To many people’s surprise, the current office of the Prime Minister in Iceland was the first and only prison in the country for many years.

The construction of the prison was done in 1770 and inmates were housed there before it was closed in 1816.

After not being used for decades, the building was reconstructed and in 1904, the building started to be used by government officials. Later, the Prime Minister, cabinet members and others would start to work there.

Random fact – the first trees in Reykjavík, after settlers had come to Iceland in the 9th century and cut them all down, were planted here in the 1900s.

Parts of the building are currently undergoing construction.

The two statues outside of the building are King Christian IX handing over the constitution in 1874 and Hannes Hafstein, the first minister of the country in 1904.