Founded in the second half of the 16th century, it was originally used as a burial ground for the poor but became the city principal cemetery in the 1820.

It was a chaotic and filthy place with a bad reputation for attracting dubious characters as well as grazing cows.

During the plague outbreak in 1619, the number of dead reached 900 as opposed to 100 to 300 in normal years.

One of the Helsingør's wealthiest citizens, Jean Jacob Classen, was buried in the New Cemetery in 1806.

In 1820, it was first considered to close the graveyards at St. Olay's and St. Mary's churches and it was done in 1827, leaving New Cemetery as the main burial ground of the two parishes.