Copenhagen tram line 1: Svanemøllen - Ålestrupvej

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 with railcar 234 on Vindebrogade (1965)Two old train cars meet at Højbro with St. Nikolaj Church as a backdrop on April 8, 1965.By Henrik Boye, HT museum, Per Bech Petersen - April 8, 1965.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 with articulated tram 803 at Hellerup (1963-1965)Skjoldenæsholm Tram Museum Copenhagen Tramway articulated vehicles no. 803 and 853 DÜWAG 1960 and 1963 respectively) on Callisensvej in Hellerup circa 1964. Two of the 100 Copenhagen articulated vehicles were delivered red.By Henrik Boye, Sporvejshistorisk Selskab (SHS) - 1963 - 1965.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 on Vesterbrogade (1962)By Henrik Boye, Kunstforlag.
1962.

Postcard: Copenhagen tourist line T with articulated tram 802 on Holmens Kanal (1961)Copenhagen Tramway's articulated tram no. 802 (DÜWAG 1960) as a tourist tram in Holmens Kanal in front of the old National Bank building 1961.By Henrik Boye, Sporvejshistorisk Selskab (SHS) - 1961.

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A walk around Vesterbro (1960-1970)Old Vesterbro in the 1960s – Experience Copenhagen before the transformation. 🎧 Listen in! This video features audio from my podcast, "Know Your City", where I, along with archaeologist and city walker Hanne Fabricius (known from the History Quiz on DR), delve into the history of Vesterbro. 📢 The podcast can be heard on all paid podcast and audiobook services – and completely FREE on eReolen! 📽️ In this unique video recording, you see: ✔️ Street life in Vesterbro, as it looked over 60 years ago ✔️ Trams, small shops, and everyday life in Copenhagen ✔️ People on the streets – from children playing to adults on their way to work 📜 Do you want to delve deeper into history? Listen to the entire episode of "Know Your City" and learn more about Vesterbro's development over the years. 🔔 Subscribe for more historical recordings! Original clip: City Engineers Directorate film collection, TMF film. The clip has been restored to 2K resolution and interpolated to 60 FPS using artificial intelligence. The most important thing about Vesterbro is that what is today called Vesterbrogade, which partly lies on old country roads or the old main road—since roads change over time—is that the original country road into the city port dates back, let's say, to the Viking Age. That’s where most of Zealand originally came from. If you're from Funen, Jutland, Lolland, Falster, Germany, England, and so on, you're coming through the Middle Ages along that country road into Vesterport. Picture yourself arriving from the countryside and looking down toward the island where the fish market and houses are today—the old shoreline actually ran along Halmtorvet and Sønderboulevard. Previously, there was a sea view when entering the city. Large green fields, cattle, and grass once lined the area. We know from the 13th century that the city's citizens could pasture their cattle without paying grazing taxes, which were a tax on the city's common land. The term 'fælledpakken,' which is preserved in Amarfælde, refers to the city's shared grazing area. As for Vesterbro, as we know it today, it appears like a big bridge guard. When did it start taking shape? It actually only formed in the latter half of the 19th century, after 1852, when the military demarcation line was moved. This line arose after the Swedish siege of 168-60—when they burned parts of Vesterbro, among other areas. After they withdrew, the city required protection, so they established a demarcation zone—a kind of invisible line. Initially, it was positioned inside the lakes, extending to Copenhagen's fortifications—Vestervold, Nørrevold, and Østervold—where only low, lightweight buildings could be constructed. This was because, in the event of an attack, these areas could be burned to prevent enemy access. It was effective for its purpose until the English arrived in 1807, when they established a British military presence of 30,000 soldiers around Copenhagen. Once they left, the line was moved outward—roughly to where Karlsberg is today—and followed Pileal, Allegade, Jagtvej, all the way to Falkoneralæ and out to Øresund. This larger zone only permitted low-rise, light buildings—anything except brick or stone, just a single story. That might have worked well in the 18th century, but by the 19th century, industrialization and population growth caused a boom. People poured into the city from the countryside, especially from the west, and expanded beyond Copenhagen's walls. The town was exploding—adding floors to existing buildings, extending into backyards—and eventually, space became scarce. In 1852, it was evident that the existing arrangement was unsustainable. The demarcation line was moved back to the lakes—restoring the original line—and by 1870, it was abolished entirely as Copenhagen's fortifications were dismantled. After that, from 1852 to the 1920s, there was significant development along the bridge crossings. For comparison, Vesterbro’s population grew from 1,711 in 1841 to 6,500 by 1901. Once the demarcation line was gone, streets were laid out over the old field ditches, building on both sides—and that’s when it became quieter and more peaceful. But then came explosive growth, and they filled in the water. In the 1890s, Vesterbro’s terrain was doubled with land reclamation. Specifically, they filled in Langshavej—an entire stretch—so if you're arriving by train in Copenhagen, you might imagine spotting a Viking ship sticking its nose up between the tracks. This history is closely tied to Vesterbro's development, especially the amusement park scene. The story starts in the 17th century, with the emergence of the first amusement parks in the 18th century. Picture that in Vesterbro, there were once large plots of land, which at some point during the 18th century were divided into two big pieces of land.By Kend Din By - 1960 - 1970.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 at Frihedsstøtten (1956)By Henrik Boye, Rudolf Olsen Kunstforlag.
1956.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 on Østerport Station (1954-1956)Skjoldenæsholm Tram Museum Copenhagen bogie train from the 1930s in its original appearance at present-day Oslo Plads, circa 1955By Henrik Boye, Sporvejshistorisk Selskab (SHS) - 1954 - 1956.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 by Royal Danish Theatre (1946-1955)By Henrik Boye, K. Witt-Møllers Kunstforlag.
1946 - 1955.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 at Frihedsstøtten (1938)Copenhagen Central StationBy Henrik Boye - 1938.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 at City Hall Square (1936)Copenhagen, City HallBy Henrik Boye, Rudolf Olsen Kunstforlag - 1936.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 on City Hall Square (1933-1938)By Henrik Boye, Rudolf Olsen Kunstforlag.
1933 - 1938.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 with railcar 501 on Strandvejen (1930)Tuborg.By Henrik Boye, HT museum, Københavns Sporveje (KS) - February 5, 1930.

