The **little mermaid copenhagen story** starts with Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale, sculpted in bronze by Edvard Eriksen in 1913. I would know the vandalism history before visiting, the statue has lost its head more than once and always been restored.
The little mermaid copenhagen story begins not with the statue but with a fairy tale: Hans Christian Andersen published The Little Mermaid in 1837, and it became one of Denmark’s best known literary exports. Brewer Carl Jacobsen commissioned a bronze sculpture of the character after watching a ballet based on the story, and sculptor Edvard Eriksen completed it in 1913, working from Jacobsen’s own detailed instructions about how faithfully the piece should follow Andersen’s original description. I would call the statue’s real story less about the bronze itself and more about everything that happened to it afterward, since a series of vandalism incidents over the following century did more to keep it in headlines than the unveiling ever did, turning a modest civic gift into one of Europe’s more talked about public statues.
Who Wrote the Original Little Mermaid Story?
Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark’s most famous author, published The Little Mermaid as part of a collection of fairy tales in 1837. I would read the original tale before visiting the statue if you only know the Disney version, Andersen’s story ends in tragedy rather than a happy ending, and knowing that darker original context changes how you read the statue’s quiet, somewhat sorrowful expression.
Who Sculpted the Little Mermaid Statue?
Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen created the bronze statue, completing it in 1913 after brewer Carl Jacobsen commissioned the piece. Eriksen’s wife, Eline, reportedly modeled for the statue’s body, while the head was based on ballerina Ellen Price, who had danced the role in the ballet that inspired Jacobsen to commission the work. I think this split-model detail is one of the more interesting facts most visitors never learn, the statue is not modeled on a single person but assembled from two different women’s likenesses.
When Was the Little Mermaid Statue Unveiled?
The statue was unveiled on 23 August 1913, and it has sat in essentially the same spot on the Langelinie rocks ever since. I would call over a century in one location genuinely remarkable for any public artwork, especially one that has faced as much vandalism as this statue has, and that continuity is part of what makes standing in front of it feel meaningful rather than just photographing a replica or a recent addition.
Has the Little Mermaid Statue Ever Been Vandalized?
Yes, repeatedly, and this is arguably the most searched part of the statue’s history. Its head has been sawn off more than once, most notably in 1964 and again in 1998, and it has also been doused in paint and had an arm removed at different points over the decades. I would not be surprised the statue looks pristine today despite this history, each incident was followed by careful restoration, either from an original cast or skilled repair work, so the damage never stayed visible for long.
Has the Statue Ever Been Stolen or Removed Entirely?
Not stolen outright, but it has left its rocks more than once for reasons other than vandalism. The statue was loaned to the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai for several months, marking a rare and lengthy absence from its usual spot. I would call this the closest the statue has come to being removed for a genuinely different reason, cultural diplomacy rather than damage, and it drew significant attention in Denmark precisely because the statue almost never leaves Copenhagen.
Why Do People Keep Vandalizing the Statue?
Motives have varied across incidents, ranging from political statements to student pranks to protest actions unrelated to the statue itself, using it simply as a highly visible target. I would not read too deep a pattern into it, the statue’s fame and accessibility, sitting unguarded on public rocks, make it an easy target regardless of the specific motive behind any single incident, more a function of visibility than any consistent grievance against the artwork.
How Big Is the Little Mermaid Statue Really?
Just over a meter tall, considerably smaller than most first-time visitors expect based on photos alone. I would specifically prepare for this before visiting, the statue’s fame creates an expectation of a grand monument, and the actual scale, modest and almost intimate, catches a lot of travelers off guard when they see it in person for the first time.
Are There Good Little Mermaid Souvenirs to Buy?
Yes, small mermaid figurines, postcards and prints are common Copenhagen souvenirs, sold at shops throughout the city center rather than at a dedicated gift shop near the statue itself, since there is no official kiosk right at Langelinie. I would buy a souvenir from a shop in the city center rather than expect one on site, the promenade itself has very limited retail, so plan that part of your visit around your broader time in central Copenhagen instead, ideally near Nyhavn or Strøget where most tourist shops cluster.
Does the Statue’s History Affect How You Should Visit Today?
Not practically, no. Despite the vandalism history, the statue today sits fully restored and accessible exactly as it has for most of the past century, free to view at any hour with no special precautions needed. I would still visit without hesitation, the dramatic history makes for a better story to know beforehand, but it has no bearing on what you will actually see when you arrive, a small, intact bronze statue sitting quietly on the harbor rocks.
Is the Statue’s Harbor Setting Part of the Story?
Yes, and it is a detail worth knowing before you go. Andersen’s fairy tale mermaid gives up her home in the sea in exchange for a human life on land, and Jacobsen deliberately chose a rocky harbor edge, half in the water and half out, as the physical setting for that theme. I would take a moment to actually look at the placement rather than just snapping a photo and moving on, the statue sits with her tail still partly toward the water, which is a quiet visual nod to the story’s central tension between the sea and land that most visitors walk right past without noticing.
Is the Statue Considered Controversial Today?
Occasionally, yes, though not because of the statue’s own history. It has been used more than once as a backdrop for political protests and statements unrelated to Andersen’s story, precisely because of its visibility and status as a national symbol. I would not expect to encounter any controversy on a typical visit, these moments are the exception rather than the norm, and for the vast majority of days the statue sits exactly as it has for over a century, drawing tourists rather than protesters.
How Does the Vandalism History Compare to Other Famous Statues?
Few public statues anywhere in the world have faced this specific pattern of repeated beheading and restoration, which is part of why the Little Mermaid’s story gets referenced so often in discussions of vandalized public art. I would call this one of the more unusual celebrity-statue stories in Europe, most famous monuments face occasional graffiti or minor damage, but few have lost their head entirely on more than one occasion and still stand today looking essentially untouched.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the story behind the Little Mermaid statue?
Hans Christian Andersen wrote the original 1837 fairy tale that inspired the statue, first published in Copenhagen as part of a broader collection of his tales.
Has the Little Mermaid statue’s head really been cut off?
Yes, more than once, most notably in 1964 and again in 1998, and each time the statue was carefully restored to its original form.
Who is the Little Mermaid statue modeled after?
Sculptor Edvard Eriksen’s wife modeled for the body, while the face was based on ballerina Ellen Price, who danced the role in the ballet that inspired the commission.
How old is the Little Mermaid statue?
It was unveiled in 1913, making it well over a century old as of today.
Is the Little Mermaid statue original or a replica?
The statue standing today is the original bronze from 1913, though parts of it have been rebuilt or restored following vandalism incidents over the decades, always matching Eriksen’s original design.
Was the Little Mermaid statue ever moved away from Copenhagen?
Yes, temporarily, it was loaned to the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai for several months before returning to its usual spot on the Langelinie rocks, a rare and lengthy absence from the city.
