history, nearby information boards and the wider Nyhavn harbour offer many layers of context, from historic ships to former sailors’ houses. Even a short stop rewards a few minutes of stillness: facing the water, it is easy to imagine the convoys, oceans and hard decisions behind this deceptively simple monument.