Royal Library

Denmark's National Library on the harbour

The Royal Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek) is Denmark's and Scandinavia's national and largest library. It was founded in 1648 under King Frederik III and has been open to the public since the late 18th century. The historic brick building from 1906 stands on Slotsholmen, the small palace island at the centre of the city, right on the harbour.

Today the building is best known for its striking modern extension, the Black Diamond (Den Sorte Diamant) from 1999. The name comes from its polished black granite-and-glass facade, which tilts out over the water and reflects the light differently through the day. The extension links the old library building with the harbourfront and doubles as a public cultural venue.

What to expect

The Black Diamond is more than a reading room. Behind the facade opens a bright atrium, and the building houses several public spaces:

• Changing exhibitions as well as the permanent exhibition TREASURES, showcasing outstanding items from the collection – all free to visit.
• The National Museum of Photography, with Danish and international photographic art.
• Dronningesalen, a concert and events hall seating around 600.
• A bookshop, café and restaurant – the café overlooks the harbour.

The library's collection runs to millions of books, manuscripts and documents, from medieval monastic holdings to modern works. For most visitors, though, the building itself is the main draw: a short, striking stop on a walk around Slotsholmen.

Visiting & practical information

Admission is free, as are all the exhibitions. Allow 30 to 60 minutes to take in the atrium, the exhibitions and the café. The main building opens early on weekdays (from 8:00), while the exhibitions don't open until 10:00; weekend hours are shorter. The research reading room is only open Tuesday to Thursday and is aimed at researchers rather than casual visitors.

The library runs guided tours – typically Mondays at 15:00, with an extra Sunday tour at 12:00 in July and August; free exhibition access is included. Check the exact schedule on the official website before you go.

The Black Diamond is wheelchair accessible: lifts reach every floor from ground level, and accessible toilets are on the ground floor and second floor. Wheelchair users are advised by the library to call at least three working days ahead.

Getting there & combining your visit

The library sits on Søren Kierkegaards Plads on Slotsholmen, in Indre By, Copenhagen's inner city. It's around a 15-minute walk from Central Station, or 10–12 minutes from the Gammel Strand or Christianshavn metro stations; harbour buses 991 and 992 also stop nearby. There's no dedicated car park – the library points visitors to the BLOX car park among others, with six disabled parking spaces right on Søren Kierkegaards Plads.

Slotsholmen is easy to combine with other sights: just a few steps north stands Christiansborg Palace with its free viewing tower, and close by you'll also find the National Museum of Denmark and the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. For further planning, see our overview of Copenhagen's attractions and the guide to the Copenhagen Card.