Højbro Bridge, Copenhagen

An elegant gateway between city and seat of power

Højbro is far more than a functional crossing: it is a symbolic hinge between Copenhagen’s bustling shopping streets and the island of Slotsholmen, home to Christiansborg Palace and the country’s political institutions. Standing on the bridge, you straddle two faces of the Danish capital – mercantile city on one side, royal and governmental quarter on the other – with Slotsholmen Canal flowing quietly beneath. From here, views ripple out in every direction. Upstream, the façades of Gammel Strand and the old merchants’ houses hug the water. Downstream, the silhouettes of Christiansborg’s tower and nearby spires punctuate the skyline. Højbro’s relatively modest size makes it an intimate vantage point, yet its position at the centre of Indre By gives it a sense of constant movement and urban theatre.

From medieval crossing to 19th‑century ironwork

A bridge has existed on this spot since the Middle Ages, when a simple wooden structure linked the early town to the castle on Slotsholmen. Over the centuries, the crossing was rebuilt several times as traffic, technology, and the city itself evolved. The present Højbro dates from 1878, when it was constructed in iron to a design by architect Vilhelm Dahlerup, a key figure in Copenhagen’s late 19th‑century building boom. Dahlerup’s work combined practicality with a flair for ornament, and Højbro reflects that balance. The steel arch spans the canal in a single, confident sweep, supported on sturdy granite plinths that step down to the water. In the 1960s, as car traffic increased, the bridge was widened to its current form, carefully retaining its historic character while accommodating modern demands.

Details in metal and stone

At first glance, Højbro appears straightforward, but closer inspection reveals a layer of decoration typical of its era. The closed spandrel iron arch is articulated with panels and mouldings that catch the light, and the balustrades incorporate rhythmic patterns that echo along the length of the bridge. Discreet sculptural details give it personality, making the structure recognisable from passing tour boats and from the quays. Beneath your feet, the granite abutments anchor the bridge visually to the canal walls and to nearby quayside steps. This combination of dark metal and pale stone creates a subtle contrast against the greens and reds of surrounding roofs, making Højbro a natural focal line in photographs of Slotsholmen Canal.

Folklore beneath the waterline

One of Højbro’s most distinctive features is not on the bridge at all, but below it. On the canal bed nearby stands the bronze group "Agnete and the Merman," an underwater sculpture by Danish artist Suste Bonnén. Figures of a merman and his children reach upwards through the dim green water, forever waiting for Agnete, the human mother who left them in an old Danish ballad. The artwork is easy to miss at first; you often need to lean over the railing and let your eyes adjust to see the shapes emerging from the depths. Once spotted, it adds an almost cinematic layer to the scene, blending mythology with the everyday traffic of commuter bikes, buses, and sightseeing boats sliding past above.

Everyday bridge, continuous city life

Today Højbro carries a steady stream of pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles between Højbro Plads and Christiansborg’s forecourts. Locals use it on their daily routes, while visitors pause to photograph the skyline or watch boats navigating the canal. Street musicians sometimes set up at the approaches, their sound drifting across the water and mingling with the hum of conversation from nearby cafés. Because it sits among several nearby crossings, Højbro is rarely quiet, yet it retains a human scale. You can linger without feeling in the way, watching the play of light on the water and the constant choreography of city life flowing back and forth between Copenhagen’s historic core and its island of power.