Abel Cathrines Stiftelse

Abel Cathrines Stiftelse is a listed building in Abel Cathrines Gade between Vesterbrogade and Istedgade in the Vesterbro district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built to provide housing for indigent women by a charity established in 1675 by Abel Cathrine von der Wisch, Queen Sophie Amalie's lady-in-waiting, replacing an earlier building in the city centre. Completed in 1886, it was designed by Hermann Baagøe Storck and is an early example of the National Romantic style..

Presumably the illegitimate daughter of Wolf von der Wisch, a nobleman, Abel Cathrine von der Wisch was born in Schleswig or Holstein in either 1626 or 1627. She married Hans Hansen Oster who was a bookkeeper (proviantskriver) at Proviantgården on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen as well as inspector of Queen Sofie Amalies's estates on Lolland and Falster. In 1675, she funded the construction of a row of seven houses with pauper accommodation in Dronningens Tværgade, founding Abel Cathrines Stiftelse on 27 December 1875, just a few days before her death.

The almshouses in Dronningens Tværgade were demolished in 1885 and replaced by a new building with residences for indigent women in the emerging Vesterbro district. The building was designed by Hermann Baagøe Storck and inaugurated on 31 October 1886. The building contained 31 residences which generally housed two women each. The north wing of the building contained a chapel.

The charity was dissolved in 1949 and the building was ceded to Copenhagen Municipality and used as a refuge for homeless people. The chapel was dismantled in 1969. Some of its inventory was handed over to the Copenhagen City Museum. The charity's archives are kept in Copenhagen City Archives at Copenhagen City Hall.

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