Picture lottery: Copenhagen tram line 1 (1930)28 TramBy Henrik Boye - 1930.

Picture lottery: Game board with tram (1930)209 Walrus 28 Tram 95 Rosenborg Castle 185 The Lire Boxer 143 Lion 33 On skis 22 Tulips 113 Beehive 125 Haystack 101 Cows being milked 216 Locomotive 6 Boxers in the ringBy Henrik Boye - 1930.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 at City Hall Square (1920)By Henrik Boye, J. Chr. Olsen Kunstforlag.
1920.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 on City Hall Square (1918-1925)By Henrik Boye, Rudolf Olsen Kunstforlag.
1918 - 1925.

Postcard: Copenhagen tram line 1 with open sidecar 253 on Frederiksberg Allé (1902)Copenhagen. Frederiksberg Allé. Moorish Hall.By Henrik Boye - 1902.

Postcard: Frederiksberg tram line 1 at Frederiksberg Runddel (1902)By Alex. Vincents Kunstforlag, Henrik Boye.
1902.

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KS Copenhagen 4 part (1899-1972)Kongens Nytorv, the world's most beautiful square, as I remember it from my childhood.By Jean MIRÉ MAISON - 1899 - 1972.

Prescription envelope: Copenhagen steam tram line with open sidecar 16 on Trianglen (1887)Apoteket Trianglen Telefon 01 38 32 00 Mandag-fredag kl. 9-20.00 Lørdag kl. 9-17.30 Søn- og helligdagen kl. 10-17.30 Det første højhus på Trianglen blev bygget år 1857. Dette billede viser den første sporvognsventesal, der blev opført ca. år 1883.By Apoteket Trianglen, Henrik Boye - 1887.

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Last updated: February 7, 2026.