How the Little Mermaid Became a Symbol of Denmark

Sitting on a bed of rocks surrounded by crowds from virtually every corner, the Little Mermaid is an iconic spectacle in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, Scandinavia’s smallest nation and oldest Kingdom. During the summer months, hundreds if not thousands flock around this statue in Copenhagen, which has graced the quiet Langelinie harbour for more than 100 years.

What attracts tourists to it? You might wonder. It’s not only the focus of a well-known ballet performance or the most popular Disney animated movie, one of the most interesting twists to the plot is that the author of this popular fairytale is also a Dane. 

The fairytale was first published in 1837 in Denmark by renowned Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The plot revolves around the Little Mermaid who strives to win the love of her prince. According to the legend, if the prince loves someone else the mermaid will disappear and turn to foam in the sea.

Almost everywhere you go in Copenhagen, you are inundated with replicas and images of the Little Mermaid. It is not surprising that Danish tourism officials claim that it is probably the most photographed statue in Copenhagen, if not the world. 

In 1909 Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen attended a ballet performance on the Little Mermaid at the Royal Theatre of Copenhagen, word has it that he was so delighted by the performance that he had a statue erected in its honour. 

Meticulously Designed                                         
Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen was commissioned to create the statue of the Mermaid sitting on a granite stone thoughtfully looking for her prince. After much anticipation, the statue was presented to the city of Copenhagen on August 23, 1913. The Little Mermaid’s head was initially modelled after the famous ballet performer Ellen Price. However, the sculptor’s wife ended up modelling for the statue instead.

When tourists approach the Little Mermaid the first thing that surprises them is its size. Many compare it to other landmark statues around the world, but the truth is the Little Mermaid is still relatively small, weighing around 175Kg and standing at 1.25 meters tall.

Even though the Little Mermaid survived World War II and the great depression, she had to put up with numerous attacks by vandals. In 2003 the Little Mermaid was knocked out of its stone edifice. 

Remarkable Breakthrough
Despite pressure to keep it in its hometown the Little Mermaid made its first international appearance at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo in China. Even though moving the statue caused a controversy, it was later decided that the Mermaid would be airlifted to China. Organizers said that the statue would best symbolise Denmark.

Hundreds gathered to watch the historic moving of this remarkable statue. A large crane hoisted the statue and carefully moved it onto the back of a truck. The itinerary of its journey was undisclosed. 

At the Shanghai Expo, which attracted more than 5.5 million visitors, the Little Mermaid won an award for its cutting edge design. While in China, tourists in Denmark could still see the Little Mermaid virtually through a live multimedia broadcast of the statue in Shanghai, along with artwork by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. 

Nevertheless, vendors in Langelinie harbour found it embarrassing to sell replicas and postcards of the Little Mermaid while it was gone, and merchandise sales plummeted. 

Happily, The Little Mermaid made it back to its hometown, and continues to draw crowds of up to 500,000 tourists a year. It may not be a big statue, but it is by all means a Danish symbol that stands taller than any other.