Christian IV’s Toilet (room 3A)
This was originally Christian IV's private toilet – in contemporary times called "The Secret." It was actually the lowest of three toilets, each with its own waste chute. It was originally equipped with a door in the wall that led to the adjacent bathroom.
The function and design of the toilet
The toilet operated in such a way that after using it, one would flush with water from a container. The waste was then directed into the moat surrounding the castle. During periods when there were issues with water supply to the moat, which regularly occurred in the summer months, a strong stench would emanate from the moat. However, this was still better than the stench from the inner part of Copenhagen city, where chamber pots were emptied at the curb.
The stucco ceiling here in the toilet dates back to Christian IV's time and was presumably executed by Valentin Dresler. The blue and white tiles on the walls were installed during Frederik IV's renovation of Rosenborg in 1705. The tiles were Dutch and delivered in 1706, and many of them are still on the walls. In the 19th century, the tiles were likely supplemented with other tiles that were manufactured for the Hermitage Castle in 1736 at a factory in Store Kongensgade.
One tile is incorrectly placed
During the time when Frederik IV renovated Rosenborg Castle, it was common practice to include errors – as only God was infallible. Can you find the tile that is placed incorrectly?
Objects in the room
If you are physically at the museum, you can admire the outstanding objects and read more about them below.
Please note that these descriptions are brief and often without images. They serve as an additional resource for those who wish to gain more knowledge about each object, such as who created them, their origin, and significance.