Originally named Soldaterkirkegården (Soldiers' Cemetery), Garrison Cemetery was founded by a decree from King Frederick III and laid out in 1664 on a site outside the Bastioned Fortifications, next to the main road leading in and out of the Eastern City Gate and opposite the naval Holmens Cemetery which was laid out around the same time.

In 1671, some improvements were made when the site was enclosed by pallisades and ditches and the cemetery was officially inaugurated on 13 July 1671.

In 1711, Copenhagen was struck by an outbreak of plague which killed an estimated 23,000 citizens.

One of the many characteristics of the cemetery, are the many old graves, still owned by families, and war-monuments of fallen in the wars 1848–1850 and 1864.

[2] Danish-born British Army Brigadier Percy Hansen, a Victoria Cross recipient, is also buried here.