Copenhagen Complaints - Conflict and Justice in the 18th Century

What to know

Drunk tradesmen, rotten drains, violent husbands, angry neighbors, threats on the street and freezing homes. There was plenty to complain about in 18th-century Copenhagen. And the complaints were made. Tens of thousands of complaints landed with the city government, which tried to reconcile the warring parties and maintain social order in the city. Copenhageners complained to the city government about everything from money matters to work conditions, family problems, defamation and violence. It was about justice and the right to be heard in a society with strict hierarchies and great social inequality. Today, the complaints are preserved in protocols and as handwritten letters of complaint at the Copenhagen City Archives, and are a unique source material for depicting people and the city in the 18th century and drawing a detailed picture of the citizens' concerns and conflicts. - Date: 26 November 2026 - Time: 15:30–17:00 - Venue: Hovedkassens Rådhus - Address: Rådhuspladsen 1, Copenhagen V, Denmark - Admission: From DKK 50