Rigsarkivet

The Danish National Archives houses some of Denmark’s most important historical documents, dating all the way back to the 12th century. The collection spans approximately 500 kilometres of shelves of paper records, while digitally created data takes up even more space. This vast collection includes everything from old local church registers and police records to archival documents of exceptional national importance, such as the Danish Constitution and international treaties.

The original archival records provide a first-hand source of our past, and the reading halls are frequently visited by history enthusiasts who want to explore their family history and genealogy. The archival records are not freely available for browsing. To access them, records must be ordered in advance for use in the reading halls and cannot be borrowed or taken off-site.

The reading hall is located in the heart of Copenhagen, next to Christiansborg Palace, and is easily accessible by public transport. Visiting the reading hall is free of charge.

Private guided tours of the Danish National Archives’ otherwise closed storage facilities are also available for purchase. You can find prices and more information here.

You can find the opening hours on the Danish National Archives’ website.