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HISTORY
Brøndums Hotel: Authentic Danish history
As soon as you step over the doorstep and behind the red bricks at Brøndums Hotel, you’ll sense the special atmosphere that reigns at the hotel.
The light shines through the mullion windows and hits the beautiful herringbone parquet in the atmospheric living rooms; where each room has a different color on the walls.
The light shines through the mullion windows and hits the beautiful herringbone parquet in the atmospheric living rooms; where each room has a different color on the walls.
Here, tradition, quality, orderliness and hospitality are key words; just as they have been since 1859.
Look forward to slowing down, enjoying the sensuousness, admiring the aesthetics, and feeling the atmosphere in Brøndum's living rooms, where iconic Danish personalities such as Georg Brandes, Carl Nielsen, Marie and P.S. Krøyer, Holger Drachmann and Anna and Michael Ancher have held dinner gatherings and parties approximately 150 years ago.
From merchant's house to hotel
Brøndums Hotel was originally a merchant’s house. But in 1859, merchant Erik Brøndum was given the status of a host and therefore furnished a few rooms for overnight guests. Around 1870, merchant Brøndum summoned his eldest son Degn Brøndum to Skagen, who for some years had been in Copenhagen to apprentice as a merchant.
When Erik Brøndum died in 1890, Degn took over the merchant’s house and hotel. Here, he lived with his mother Ane Hedvig Brøndum and the two sisters Marie and Hulda. Two other siblings, Agnes and John, later returned to the home. Only the sister - Anna Ancher - married and started a family. However, Anna stayed in Skagen close to her childhood home. The sisters Hulda and Marie Brøndum were very important to the hotel operation and the atmosphere of the hotel throughout their lives.
A visionary, approachable and modest gentleman
Degn Brøndum was a modest man, who was easily satisfied. It is said that he met the demands of the guests – for example about the bathrooms - with a shrug; he himself just took the bicycle to take a bath in the sea. They could just do the same!
At the same time, he was welcoming and met everybody with the same hospitality, regardless of them being a local fisherman, a merchant traveler or royalty from home or abroad. And he gladly lent money to the fishermen or guaranteed their loans.
Finally, he was incredibly visionary and enterprising. With Degn Brøndum at the helm, the hotel expanded countless of times, so that it transformed from a merchant's farm into one of Denmark's largest and best-known hotels.
"When you see photographs from Skagen, when Degn began to expand, Brøndum's hotel rises like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was some huge constructions, and the fishermen must have though he was mad. But it only expanded, and he also built a large annex down by the beach, which became a success," explains Ane Bjerg Thomsen, communication developer at Skagen's Art Museums, and emphasizes:
"Degn Brøndum was one of the most important men in the city and took part in exposing Skagen, although he was not at all interested in exposing anything; and not at all himself!”
Artists' colony was part of the family
One of Degn Brøndum’s five siblings, Anna Brøndum, was an artist. She married into the surname Ancher and was a part of the artist colony in Skagen.
In the 1870’s, the first artists began to travel to Skagen. Several of them stayed at Brøndums Hotel. And here, they were well received. Among the artists was Michael Ancher, who later became Degn Brøndum's brother-in-law.
"The Brøndum family has, in a way, built a bridge between the artists and Skagen. Degn Brøndum was a kindred spirit to them; he read the newspaper Politiken, listened to elections on the radio and was politically interested. A culture radical and very oriented person in all possible ways. We have the impression that the Brøndum family were good at helping the artists settle in Skagen and perhaps guiding them in finding their way to special motifs. You can imagine that it was useful with Brøndum's local knowledge if an artist wanted to paint a special type of fisherman, for example with a big red beard, and whether it would be wise to talk to the wife before painting," reports Ane Bjerg Thomsen.
At the same time, the artists were allowed to decorate the hotel’s dining room with their paintings and drawings on the walls. The dining room can now be experienced at the Skagens Museum, which among other things has been established on the initiative of Degn Brøndum.
“The hotel was of course for guests, but it was also a home for the family. They lived in the living rooms and often they ate together with the guests. So when you were a guest at the hotel, especially in the off season, you were a part of the family,” she explains.
