Statue of Michael Drewsen

The Founder's Legacy in Bronze

The Statue of Michael Drewsen stands as a bronze monument to the man who transformed Silkeborg from a rural hamlet into a prosperous industrial town. Michael Drewsen arrived in 1844 and established the Drewsen og Sønner paper mill on the banks of the Gudenå River, exploiting its waters for power and transport. Over the next three decades, he wielded enormous influence over the town's development, lobbying for roads and railways, establishing a gasworks and telegraph connection, and purchasing the Hjejlen, a lake steamer that still operates today. The statue, designed by sculptor Hans Peder Pedersen-Dan—who also created the famous statue of Holger Danske at Kronborg—was cast in bronze and erected in 1892, eighteen years after Drewsen's death in 1874.

A Monument Born of Controversy

The decision to erect a statue in Drewsen's honor was not without dispute. When citizens first proposed the memorial in 1892, critics argued that Drewsen had primarily served his own commercial interests and had failed to secure the future welfare of his former workers. Despite these objections, the statue was placed in Torvet, the heart of Silkeborg's civic life. This controversy reflects the complex legacy of industrial pioneers—figures whose ambition and vision drive economic growth yet whose methods and priorities may not benefit all members of the community equally. The statue thus stands as a nuanced symbol, acknowledging both Drewsen's undeniable role in founding the town and the legitimate questions about his stewardship.

The Heart of Silkeborg's Public Life

Torvet, the square where the statue stands, is the cultural and social center of Silkeborg. Surrounded by the Old Town Hall (built in 1857 and now housing the tourism office), the city church (Silkeborg Kirke), and the historic Hotel Dania (founded in 1848), the square creates an intimate public gathering space. Two fountains complement the bronze figure, and on Saturdays the square hosts the city's weekly market, filling the space with vendors, shoppers, and the rhythms of daily commerce. The pedestrian-only zone encourages lingering and conversation, making it a natural meeting point for locals and visitors alike.

A Tradition of Celebration

In contemporary Silkeborg, the statue has acquired a new cultural significance as a symbol of achievement and transition. Each year, graduating students gather around the Drewsen monument to dance and celebrate their accomplishments, transforming the bronze figure into a witness to youthful joy and the passage of generations. This tradition has made the statue more than a historical memorial; it is a living part of Silkeborg's social fabric, connecting past and present through ritual and shared experience. The statue's central location and accessible scale make it an ideal focal point for such gatherings, and the practice has become an cherished rite of passage for the town's youth.

Artistic and Historical Significance

Hans Peder Pedersen-Dan's design captures Drewsen in a dignified pose befitting an industrial magnate of the 19th century. The bronze medium ensures durability and lends gravitas to the figure, while its placement in the open square—rather than in a museum or enclosed space—emphasizes Drewsen's role as a public figure whose influence shaped the town's streets and institutions. The statue's prominence in Torvet reflects the 19th-century tradition of honoring civic leaders through public monuments, a practice that both celebrates achievement and invites critical reflection on the figures we choose to memorialize.