Elers halls of residence

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Learned beggars

Store Kannikestræde is the main street of Copenhagen's Latin quarter. This was where the university professors settled into their apartments while the students installed themselves in the halls of residence. First came Regensen, built in 1618-23, and then Borchs halls of residence, which were opened in 1691. Elers halls of residence were established in 1691 by Councillor of State Jørgen Elers. He had lost his two sons in a fire that swept through large areas of Copenhagen in 1689. So he founded the building on Store Kannikestræde 32 in memory of them. It opened its doors to the first 16 boarders in 1705.

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Lords of the spiritual kingdom

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Story written by Martin Zerlang

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Adam Oehlenschläger was not a happy young man the first time he saw the halls. When visiting his friends, the later very famous Ørsted brothers, at Elers halls, he compared their rooms with dismal monks' cells. When he saw the library, tears same to his eyes. How would he ever find his way to science? But before long all the students in Copenhagen were beating a path to the door of the library at Elers halls, which the university used as an auditorium. In the winter of 1802-03, philosopher Heinrich Steffens held the lectures that heralded the Danish Golden Age. The students were previously called learned beggars", but now the beggars were kings. In 1820, poet Christian Winther paid tribute to the students as "Lords of the spiritual kingdom". One of those now speaking for these "Lords" was the king of poetry himself - Oehlenschläger. "