The Royal Danish Collection

H.M. The King's Reference Library

Welcome to the library of the Danish Royal House and its collections of books, maps, drawings and photographs from the Danish kings and queens. From 16th century Bibles, to 17th and 18th century maps and 19th century drawings, to The Royal Photographs Collection

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About HM The King's Reference Library

As a reference library it serves the needs of His Majesty, the Royal Family, and the Royal Court. As part of The Royal Danish Collection it contributes to the preservation of Danish literary and artistic heritage and to research and exhibitions.

About HM The King's Reference Library

The library is at the service of the reigning monarch, who on ascension to the throne acquires the right to it as well as the obligation to pass it on to his or her successors.

About HM The King's Reference Library

The library's collections take up c. 3.000 meters of shelf space. Apart from the steadily growing book collection, it houses collections of manuscripts, archival materials, maps, drawings, prints, and photographs, as well as music and films.

About HM The King's Reference Library

The topics covered are manifold, but focus areas are found in history and art, topography and travel, theology and fiction.

About HM The King's Reference Library

HM The King's Reference Library is first and foremost a historical collection, primarily comprising the private collections of older generations of Danish kings and queens. It is therefore characterised by their different tastes and interests.

About HM The King's Reference Library

The subjects reflect the role and function of The Royal House in society over the more c. 280 years of its existence, from the time of absolutism to the constitutional monarchy of today.

HM The King's Reference Library Catalogue (Danish)

Search the book collection of HM The King's Reference Library - the catalogue also comprises the reserach library of The Danish Royal Collection. The catalogue is in Danish.

Search the Royal Photographs Collection (Danish)

The collection comprises photographs bought, ordered og given to The Royal Family, as well as private photographs, often taken by members of the family themselves. A part of the collection has been made publicly avalable through this database.

Visit HM The King's Reference Library

During weekends and Danish school holidays the library's reading room is open to all visitors to the Amalienborg Museum. On workdays the reading room functions as a reserarch library, only accessible after application.

During weekdns and Danish school holidays HM The King's Reference Library's beautiful reading room is open to alle visitors to the Amalienborg Museum.  The reading room houses the larger part of the library's older books from c. 1500-1800. Here, you will also find small exhibitions from our collections of rare books, manuscripts, maps, drawings etc. 

The Reference Library has two departments that can visited on all openeing days. The one is the so-called "Gothic Library" in the Amalienborg Museum, the other the reference Library's rooms at Christiansborg that can be visited as part of the visit to the Royal Reception Rooms there. The books found on the shelves in the kings' studies at the Amalienborg Museum 

During working days, the libraray is a working reserach library and visits are only possible by appintment. The library does not lend books out of the house and all amaterials can only be accessed on site under surveillance. As a general rule, materials that are available at other libraries and collections cannot be consulted. 

An application indicating what one wishes to consult and with what purpose, can be sent via e-mail haandbiblioteket @ kosa.dk. An eventual visit can be arranged on that basis if the application is accapted.

The library is under video surveillance and all the non-accessible rooms are alarmed.

Please contact us, if you have any questions.