Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder

He worked on a large number of the most important Danish buildings of his time, although the exact scope of his contributions in many cases remains uncertain and much have been demolished or redesigned later.

The family fled to Emden, East Frisia, where his father, Lourens van Steenwinckel, became master builder.

Hans van Steenwinckel trained under his father, and it is known that he received payment for a design for the Town Hall's stairs and tower in 1574.

Hans van Steenwinckel also built and rebuilt a number of manor houses around the country, including Berritzgaard, Näsbyholm and Orebygård.

In 1588 the new King Christian IV appointed him Government Architect and from this date his main task was to modernize the fortifications in many Danish towns and strongholds in Sweden and Norway.