Holmen Cemetery (Danish: Holmens Kirkegård) is the oldest cemetery still in use in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was first located next to the navalChurch of Holmen in the city centre but relocated to its current site on Dag Hammarskjölds Allé in the Østerbro district in 1666. The cemetery originally served as a burial site for indigent sailors in royal service and their families, complementing the military Garnisons Cemetery, from 1711 located on a neighbouring site.
History
When the anchor forge at Bremerholm was converted into a naval church by Christian IV in 1619, a churchyard was laid out next to it.[1] It remained in use until 1651 but was then, following an extension of the church between 1641 and 1649, relocated to a site outside the Bastioned Fortifications, next to the main road leading in and out of the Eastern City Gate. The grounds had already been in use as a cemetery since 1662[1] but was inaugurated as the new Holmen Cemetery in 1666.
The existing layout of the cemetery was created by sær F. C. Schmidt in 1798.[1]
The chapel is an adapted stave church design, lacking the tall, tower-like appearance which is normally seen in such buildings, but the shingledslate roof, the tarred timber and the carved animal heads are characteristic features.[2]