Behagen House

The Behagen House is a Neoclassical townhouse located at Strandgade 26 in the Christianshavn neighbourhood of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Elisabeth Giertrud Behagen resided in the building with her son Joost Johan Behagen, her daughter-in-law Maria Agatha Augusta and their one-year-old daughter Elisabeth Alida Augusta, sugar refinery master Christen Herbom and another nine employees associated with the refinery were also part of the household.

[4] Carsten Carstensen, a bookkeeper, resided in the building with his eight-year-old daughter Mariane Charlotte Carstensdatter, a female cook and a maid.

Johannes Henrik Hedemann, a merchant (grosserer), resided on the ground floor with his wife Dorothea Margrethe Hedeman and five employees.

[9] Later notable residents include supreme court attorney and politician Orla Lehmann who lived there in 1847–1848.

[10] Hans Peter Prior, another merchant (grosserer), resided on the first floor with his wife Regine Schmidt, their six children (aged two to 18), a 27-year-old son from his first marriage, three clerks and two maids.

[12] Carl August Hemeche, a workman, resided in the basement with his wife Johanne Bruyn and their three children (aged two to nine).

[14] The Neoclassical townhouse seen today is 10 bays wide and consists of three storeys, a cellar and a mansard roof with black-glazed tiles.

It depicts Christian VII accompanied by Johann Friedrich Struensee and Queen Caroline Matilda during a par force hunt in what is believed to be an imaginary setting although it has been speculated that Selsø lake and manor house may have served as an inspiration.

Christian VII revived par force hunting in August 1767 but the practice was abolished in 1777.

No. 36 C seen on a detail from Christian Gedde's map of Christianshavn Quarter, 1757.
The Behagen House in the 1870s..
The yard photographed by Peter Elfelt in 1912 with the side wing visible to the right.