This special exhibition explores how one of 19th-century Denmark’s most remarkable and controversial women has been interpreted – both in her own time and by generations since. Born Louise Rasmussen, she was a ballet dancer and milliner before marrying King Frederik VII and becoming known as Countess Danner.

Due to her non-aristocratic background, Danner was never granted the title of Queen. Yet in many ways, she was ahead of her time – challenging the norms of her society and anticipating the values that would shape Denmark in the 20th century.

The title of the exhibition plays on a double meaning in Danish: while “Danner” is the Countess’s name, the word also means “maker” or “shaper.” Thus, the Danish title refers both to her identity and to her role in shaping the nation.

The exhibition offers insight into key social and cultural movements that helped define modern Denmark. Visitors encounter three major forces – the labour movement, cultural radicalism, and women’s liberation – all of which echo through Countess Danner’s life, actions, and legacy.

A woman ahead of her time
She was mocked, rejected, and denied her place at court. Yet today, Countess Danner stands as a symbol of social justice and the struggle for women’s rights. In May 2025, Frederiksborg presents the first major exhibition on Countess Danner – a woman who defied the expectations of her time and left a lasting mark on history.

Through paintings, drawings, sculptures, letters, photographs, films, and diaries, the exhibition traces how Danner has been viewed and reimagined across the decades. Not only as a historical figure, but as a cultural symbol who continues to provoke thought, debate, and admiration – and whose legacy reflects the transformation of Denmark itself.

The special exhibition features Countess Danner as a symbol of social mobility, women’s liberation, and the fight against injustice.