Kids Corner | Fairytales and freedom – two famous Danish writers

Helen Dyrbye is a published author, translator and former scout leader from East Anglia in England who relocated to Denmark a long time ago and loves it here as much as ‘back home’.

I’d lived in Denmark for about a year, was top of my family’s ‘list of relatives to visit’ and had consequently seen a lot of sights, including the Little Mermaid. And I’d heard about Hans Christian Andersen, who apparently sometimes stayed with people for a little longer than they expected and compensated for it by writing enchanting, though sometimes slightly grisly fairy-tales about princesses, tinderboxes, and not least ugly ducklings. He was no George Clooney himself. Nevertheless, having worn a brace as a kid, I have a soft spot for him and consider myself a duckling still waiting to turn the page and discover the secret of eternal swanliness. Not likely with size eight feet. But anyway, the next time my friend Jane arrived from England, we decided to embark on a quest to visit the great HC’s birthplace in Odense to see where he was born, read his original handwritten stories and marvel at the intricate silhouette cut-outs (see our cut-outs at www.helendyrbye.blogspot.com).

Naturally, after dancing until dawn the night before, we missed the first train. And probably also the second. There was the 24-hour clock, which still stumps me sometimes, and the challenge of changing platforms in Copenhagen. But we made it to Odense. Finally. A whole 15 minutes before the museum shut. Not only had I missed my beauty sleep, but the closest I got to accomplishing my goal was swanning off in the wrong direction to catch the train back home.

Birthplace and museum
HC Andersens Hus, Bangs Boder 29, Odense; tickets: adults 95kr, under-17s free adm; museum@odense.dk, 6551 4601; www.museum.odense.dk

Visit his birthplace on April 2 (his birthday) when admission is free. When you visit the homepage, the EN stands for ‘English’ and The Tinderbox tab is especially for kids.

Closer to home?
The Fairytale World of Hans Christian Andersen, Rådhuspladsen 57, Cph K; tickets: over-14s: 85kr, under-14s: 68kr, under-11s: 43kr, under-4s: free adm, family tickets available

Spark an interest in The Little Match Girl, Thumbelina and the great man himself with sets, stories and soundtracks bringing characters into focus and detailing the humble childhood of the writer whose stories are translated into 123 languages – beaten only by the Bible. Though storyboards are in English, you’ll need to follow up at home in comfier surroundings unless you like reading about The Tin Soldier and other stories ‘on the hoof’. Combine your visit with Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’ at the same address and you’ll see an amazing collection of oddities. And I mean ‘odd’. With a chamber of horrors, shrunken heads, bizarre tribal traditions and stuffed animals with extra legs, it’s not for tiny tots but certainly boggles the mind. The stories of extreme handicaps that are courageously overcome echo the tale of the one-legged steadfast tin soldier, and there is a real fake mermaid.

A happy resting place

Assistens Cemetery, Kapelvej 4, Cph N

Hans Christian Andersen is buried in Copenhagen. Far from being sad, when I visited the grave I was cheered up by the balloons tied to the railings with cards from kids saying thank you.

The Little Mermaid musical
Operaen, Ekvipagemestervej 10, Cph K; www.billetnet.dk, search for Den Lille Havfrue

The Little Mermaid statue is always on view at Langelinie, but the musical version of Disney’s Little Mermaid will be drawing crowds at the Opera House this summer. Some price categories are already selling out, but be careful because the English on-screen subtitles are not visible from some seats, so perhaps it’s best to call 7015 6565.

Freedom
The National Gallery of Denmark, Sølvgade 48, Cph K; free adm; 3374 8494; www.smk.dk

Another famous Danish writer, Søren Kierkegaard, was born 200 years ago last year (you might have noticed the bicentenary) and this exhibition for kids, on until 3 August 2014, has striking works of art that breathe new life into the philosopher’s thoughts on freedom, including a hunt for four-leafed clovers. But please walk fast past the poor fish in the blender or explain about scales of ethical justice when the chips are down.

 

TOP STORIES

  • Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    After more than a decade living in Denmark, Russell shares why she made the move, how she’s coping, what she already misses, and the exciting new projects she’s working on. “It’s been a very tough decision. I love Denmark, and it will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says.

  • Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    The new Gefion AI supercomputer is one of the world’s fastest and will accelerate research and provide new opportunities in Danish academia and industry.

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs