Equestrian Statue of Frederik V in Copenhagen | Amalienborg

Equestrian Statue of Frederik V

Historic monument at Amalienborg Palace

The equestrian statue of Frederik V (Rytterstatuen af Frederik V) at Amalienborg Palace was created by sculptor Jacques-François-Joseph Saly and inaugurated in 1771. The statue depicts King Frederik V on horseback in a classic 18th-century style and marks Amalienborg as Copenhagen’s central palace complex.

The monument is one of the earliest examples of a monumental equestrian statue in Denmark and symbolises royal power, culture, and the city’s historical development. The construction of the statue took an impressive 14 years and, remarkably, ended up costing more than the four palaces that surround it.

Thanks to its central placement, the equestrian statue can be viewed from all angles around Amalienborg. It is best experienced with either Frederik’s Church or one of the four palaces as a backdrop. For a more creative photographic perspective, it is recommended to walk a few metres south along Amaliegade, where the columns at the entrance to Amalienborg Palace create an elegant foreground for the statue.