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Review: 4. Maj Kollegiet and Hassagers Kollegium — dorms within a dorm

Dorms Disclosed — Students living in these Frederiksberg dorms commemorate Denmark's liberation with a gala dinner and celebrate the founder's birthday with copious amounts of cake. The dorms share same building, one inside the other, like nesting dolls.

The 4. Maj Kollegiet [‘4th May dorm’] in Frederiksberg was founded almost 70 years ago to house the descendants of Danish World War II resistance members. However, this kinship requirement was recently abolished, so now anyone enrolled in a SU-eligible course can apply to live here – although being related to a resistance member will still improve your chances of getting in.

SEE THE FULL ‘DORMS DISCLOSED’ UNIVERSITY POST SERIES: Reviews by student residents of dorms and residence halls in Copenhagen

A dorm within a dorm

Like a set of nesting dolls, 4. Maj Kollegiet has another dormitory within it, namely the tiny Hassagers Kollegium, which is home to 10 students. Hassagers Kollegium, which pre-dates 4. Maj Kollegiet, was founded by Dorothea Hassager. Here, the entry requirements are a little different. Unlike the 4. Maj Kollegiet, which is open to all students, Hessagers Kollegium is only open to students who have completed 120 ECTS credits at the University of Copenhagen.

The residents share common areas with those from 4. Maj Kollegiet, and they help to preserve the traditions of the dorms.

4. MAJ KOLLEGIET OG HASSAGERS KOLLEGIUM

Address: Frederiksberg Bredegade 13B, 2000 Frederiksberg.

www.4maj-hassager.dk (in Danish)

Monthly rent: DKK 2,375

Average age: 23-24 at 4. Maj Kollegiet and 24 at Hassagers Kollegium

Application process: 4. Maj Kollegiet has a waiting list on the dorm’s website. You have a better chance of getting in if you can prove you are related to member of the Danish World War II resistance. To apply for a spot at Hassagers Kollegium, you have to write a motivated application via the University of Copenhagen (read more here).

The most Danish dorm

May Ling Foo, who lives at Hassagers Kollegium, jokingly calls the 4. Maj Kollegiet »the most Danish dorm,« but also emphasises that both dorms try to be as inclusive as possible.

Holger Wilhelm Ilsøe, who lives in 4. Maj Kollegiet, agrees.

»We all share the common background that our grandparents were active during the resistance struggle,« he says. »History is tangible here.«

Therefore, the most important moment of the year is May 4th at 20:36, when everyone stops whatever they are doing to listen to the message of freedom from 1945. This happens during the annual May 4th party, which residents spend at least a week planning each year.

»The day is steeped in tradition,« says Holger Wilhelm Ilsøe. In the morning, the residents hoist the Danish flag, Dannebrog, and eat breakfast together, and in the evening, candles are lit around the entire building. Then there is a gala dinner with a three-course menu, which is thoroughly tested at rehearsal dinners several days in advance.

There are loads of books about the Danish resistance in the dorm.
The two dorms 4. Maj Kollegiet and Hassagers Kollegium have common rooms and facilities
4. Maj Kollegiet

Dorms disclosed

There are loads of dormitories, kollegiums, and student residences in Copenhagen, yet most of the information available is in Danish.

Some are small, old houses with pretty gardens, others are giant concrete buildings with tiny windows.

This is a review by a student reporter. But in the Dorms Disclosed series, it is the residents themselves that review the dorms that they live in.

Here is an overview with links to all of the dormitory and student accommodation reviews we have published so far, written by the people who know them the best.

If you want to write an English-language review of your dorm write to uni-avis@adm.ku.dk with ‘Dorms Disclosed’ in the subject header.

Reading room, »if you like that sort of thing«

During the year, the building’s ‘birthday’ is celebrated on September 18th, and residents at Hassagers Kollegium keep up the tradition of baking copious amounts of cake to mark Dorothea Hassager’s birthday on September 25th.

»We prioritise traditions quite a lot,« says May Ling Foo from Hassagers Kollegium, but she also says that it is not the type of place where there is a party every weekend.

»I feel there is room for everyone here.«

»We also want to exemplify the ideals of the resistance struggle. For example, we do not want to discriminate,« adds Holger Wilhelm Ilsøe. »So we make a lot of effort to include as broad a range of the population as possible, in terms of education and social background.«

Therefore, the dormitory has a requirement for equal gender distribution, and the application process focuses on ensuring that residents come from different parts of Denmark. The dorm is also open to students from all educational programmes.

For DKK 2,375 a month, the residents get access to a shared kitchen, toilet, and bathroom as well as a balcony with a view of what May Ling Foo calls, »Copenhagen’s most beautiful garden.«

»We also have a reading room, if you like that sort of thing,« adds Holger Wilhelm Ilsøe with a smile.

[This review has been written by a student reporter at the University Post. If you want to write an English-language review of your dorm write to uni-avis@adm.ku.dk and mark it ‘Dorms Disclosed’]

READ ABOUT OTHER RESIDENCE HALLS AND DORMS HERE: Student housing reviews: Dorms and residences in Copenhagen

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