From its prominent site up on a rock in the city’s harbour, the Little Mermaid statue has been welcoming visitors to Copenhagen for over a century. The statue has become synonymous with the city, providing endless photo opportunities.
The Little Mermaid is the title of a short story written by celebrated Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen who lived in Copenhagen in the 1800s. This tale of unrequited love tells the story of a young mermaid who agrees to give her voice to a witch in return for a pair of legs so she can leave the ocean and live on land and marry the prince she loves. When the prince decides to marry a princess instead, the mermaid is offered the chance to break the spell by killing the prince. She refuses to kill the man she loves and is left on dry land unable to return to her home in the sea. The statue standing here today is a depiction of the character from the story.
The statue is located at the end of the Langeline promenade that runs alongside the harbour. The promenade is also the perfect place to sit and watch the ships gliding in and out of the harbour. On the other side of the harbour is a park, which is a great place to relax and enjoy a picnic.
The statue has been a mainstay here for over a century but still manages to generate headlines, although not always for the right reasons. The statue has suffered a series of attacks over the years. It has been decapitated more than once and in 2003, was actually blown from its position on the rocks using explosives. Because of this abuse, the statue is starting to show signs of damage and you are therefore requested not to climb on it.
Situated in the city’s harbour, the Little Mermaid statue is easily accessible on foot or by bicycle. There is limited paid parking available at the harbour’s ferry terminal if you are coming by car.
