The grounds were formerly used by the Royal Danish Army as a rifle range before being confiscated by the German occupying forces.
Most of the resistance fighters executed here were buried in secret pits until their remains were discovered by the Danish resistance after liberation.
The park was inaugurated as a memorial site on August 29, 1950, which was the seventh anniversary of the dissolution of the Danish government.
The landscape architecture was designed by C.Th. Sørensen to foster quiet reflection through a combination of open fields and dense plantings.
A bronze statue titled 'The Suffering Mother' serves as a central point for mourning and reflection within the park.
The memorial is one of the few places in Denmark that holds official state ceremonies honoring the resistance movement.
Mindelunden i Ryvangen, known as Memorial Park, is the site of a former Nazi execution ground used during the German occupation of Denmark in World War II. The park serves as a final resting place for Danish resistance fighters and victims of the occupation who were executed or died in concentration camps. It features the Execution Site, where 93 Danish resistance members were shot by firing squad between 1943 and 1945. The area is laid out in a peaceful, natural landscape design that contrasts sharply with its history as a military shooting range. A prominent memorial wall lists the names of those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Danish freedom. The site is maintained as a national monument and a place of collective remembrance for the Danish people. It remains a tranquil area located within the northern suburbs of Copenhagen.
The memorial wall and the Execution Site provide the most poignant photographic perspectives.
Walk the gravel paths slowly, as the landscape design is intentional and meant to influence your pace.
Visit the information center near the entrance to understand the historical context of the individual graves.
Maintain a respectful volume, as the park is actively used by locals for quiet reflection.
Do not treat the site as a standard recreational park for sports or active leisure.
Open daily throughout the year, but paths may be slippery or restricted during heavy winter snow.
Maintain a low voice and respectful demeanor; refrain from running, loud activities, or picnics in the burial areas.
