Julie Heins

Hansine Julie Heins née Nielsdatter baptised Norberg (1822–1902) was a Danish schoolteacher and writer who established her own school for small children in Odense in 1855. She is remembered for her children's reading books which were used in Danish schools. In particular, her Hanebogen (Cockerel Book, 1865), appeared in 23 editions until 1932. Over the years, her school expanded, taking in older children in the late 1870s and embarking on teacher training in the 1880s. After she sold the school in 1883, it became known as Odense Kvindeseminarium.

Early life Born on 27 September 1822 in Marslev, Kerteminde Municipality, on the island of Funen, Hansine Julie Nielsdatter was the daughter of the unmarried teenager Inger Kristine Nielsen (1805–1887). Her father was possibly the pastry cook Svend Norberg from Næstved or perhaps the caretaker Hans Christian Egholdt (1796–1827) who later married her mother. At her baptism and confirmation she was recorded as Hansine Julie Norberg. She was also the author of Aandelige Sange fra Skolen og Hjemmet (Spiritual Songs from School and Home) which proved to be quite a success.

Julie Heins died in Copenhagen on 17 April 1902 and was buried in Næstved Cemetery. Records from Sankt Peders Kirke in Næstved state that she was the daughter of "vagtmester Eckhof" and the foster child of Ole Kristensen Hjalteved". Heins is considered to have been an enterprising teacher but she is remembered above all for her textbooks.