Extravagant cooking and high quality in the kitchen
Over the years, Brøndums Hotel has seen many wonderful parties and celebrations. This can also be read in letters the guests wrote and received. For example in this letter:
Letter from the artist couple Betty and Einar Hein [Frederiksberg] to Anna Ancher [Skagen] – 30.12.1919
Dear Anna Ancher.
I and Einar wish You and Mikkel a happy New Year and “Thanks for the Year Past”. Thanks for Your friendly Christmas greeting, seems like you have had a great time up there this Christmas, eating Roast Goose with Red Cabbage in the lovely Dining Room and swinging a Couple of Degn’s famous Cups. That would have been just something for me. If the Architect is up there, will You then say hello to him from me and wish him a happy New Year. Also greet Hulda, Marie and Degn many Times from me and wish them a happy New Year.
Many lovely Greetings to You both from
Your devoted Einar and Betty
In general, the letters testify some extravagant meals and high quality in the kitchen. In fact, Hulda Brøndum's cooking was extremely advanced, considering the time.
"She was making “Babette's Feast”-like dinners, while others in Skagen ate fish and potatoes. She ordered goods from Copenhagen to make desserts and side dishes that you could only dream about. We can also read that even back then the wine cellar was something special," Ane Bjerg Thomsen reveals.
Letter from Anna Ancher [Skagen] to Helga Ancher [Copenhagen] – 22.3.1919
Skagen. Saturday at 12 o’clock
Dear Helga!
Yes, it was a very successful Party last night on the 21st. Delicious Food, Oysters, Sole with Peas, Salmon, Carrots, Roast Turkey with Stuffing, and Ice Cream, both Chocolate and Pineapple ice cream. Apples, Coffee at the Table. Good, cheerful atmosphere!
A special atmosphere, which is still present
Anna Ancher was the only one among the siblings who got married and had a child; Helga Cathrine Ancher. When she died in 1964, the Brøndum family became extinct.
However, the atmosphere that the Brøndum family created is still very much present at the hotel. Therefore, to this day, you can still enjoy the friendly service, good food, lovely wines, and special charm at Brøndums Hotel.
"There is a very special atmosphere at the hotel. Brøndums Hotel is truly a piece of Danish cultural history," Ane Bjerg Thomsen points out.
Experience our historical setting
We look forward to welcome you in our historical setting - where our welcoming staff continues to ensure that all guests feel at home.
Whether you are planning a weekend stay, a single night or a lunch in the restaurant, we promise an atmospheric and memorable visit with quality as the overarching keyword.
Look forward to slowing down, enjoying the sensuousness, admiring the aesthetics, and feeling the atmosphere in Brøndum's living rooms, where iconic Danish personalities such as Georg Brandes, Carl Nielsen, Marie and P.S. Krøyer, Holger Drachmann and Anna and Michael Ancher have held dinner gatherings and parties approximately 150 years ago.
From merchant's house to hotel
Brøndums Hotel was originally a merchant’s house. But in 1859, merchant Erik Brøndum was given the status of a host and therefore furnished a few rooms for overnight guests. Around 1870, merchant Brøndum summoned his eldest son Degn Brøndum to Skagen, who for some years had been in Copenhagen to apprentice as a merchant.
When Erik Brøndum died in 1890, Degn took over the merchant’s house and hotel. Here, he lived with his mother Ane Hedvig Brøndum and the two sisters Marie and Hulda. Two other siblings, Agnes and John, later returned to the home. Only the sister - Anna Ancher - married and started a family. However, Anna stayed in Skagen close to her childhood home. The sisters Hulda and Marie Brøndum were very important to the hotel operation and the atmosphere of the hotel throughout their lives.
A visionary, approachable and modest gentleman
Degn Brøndum was a modest man, who was easily satisfied. It is said that he met the demands of the guests – for example about the bathrooms - with a shrug; he himself just took the bicycle to take a bath in the sea. They could just do the same!
At the same time, he was welcoming and met everybody with the same hospitality, regardless of them being a local fisherman, a merchant traveler or royalty from home or abroad. And he gladly lent money to the fishermen or guaranteed their loans.
Finally, he was incredibly visionary and enterprising. With Degn Brøndum at the helm, the hotel expanded countless of times, so that it transformed from a merchant's farm into one of Denmark's largest and best-known hotels.
