Dragør Beach Hotel

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The present building at Strandlinien 9 was constructed 1845 for inn keeper Lars Møller-Madsen. The name was "The Old Inn". Before the rebuilding the Old Inn consisted of 8 minor buildings with a public house, spirit chambers, bedrooms, brewery, tap room, stables, laundry, cellars e.t.c.
From 1907 the name "Dragør Strandhotel" (Dragør Beach Hotel) is used. Later hotel owners has from time to time used the names "Hotel Dragør" and "Dragör-Hotel".
Dragør Gamle Kro. Colorized postcard published by Alex Vincent appr. 1906 immidiately before a larger rebuilding of the first floor, udvidelsen med terrasse and change of name to "Dragør Strandhotel".
An inn has been located at the harbour during centuries. In a concession dated 1664 it is noted, that permission is granted for innkeeping and travellers quarters as well as hotel guests with eating- and drinking at moderate prices. With the condition, that the innkeeping is not misused for drunkenness and time-wasting.
Amagers historian Chr. Nicolaisen wrote in 1926, that you could, with certainty, trace the inn and the owners back to the middle ages.
When the former stables of the hotel facing "the Castle" was torn down at the end of the 1970's, older stone circles and 7 layers containing fish garbage. Perhaps dating back to the time of the herring markets. The title "The oldest serving establishment in Denmark" may not be entirely unjustified.
During the wars against England at the beginning of the 19. century, the inn was a rendezvous for the Royal Danish Life Guards. King Frederik VII and countess Danner was appr. 1855 regular guests at the inn after the feasant shootings in Kongelunden (local forest).
Throughout World War I the hotel provided food for the many danish soldiers living locallly in private accomodation, and for that purpose a field kitchen was set up in the big hall facing Toldergade. The menu was often skippers lobscouse.
The Beach Hotel appr. 1914. (Postcard published by Edvard Ravn).

During the 1940's first german, later on english, troups, used the facilities of the hotel.

The big hall dating back to 1909 has fortunately been used for more peaceful purposes. Professional theatrical companies performed full-length plays and private theatrical societies has also been using the hall for appr. 85 years ago.
In the beginning of the 1970's Jørgen Buck-høj and Jørgen Ryg, together with several local talents put up a revue in the big hall. One can often listen to the monologues of Jørgen Ryg over the radio, several of which recorded at the Beach Hotel. Several motion pictures has been recorded at the Beach Hotel.
Both the Skippers and the Marine Society has kept rooms at the Beach Hotel. In the side building facing Kongevejen (The Kings Road) several shops has been located from time to time.
Fashion shows, bingo, picture exhibitions, dancing school, discotheque, christmas parties, not to mention weddings and other private events, has been part of the hotels history.
The activities at the hotel took earlier on not only place in the buildings along Strandlinien, Toldergade, Kongevejen and "The Castle". We know that as early as in the 18. century a garden was part of the hotel. Here, between the blacksmith and Strandstien, was a summerhouse and a bowling lane.
From 1929 and for appr. 30 years the hotel had serving in and at the old blacksmith (now clubhouse for the local kayak club). Today the outdoor serving has been moved to a veranda in front of the hotel and in the patio (at the location of the old stable).
The Hotel 1930 and 1996. Change image by moving the cursor over the link at the left of the image field.

  • A well known postcard of the hotel from the middle of the 1920's before the veranda covered the entire front (published by P.E. Poulsen, Dragør).
  • Sunday june 2. 1996. One hour later the traffic was as lively as on any sunny weekend. The first floor was rebuilt appr. 1940 by the owner Chr. Gelsing and 20 years later the veranda was added by restaurant-keeper Agnes Dam Jensen.
Chr. Nicolaisen wrote in 1926, in the book "Dragør Strandhotel - Et historisk tilbageblik", and Preben Kørning writes in "Alhambra Park Amager" (1984) about his great-grandfather Carl Rasmussen, who co-owned the hotel in the time up to World War I.

In the book "Brikker til et Dragør Puslespil" (1990) former local archivist Birte Hjorth tells about the family Hansen Gynge, who owned the hotel from 1664 in more than 150 years.
The history of the hotel in told in more details in "Dragør Strandhotel" (published 1997), in text and photos. The text in this article is based on the latter publication.

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