Originally built as a combined city hall and courthouse, it now serves as the seat of the District Court of Copenhagen.

A modern style court of justice, Hof- og Stadsretten, was introduced in Denmark, specifically for Copenhagen, by Johann Friedrich Struensee in 1771.

[1] In the Great Fire of 1795, Copenhagen's city hall, located between Nytorv and Gammeltorv, was among the many buildings lost to the flames.

[2] It was the second consecutive city hall at that spot to meet this fate; the first building, built in 1679 at the same site, had been lost in the Fire of 1728.

[3] After the fire, it was decided to build a combined city hall and courthouse at Nytorv, at a site previously occupied by the Royal Orphanage built in 1728.