Holmen, Copenhagen
'The Islet') is a water-bound neighbourhood in Copenhagen, Denmark, occupying the former grounds of the Royal Naval Base and Dockyards.
In spite of its name, deceptively in singular, Holmen is a congregation of small islands, forming a north-eastern extension of Christianshavn between Zealand and the northern tip of Amager.
Since the early 1990s, the area has instead been redeveloped for other use as a new district of the city, while the remaining naval facilities are confined to the northernmost islet of Nyholm.
The area is today characterized by a mixture of residential developments, creative businesses and educational institutions and remaining military activities.
The existence of Holmen originates in a wish to relocate the Danish Fleet from its earlier home at Bremerholm.
Furthermore, the sailors disposed of their garbage by throwing it directly into the harbour, which had developed into a sanitary hazard as well.
The sinking of ships continued, loaded with mud from the harbour and trash from Copenhagen's streets.
Afterwards, the construction of all large ships was moved to Nyholm, and at Bremerholm, now called Gammelholm, only smaller vessels were built.
[1] While development on Nyholm continued, a little island called Motzmanns Plads, just north of Christianshavn, was bought.
In 1860 Arsenaløen formed a land connection to Christianshavn, which became the main entrance to Holmen, known as Værftsbrovagten (English: The Yard Bridge Hard).
East from Langøen, an atoll was found called "Mudderøen (English: The Mud Island).
By further reclamations, they grew together and in 1858 a large drydock was constructed at the island as a replacement for Gammel Dok at Christianshavn.
After World War II, two new bases were established in Korsør and Frederikshavn but even though more and more activities were relocated there, Holmen retained its status.
Earlier the building of sailing ships had not required sheers to erect their mast, as it could be lifted into place by ropes and allowed to pivot around its foot.
In the late 19th century, the increasing size and capacity of general harbour cranes began to overlap with the lofty but lightweight masting sheers and so their specialisation was no longer required.
[citation needed] The Barracks complex was built in 1908-10, replacing the previous, outdated living quarters on decommissioned ships.
However, in connection with a renovation in 1934, two more crowns were added to the original spire at Christiansborg, making the resemblance somewhat less obvious.
A Centre for Creative Educations has been established on the eas side of Frederiksholm, mostly in converted naval buildings.
When the royal yacht Dannebrog is not at sea, it ties up at Elefanten (The Elephant), a pier which extends south from the northern tip of Nyholm, next to the Central Guardhouse.
During opening hours visitors are free to walk around the largest of the ships, FDMS Peder Skram, a Peder Skram class frigate, while the two others, HDMS Sælen, a submarine, and HDMS Sehested a Willemoes-class missile boat can only be visited on tours.
[5] Holmen is also home to Georg Stage, a fully rigged, three-masted sailing ship which serves as a training platform for Danish sailors.
