Abel Cathrines Stiftelse

It was built to provide housing for indigent women by a charity established in 1675 by Abel Cathrine von der Wisch, Queen Sophie Amalie's lady-in-waiting, replacing an earlier building in the city centre.

She married Hans Hansen Oster who was a bookkeeper (proviantskriver) at Proviantgården on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen as well as inspector of Queen Sofie Amalies's estates on Lolland and Falster.

[1] In 1675, she funded the construction of a row of seven houses with pauper accommodation in Dronningens Tværgade, founding Abel Cathrines Stiftelse on 27 December 1675, just a few days before her death.

The almshouses in Dronningens Tværgade were demolished in 1885 and replaced by a new building with residences for indigent women in the emerging Vesterbro district.

[4] In the vestibule inside the main entrance are two plaques: one of them reads :"Abel Cathrine oprettede som enke efter proviantskriver Hans Hansen ved testamente af 27.