Since 2010 Dronningmølle has grown together with its neighbouring town Hornbæk in Helsingør Municipality to form an urban area with a combined population of 5,330 as of 1 January 2024.

In 1588, it was replaced by a new water mill which was commissioned by Frederick II of Denmark and named after his wife, Queen Sophie, possibly because she owned the site on which it was built.

Valentin von Spangenberg, who also worked on Kronborg Castle and many other road and mill projects in the area, was charged with the construction of the complex.

Located a couple of kilometres inland, Villingerød, literally "The forest dwellers' clearing", was with its 10 farms the largest village in Esbønderup parish.

Villingebæk, literally "The forest dwellers' stream", a reference to the location at Pandehave Å, consisted of a mixture of fishermen's houses and small farmsteads.

For a time, the local fishermen were opposed to the growing importance of the factory but, as Andersen bought up most of the area, they were eventually forced to work there.