Statue of Michael Drewsen, Silkeborg

A founder watching over Silkeborg’s heart

Michael Drewsen was the driving force behind Silkeborg’s leap from quiet manor estate to thriving industrial town in the mid-19th century. As manager and co-founder of the paper mill that rose beside the Gudenå River in 1844, he helped turn a sparsely populated area into a busy trading centre within just a few decades. The statue that bears his name celebrates this transformation, capturing him as a civic leader whose decisions shaped the city’s future.Today the bronze figure stands prominently on Torvet, Silkeborg’s main square, facing the handsome brick facade of the old town hall. Around him, the town he imagined has long since materialised: pedestrian streets, commercial life, and cultural institutions radiate out from this compact urban core. The monument serves as a visual reminder that modern Silkeborg has a remarkably short, but intense, history.

The story behind the monument

The Drewsen statue was erected as a tribute to the man often referred to as the founder of Silkeborg, commemorating both his role in establishing the paper mill and his broader influence on the town’s development. The monument’s placement is deliberate: Torvet is framed by key historic buildings, including the old town hall and Hotel Dania, underlining Drewsen’s close connection to the institutions that anchored civic life.His legacy stretches beyond industry. Drewsen helped promote Silkeborg as a trading town, supported infrastructure projects, and encouraged initiatives that tied the community more closely to the surrounding lakes and forests. The statue distils this legacy into a single figure, inviting you to consider how one person’s vision can alter the course of a whole region.

A compact square rich in atmosphere

Torvet itself is more than just a backdrop. The city square is paved and largely car-free, with shops, cafés, and restaurants spilling onto terraces in warmer months. Fountains provide movement and sound, while the church tower and historic facades frame the view. The statue of Michael Drewsen stands amid this everyday bustle, giving the space a focal point that is both sculptural and symbolic.Depending on the time of day, the square’s character changes. On market days, stalls bring colour and local produce. At quieter moments you may find only a few people on benches, the murmur of conversation and the trickle of water filling the air. The monument anchors all these changing scenes, an unhurried presence in a lively urban setting.

Linking Silkeborg’s past and present

Within a short stroll of the statue, you can trace Silkeborg’s story from manor estate to modern cultural town. The nearby Silkeborg Hovedgård and museum sites recount earlier centuries of regional history, while exhibitions and displays elsewhere in the city explore the paper mill era and the growth of industry along the Gudenå. Seen in this wider context, the Drewsen statue becomes a starting point for understanding how a single industrial venture sparked a new town.The monument also subtly links to the surrounding lake district and forested hills that drew entrepreneurs, writers, and artists to Silkeborg in the 19th century. Figures like Hans Christian Andersen visited the area, inspired by the landscapes that would later help define Silkeborg as an outdoor and cultural destination. Standing by the statue, you stand at the intersection of industry, nature, and urban life.

A brief but worthwhile stop in central Jutland

Although the statue itself is modest in size and can be appreciated in a few minutes, it rewards a moment of reflection. It is an easy landmark to include in a wider walk through Silkeborg’s centre, combining architecture, shopping streets, and perhaps a visit to a museum or a lakeside promenade. The open layout and flat surfaces of the square make the area broadly accessible.Whether you pause here with a coffee, wait for friends by the plinth, or simply cross Torvet on your way elsewhere, the Statue of Michael Drewsen offers a concise introduction to the town’s origins. It is a small monument with a large backstory, quietly telling how a paper mill and its determined manager gave rise to the city around you.