"When you see photographs from Skagen, when Degn began to expand, Brøndum's hotel rises like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was some huge constructions, and the fishermen must have though he was mad. But it only expanded, and he also built a large annex down by the beach, which became a success," explains Ane Bjerg Thomsen, communication developer at Skagen's Art Museums, and emphasizes:
"Degn Brøndum was one of the most important men in the city and took part in exposing Skagen, although he was not at all interested in exposing anything; and not at all himself!”
Artists' colony was part of the family
One of Degn Brøndum’s five siblings, Anna Brøndum, was an artist. She married into the surname Ancher and was a part of the artist colony in Skagen.
In the 1870’s, the first artists began to travel to Skagen. Several of them stayed at Brøndums Hotel. And here, they were well received. Among the artists was Michael Ancher, who later became Degn Brøndum's brother-in-law.
"The Brøndum family has, in a way, built a bridge between the artists and Skagen. Degn Brøndum was a kindred spirit to them; he read the newspaper Politiken, listened to elections on the radio and was politically interested. A culture radical and very oriented person in all possible ways. We have the impression that the Brøndum family were good at helping the artists settle in Skagen and perhaps guiding them in finding their way to special motifs. You can imagine that it was useful with Brøndum's local knowledge if an artist wanted to paint a special type of fisherman, for example with a big red beard, and whether it would be wise to talk to the wife before painting," reports Ane Bjerg Thomsen.
At the same time, the artists were allowed to decorate the hotel’s dining room with their paintings and drawings on the walls. The dining room can now be experienced at the Skagens Museum, which among other things has been established on the initiative of Degn Brøndum.
“The hotel was of course for guests, but it was also a home for the family. They lived in the living rooms and often they ate together with the guests. So when you were a guest at the hotel, especially in the off season, you were a part of the family,” she explains.
Extravagant cooking and high quality in the kitchen
Over the years, Brøndums Hotel has seen many wonderful parties and celebrations. This can also be read in letters the guests wrote and received. For example in this letter:
Letter from the artist couple Betty and Einar Hein [Frederiksberg] to Anna Ancher [Skagen] – 30.12.1919
Dear Anna Ancher.
I and Einar wish You and Mikkel a happy New Year and “Thanks for the Year Past”. Thanks for Your friendly Christmas greeting, seems like you have had a great time up there this Christmas, eating Roast Goose with Red Cabbage in the lovely Dining Room and swinging a Couple of Degn’s famous Cups. That would have been just something for me. If the Architect is up there, will You then say hello to him from me and wish him a happy New Year. Also greet Hulda, Marie and Degn many Times from me and wish them a happy New Year.
Many lovely Greetings to You both from
Your devoted Einar and Betty
In general, the letters testify some extravagant meals and high quality in the kitchen. In fact, Hulda Brøndum's cooking was extremely advanced, considering the time.
"She was making “Babette's Feast”-like dinners, while others in Skagen ate fish and potatoes. She ordered goods from Copenhagen to make desserts and side dishes that you could only dream about. We can also read that even back then the wine cellar was something special," Ane Bjerg Thomsen reveals.
Letter from Anna Ancher [Skagen] to Helga Ancher [Copenhagen] – 22.3.1919
Skagen. Saturday at 12 o’clock
Dear Helga!
Yes, it was a very successful Party last night on the 21st. Delicious Food, Oysters, Sole with Peas, Salmon, Carrots, Roast Turkey with Stuffing, and Ice Cream, both Chocolate and Pineapple ice cream. Apples, Coffee at the Table. Good, cheerful atmosphere!
A special atmosphere, which is still present
Anna Ancher was the only one among the siblings who got married and had a child; Helga Cathrine Ancher. When she died in 1964, the Brøndum family became extinct.
However, the atmosphere that the Brøndum family created is still very much present at the hotel. Therefore, to this day, you can still enjoy the friendly service, good food, lovely wines, and special charm at Brøndums Hotel.
"There is a very special atmosphere at the hotel. Brøndums Hotel is truly a piece of Danish cultural history," Ane Bjerg Thomsen points out.
Experience our historical setting
We look forward to welcome you in our historical setting - where our welcoming staff continues to ensure that all guests feel at home.
Whether you are planning a weekend stay, a single night or a lunch in the restaurant, we promise an atmospheric and memorable visit with quality as the overarching keyword.