Not Just for Books: How Rentemestervej Bibliotek Brings Nordvest Together

Rentemestervej Bibliotek opened in 2011, a couple of years before I moved to Copenhagen, and it’s one of those buildings that really stands out in the Nordvest neighborhood. Designed by the architecture firm COBE—also behind the buildings across from Nyhavn—it looks like a stack of books wrapped in golden mesh. The modern building doesn’t exactly blend into the area, but somehow it fits. And when the sun hits it, it really shines. The building has won several architectural awards, but what I love most is how it’s such a hub for the neighborhood.

It’s not a big library by Copenhagen standards, but I’ve always found what I needed there—and usually something I didn’t know I needed too. When you walk in, you’re welcomed by a display of current reads and bestsellers picked by the staff, plus the self-service checkout, return stations, and shelves with reserved books. It still amazes me how smooth the library system is here in Copenhagen: once you’re registered, you can borrow from any library in the city, reserve books and have them sent to your local branch (or anywhere else), and return them wherever it’s convenient. It’s one of those quiet little things that make life in Copenhagen feel so accessible and easy.

My personal favorite section is upstairs on the second floor and to the right—where the English and French books live. I rarely arrive with something specific in mind, but I always leave with a book I want to read. The rest of the library is full of spaces to sit and focus—comfy chairs downstairs by the café, desks upstairs for studying, and even a rooftop terrace when the weather is good.

But it’s not just a library—it’s a real community space. The café on the ground floor is called Flok and it’s run by the team behind Flere Fugle and Fovl. It’s open throughout the day and also hosts community dinners—fællesspisning—every Tuesday and Thursday (except during holidays). Whether you want to work, read, or just hang out, it’s a cozy place to spend time, and often buzzing with people doing just that.

There are also a lot of events—some quiet, some social. You’ll find everything from poetry readings to knitting groups, intergenerational reading meetups, kids’ workshops, and even concerts. Upstairs, there’s a room used for many of these gatherings, while the third floor has a larger creative workshop space used for painting, sewing, and other activities. In the summer, you’ll often find special programming for kids—like the recent Flere Fugle summer workshop held near the café.

If you’re visiting with little ones, there’s a sweet kids’ area downstairs too—a soft, colorful corner where children can play, read, and just be themselves.

Outside, there are a few sunlit chairs where you can sit and read with a coffee (and a pastry let's be honest) from Flok. And just by the entrance, there’s a little free shelf that might look like a mess—but if you take a moment to browse, you might find a cookbook, a mug, or something else that catches your eye. It’s just one more example of how this place invites you to take part—and to give back too.

And finally, one lovely detail worth knowing: the libraries is open to book suggestions from the public. If there’s something you think they should have on the shelves, you can tell them—and they might just order it.

Rentemestervej Bibliotek is one of those places that makes a neighborhood feel like home. You can read, work, learn, eat, connect, or just sit quietly with a book in the sun. What more could you want?