Louvre in Ringsted? Architect wants to resurrect the royal line beneath the city
Ringsted: Local architect David Wiik Udbjørg dreams of lifting Ringsted into the national consciousness with a new world-class museum.
By Nikolaj Kennov Rasmussen
When architect David Wiik Udbjørg worked on a project about Ringsted as a student in 1987, the seeds were sown for a vision that still burns within him today—and which has become more relevant than ever with the establishment of the upcoming visitor center at Sct. Bendts Kirke.
Back then, the local architect developed an “experience stretch” from Ringsted Station to Nørretorv, with a particular focus on Sct. Bendts Kirke and the square in front of it. Today, that same church and the historical heart of the city remain at the center of a new vision that could potentially give Ringsted an entirely new role in the story of Denmark: A Royal Lineage Museum.
“We have so many kings and queens lying in Sct. Bendts Kirke, so why not have a royal lineage museum? We have the National Museum in Copenhagen, the Viking Ship Museum, and the cathedral in Roskilde, but Ringsted has no communication site for this part of Danish history—the city is so richly represented,” says David Wiik Udbjørg, who has also shared his vision in the ‘Ringsted’ Facebook group.
Binding the whole country together
David Wiik Udbjørg imagines a museum that does not merely tell the history of the royal line but binds all of Denmark together through storytelling, architecture, and modern technology.
It is a thoroughly developed total concept; he has created a vision with underground parking cellars that free up space for pedestrian streets and urban life on the surface. In a style reminiscent of the iconic Louvre in Paris, he envisions small pyramid-like landmarks on a man-made lake, signaling the museum he imagines lies beneath the ground at Sct. Bendts Kirke.
“One must have respect for Sct. Bendts Kirke, but the lawn in front of the church can easily be reimagined. Imagine a reflecting pool that mirrors the church and creates the kind of life in the area that people so dearly want in Ringsted. It could be absolutely fantastic,” says David Wiik Udbjørg.
Since Udbjørg returned to Denmark and Ringsted in 2013, he has continued to develop the idea. He has produced visualizations and launched concepts on a website, and his approach to museum communication is ambitious.
“I work a lot with visualizations, and regarding the communication, I am thinking of the highest standards with as much public involvement as possible. Virtual and Augmented Reality should make history come alive, because it’s not just about telling the factual history, but also about bringing the myths and legends to eye-level with the public,” says the architect.
Up to the City Council
It was precisely the talk of the new visitor center at Sct. Bendts Kirke that gave him “blood on his teeth” (renewed motivation) to update and further develop his illustrations. He welcomes the visitor center but does not believe that it alone will be enough to put Ringsted on the map.
“One should not shoot down good ideas, but it is hardly something that will put Ringsted on the map. I believe this should be a state-level project, administered under the National Museum, because it is not a small project. It is about all of Denmark,” says David Wiik Udbjørg, asserting that the vision remains on his drawing board, awaiting local political support for the project.
“Now it is up to the city council to assess whether Ringsted should truly be put on the map with a royal lineage museum.”
Source: Dagbladet Ringsted, May 7, 2025.