The Black Diamond, Copenhagen
In the buildings of Royal Danish Library on Slotsholmen, you can enjoy exhibitions and events, use the reading rooms and visit the cafe, all while enjoying the view of the harbour.
Photo: Laura Stamer
On the edge of Copenhagen Harbour sits The Black Diamond as a beacon of culture. The Black Diamond is Royal Danish Library's cultural centre in Copenhagen with lots of events all year round. The Black Diamond opened in 1999, and was built to fit with the original library building from 1906.
More than 1,000 students, Copenhageners, tourists and other curious people visit The Black Diamond every day and make use of the library, cultural activities, café, shop, and meeting rooms. You can visit The Black Diamond for free and everyone is welcome.
Study seats and reading rooms
Read about:
Regulations for public areas at Royal Danish Library
1. The Student Reading Room
The Student Reading Room is found on your right hand when going up the moving walkway in the atrium of the library. The reading room is open to everyone who needs a place to read or study.
Talking is not allowed in the reading room.
2. The Old Reading Room
You will find the Old Reading Room by continuing straight ahead from the moving walkway and turning right by the octagonal display case at the end of the hall. The reading room is open to everyone who needs a place to read or study.
Talking is not allowed in the reading room.
3. The Small Reading Room
You will find the Small Reading Room on the 5th floor. Take the moving walkway from the atrium and take the stairs on your left or the lift.
In the reading room you will find select handbooks relating to manuscripts and book history as well as the handbooks of the folklore archives. The study seats are open to anyone who needs a place to read or study.
The Small Reading Room is for you who wants to study in surroundings without snacks and food. You are welcome to bring water and hot drinks with a lid. Quiet conversation is permitted in the reading room.
4. Research Reading Room
The Research Reading room is found on your left hand when going up the moving walkway in the atrium of the library. The reading room is generally for non-circulatory material - that is, material which may only be viewed in a reading room. In the reading room, you can also find a collection of reference books.
Food, drinks, bags, and jackets are not allowed. You may bring your own laptop, if you take it out of the sleeve. Bags and jackets can be placed in lockers.
Talking is not allowed in the reading room.
Regulations for Research Reading Room
ID-card for Research Reading Room
5. Open Study Area
You will find the open study area by continuing straight ahead from the moving walkway and crossing the Kirkeby bridge. You can work in groups in this area.
Conversation is allowed in the open study area but please show consideration.
Facilities
Read about:
- Wi-Fi
- Shop
- Cloakroom and lockers
- Toilets
- Computers for general use
- Parking
- Public transport
- Disability information
Regulations for public areas at Royal Danish Library
1. Wi-Fi
The wireless network (Wi-Fi) is accessible to all users of the library and covers the entire library. To gain access to the network, you need to log on to 'eduroam' or 'KB-Guest' - the latter requires that you accept the conditions for use.
Internet connectivity requires that you are from an institution which is part of the Eduroam collaboration. Please contact your own institution to get information on how to access Eduroam.
2. Shop
In the shop you can get answers to your questions, become acquainted with the library services, pick up and return borrowed material, purchase unique products, and get help finding exciting cultural experiences. You will find us inside the revolving doors by the main entrance.
Besides common office supplies and books, the shop also offers unique products with quotes and motifs from the collections, such as tote bags, notebooks, and fridge magnets.
It is also possible to buy select products, books, and posters in our webshop.
3. Cloakroom and lockers
Lockers are found on the ground floor and on the 1st and 4th floors. The lockers are operated via a four digit pin code of your own choice. If your bag or suitcase is too big for the lockers, we have extra large ones. Talk to the staff at The Black Diamond Information services and they will help you.
You will find the cloakroom to the left of the main entrance, right by the toilets.
Students can reserve and borrow a locker. Students writing their thesis can borrow the locker for up to six months. Other students can borrow the lockers for two months at a time. Contact The Black Diamond Information services to hear more.
4. Toilets
Toilets are found on the ground floor on each side of the Atrium. In addition, there is a small toilet located on the second floor (same floor as the three large reading rooms).
5. Computers for general use
We have prioritised making room for you and your laptop in our study areas, but there is a small number of computers available for general use in the public areas on the 2nd floor. The computers require a password and may be used according to a first-come, first-served policy.
6. Parking
Unfortunately, we do not have parking facilities for our users.
We refer to the public parking spaces at:
- Slotsholmsgade
- Frederiksholms channel
- BLOX parking with 350 parking spaces, which has easy access from Vester Voldgade.
Disability parking
Motorists with a disability parking card can park at Søren Kierkegaards Plads in connection with a visit to The Black Diamond. The location has six disability parking spaces. These cannot be reserved.
7. Public transport
- S-train to Central Station, 15 minutes on foot.
- Metro to Gammel Strand st. or Christianshavn st., 10-12 minutes on foot.
- Harbour bus 991, 992.
Taxi
The staff at The Black Diamond Information services can order a taxi for you. It usually takes five minutes for it to arrive.
8. Disability information
Disability parking spaces are located in front of the main entrance at The Black Diamond at Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1. From the car park there is access for people with disabilities to The Black Diamond.
On the ground floor you will find lifts to the other floors.
Accessible toilets are located on the ground floor and on the second floor.
If you are a wheelchair user and need to use one of our meeting rooms, or if you are taking a tour, please call us and make arrangements via telephone +45 9132 4880, three weekdays prior to your visit at the latest.
Practical information about events and exhibitions
Read about
1. Ticket sales
You can buy tickets for events in The Black Diamond online or in The Black Diamond's shop.
2. Telecoil
Telecoil facilities are available in the Queen's Hall, where most events take place. The Diamond has two types of devices: one for the hearing impaired without a hearing aid and one for the hearing impaired with a hearing aid.
The telecoil system is not in use at our classical concerts, as they are acoustic.
3. Disability access
Visitors with a disability can choose to bring a companion to events, exhibitions, and concerts free of cost. Please inform us if you are bringing a companion when ordering tickets. At events, there will always be a member of staff present to help you and your companion to the hall.
Disability parking
Motorists with a disability parking card can park at Søren Kierkegaards Plads in connection with a visit to The Black Diamond. The site has six disability parking spaces. These cannot be reserved.
Opening hours
The Black Diamond, Copenhagen
| Access to the building | Mon-Fri | Sat | Sun* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-20 | 9-18 | 10-16 |
More opening hours in The Black Diamond
| Mon-Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Diamond Information Shop, loan and delivery | 8-20 | 8-20 | 9-18 | 10-16 |
| Café | 8-18 | 8-18 | 9-18 | 10-16 |
| Study reading rooms | 8-20 | 8-20 | 9-18 | 10-16 |
| Library Guidance The Kirkeby Bridge | 11-15 | 11-15 | Closed | Closed |
| Research Reading Room See operating hours for users of the National Archives | 9-18 | 9-17 | Closed | Closed |
| Exhibitions | 10-20 | 10-20 | 10-20 | 10-16 |
*On Sundays: The Study Reading Room is open. The Old Reading Room is open on presentation of an exhibition ticket, but is not open to students.
The library is permanently closed on public holidays, Christmas and New Year's Eve, and Constitution Day. The Research Reading Room and Library Guidance are closed the day after Ascension Day.
