The Copenhagen Mermaid

25 May 2014

After nearly 6 weeks here in Copenhagen, today I cycled down to Langelinje promenade to visit The Little Mermaid, the famous 100 year old unimposing 1.25m bronze Copenhagen icon, whose name was inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale by the same name.

Unfortunately, over the years the Little Mermaid has not been immune to acts of vandalism including decapitation, having an arm sawn off and, having paint poured over her. I read that these acts are occasionally carried out in the name of political activism, an action I find difficult to comprehend whatever the issue of concern. Today, all that disturbed her peace were the countless tourists who clambered the rocks to be photographed as close to her as possible.