Camilla Nielsen

Camilla Marie Nielsen née Jensen (1856–1932) was a Danish philanthropist and politician who is remembered for her commitment to social work in the Frederiksberg district of Copenhagen.

In 1909, after being elected to the board of Frederiksberg's newly established relief fund, she set up a folk kitchen which produced over a thousand meals a day for those in financial difficulties.

[1][2][3] Born on 20 April 1856 in Særslev Parish near Jyderup in Holbæk Municipality, Camilla Marie Nielsen was one of six children, but the only daughter, of the estate owner Jens Jensen (1823–1878) and his wife Ane Kirstine née Kjølsen (1827–1899).

[1] In 1887, thanks to her contacts with a property agent, she became the owner of a dilapidated building on Ny Carlsbergsvej in Frederiksberg where she went on to renovate 75 small apartments, renting them out at cheap rates to working-class families with children.

The following year, she was called upon to run the local kitchen facility where she prepared over a thousand servings a day of good, cheap food, most of the expenses being covered by the relief fund.