Gammel Strand 44 is a historic property overlooking Slotsholmens Kanal and Slotsholmen in the Old Town of Copenhagen, Denmark. The building was listed in the Danish registry of protected buildings and places in 1945. Notable former residents include ballet masters Antoine Bournonville and August Bournonville, physicist Hans Christian Ørsted and composer Friedrich Ludwig Æmilius Kunzen.
History
18th century
The site was prior to the construction of the Copenhagen Fire of 1795 made up of two narrow properties.
The eastern of the two properties was the site of a house constructed by the crown in 1619, Giert Albretsen Frølich was for many years the tenant of the building. By council ruling (Borgmester- og Raads Dom) of 26 August 1646, it was ceded to Dr. Hans Resen. On 21 June 1647, it was appaeantly ceded to Jacob Kesnich. On 4 March 1650, it was sold to renteskriver Jørgen Hansen. On 14 June 1686, it was sold by his widow to royal tailor Johan (Jochum) Schumacher. His property was listed in Copenhagen's first cadastre of 1689 as No. 13 in Strand Quarter. In 1802, it was owned by Icelandic merchant Laurs Bertelsen. On 18 September 1715, jis widow ceded it to their son-in-law Claus Halle. In 1718, it was sold at auction to Joseph Meyer Levin (deed issued on 8 July). He owned it until at least 1728.
The western property belonged to Willum Habersach in October 1609. On 1 May 1620, it belonged to renteskriver and later councilman Anders Olufsen. His widow Karen Clausdatter kept the property after his death in December 1733. On 21 August 1643, she sold it to mayor Christoffer Hansen (died December 1679). On 26 September 1681, his heirs sold it to vintner Niels Christensen Hassel. On 29 June 1685, he sold it to secretary in the German Chancellery Frands von Hagen. His property was listed in the Cadastre of 1689 as No. 14 in Strand Quarter. On 29 December 1702, he sold it to secretary in German Shancellery Friederich Esmarch. He owned it until at least 1728.
The eastern property was again listed as No. 13 in the new cadastre of 1756 and was at that time owned by Amsel Jaob Meyer (1728-98). He was married to his cousin Brendel Meyer (Hausen, died c. 1763) and second secondly in 1875 to his niece Hizl. and the father of later businessman David Amsel Meyer (1755-1813), Hitzelia Leidesdorff married to merchant and head of the Jewish congregation in Altona Nathan Levin Leidesdorff) and Salomon Amsel Meyer (1759-1795). The western property was again listed as No. 14 and belonged to Esmark.
The two properties were both destroyed in the Copenhagen Fire of 1795, together with most of the other buildings in the area. The present building on the site was constructed in 1797 by master builder Frederik C. G. Koop.
18001840
The property was listed as No. 12 in the new cadastre of 1806. It was at that time owned by merchant Simon Jacob.
First solo dancer and later ballet master at the Royal Danish Ballet Antoine Bournonville was a resident of the building in 1811. His son, August Bournonville, who would later also become ballet master, was then around six years old. The physicist Hans Christian Ørsted was also a resident of the building in 1811.
The wholesale merchant (grosserer) Niels Adler resided in the building in 1812. He lived there with his wife Anne Charlotte Kristine Adler (née Engel, 1789-1871 ), Their wedding took place 2on 21 June 1811.
Composer F.L.Æ. Kunzen had his last home in the building from 1814 to 1817. C. L. Sander (1756-1819), a professor at the University of Copenhagen, was a resident from 1818 and until his death the following year.
Salomon family
Amsel Gottschalk Salomon (1802-1878) opened a bookshop in the building in 1820. He was the son of merchant Gottschalk Salomon (c. 1775-1843) and Brendle Haussen (c. 1775-1836). His mother was a daughter of the above mentioned former owner of the property Amsel Jacob Meyer (Hausen) by his second wife Hizl. She was first time married to her relative Salomon Abraham Meyer, a broker (mægler), with whom she had the son Ernst Meyer. Their marriage was dissolved in 1798.