This statue of Hans Christian Andersen sits proudly at City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen) in Copenhagen. Sculpted by Henry Luckow-Nielsen, it shows the beloved Danish author seated with a book in hand — as if ready to read one of his fairy tales to the city. Quick Facts This statue is one of the most visited…
The Little Mermaid is one of Copenhagen’s most iconic landmarks. The bronze statue, sitting quietly on a rock by the Langelinie promenade, was created by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and unveiled in 1913. It was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tale of the same name. Quick Facts The statue has become a symbol of…
N.F.S. Grundtvig – The Mind Behind the Name Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1783–1872) was a Danish priest, poet, philosopher, and educator whose influence on Danish cultural and national identity is difficult to overstate. More than just a religious figure, he helped define the moral and intellectual foundations of 19th-century Denmark. Grundtvig believed deeply in the…
Introduction George Brandes was a Danish literary critic, writer, and intellectual born in 1842 in Copenhagen. He is widely regarded as the father of the “Modern Breakthrough” in Scandinavian literature—a movement that emphasized realism, social progress, and intellectual freedom. Throughout his life, Brandes challenged the cultural and religious conservatism of his time, encouraging writers and…