Hans Egede Statue
Hans Egede-statuen
A statue of the colonial founder on the hill behind the cathedral, overlooking the Old Harbour and the fjord. The statue itself is controversial.
This bronze statue, dating from 1921, commemorates Hans Egede, the Norwegian-born missionary who came to Greenland in 1721 and founded Nuuk. It stands on a small hill behind the cathedral, a good spot to overlook the Old Harbour, the fjord, and the distant Sermitsiaq. In recent years, amid reflection on colonial history, the statue has been splashed with paint, and there has been a referendum on whether it should be moved. Learning about this debate helps in understanding Greenlandic identity. It is free, and it takes just a few minutes' walk to reach the top.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Nuuk Cathedral (Church of Our Saviour)
- Colonial Harbour (Kolonihavnen)
- Greenland National Museum & Archives
- Katuaq Cultural Centre
- Nuuk Art Museum
- Myggedalen
- Quassussuaq (Lille Malene)
- Sermitsiaq