The Little Mermaid
Ideal: Suitable for those who want to see classic city landmarks.
The statue was erected in 1913 on the order of Carlsberg patron Carl Jacobsen, inspired by a ballet performance, and stands only 1.25 metres — much smaller than most visitors expect. The face belongs to ballerina Ellen Price, but sculptor Edvard Eriksen used his own wife as the body model because the dancer refused to pose nude. It is considered Copenhagen's most vandalised object: beheaded twice, an arm torn off, blown off its plinth into the sea in 2003, and painted many times.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1913
- Commissioned by
- Carl Jacobsen
- Material
- bronze
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Why is the statue so small?
It is only 1.25 m tall, which surprises most visitors. Commissioned by a brewer in 1913, it sits on a rock slightly out from the shore.
What has happened to the statue over the years?
It has been vandalised repeatedly: decapitated twice, an arm sawn off, blown off its rock with explosives and painted many times. The figure on display today is a cast made from the original mould.
Who modelled for the statue?
The face is that of the ballerina Ellen Price, the body that of the sculptor Edvard Eriksen's wife, Eline — the dancer had declined to pose nude.
Why go?
- To see one of Copenhagen's best-known symbols
- To feel Andersen's fairy-tale legacy in the city
- For a short, classic break on the harbour shore
Travel tip
Adjust expectations — the statue is small; it makes more sense to visit with Kastellet and a harbour walk.
