Ewert Janssen

[1] Ewert Janssen, along with Ernst Brandenburger a few years later, was one of the great masterbuilders of the absolute monarchy which, instituted by Frederick III, played an important part in supporting architectural developments.

[2] In 1665, Janssen completed his first major achievement with a connecting stairway at the medieval Gjorslev Castle in the south of Sealand.

It appears to have been copied from an earlier design by Dutch architect Philips Vingboons.

After his appointment as royal masterbuilder in 1668, he prepared a number of drawings showing how Skanderborg Castle could, for a reasonably small sum, be adapted to the style of the period, possibly for the use of Crown Princess Charlotte Amalie.

His original drawings for Charlottenborg Palace appear once again to have been based on Vingboom's plans for Amsterdam's city hall which is now the royal residence.