Mindeankeret

Monument to Danish sailors of WWII

Mindeankeret (The Memorial Anchor) in Nyhavn is a monument dedicated to Danish sailors who lost their lives during the World War II, either in Allied service or as part of the Danish merchant fleet.

The monument consists of a large ship’s anchor from an 1857 frigate, which was installed in Nyhavn in 1951. Beneath the anchor lies a lead capsule containing the names of the fallen sailors. The memorial was conceived by architect and resistance fighter Hans Hansen, while the cobblestone square surrounding the anchor was designed by architect Peter Koch. Annual remembrance ceremonies are held at the site.

Mindeankeret can be experienced up close at the entrance to Nyhavn, where it is positioned on a small cobblestone square surrounded by trees. From here, the monument can be viewed with Nyhavn’s iconic and colorful houses as a backdrop, though visiting early in the day is recommended, as the area quickly becomes crowded.