The Little Mermaid statue, sculpted by Edvard Eriksen and inaugurated in Copenhagen in 1913, has become an enduring cultural icon and a recurrent target of intentional vandalism.

Deliberate attacks on the statue have ranged from physical mutilation to politically charged defacement, with many incidents remaining unresolved regarding perpetrator identity or explicit motivation.

The first major act occurred in 1964 when the statue’s head was sawn off and stolen; despite widespread media attention, neither the responsible party nor intent was ever clearly identified, and the head was never recovered .

A similar beheading took place in 1998 when vandals decapitated the sculpture again, though this time the head was restored; as with the earlier case, no one was officially held accountable, and motives were not specified .

In 1984, the statue’s right arm was sawn off and subsequently returned, but, once again, there was no public identification or statement from the perpetrator(s) .

In 2003, the entire statue was dislodged from its base with explosives and toppled into the harbor.

Authorities reported the act as unsolved, with no individuals or groups identified or motives articulated .

By contrast, more recent incidents featured specific, publicly discernible motives.

In 2017, red paint was poured over the statue by activists protesting whale hunting—a direct environmental statement .

During global anti-racism protests in 2020, the phrase “racist fish” was painted on the statue’s base, embedding the act within contemporary political and social discourse—though scholars noted no racist undertones in Andersen’s fairy tale .

Most recently, in 2023, the stone beneath the statue was painted in the colors of the Russian flag.

The act was interpreted as a pro-Russian statement in the context of the Ukraine conflict, but the individual or group responsible remained unidentified .

The Little Mermaid statue, sculpted by Edvard Eriksen and inaugurated in Copenhagen in 1913, has become an enduring cultural icon and a recurrent target of intentional vandalism.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

Deliberate attacks on the statue have ranged from physical mutilation to politically charged defacement, with many incidents remaining unresolved regarding perpetrator identity or explicit motivation.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
Advertisement
The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

The first major act occurred in 1964 when the statue’s head was sawn off and stolen; despite widespread media attention, neither the responsible party nor intent was ever clearly identified, and the head was never recovered .

A similar beheading took place in 1998 when vandals decapitated the sculpture again, though this time the head was restored; as with the earlier case, no one was officially held accountable, and motives were not specified .

In 1984, the statue’s right arm was sawn off and subsequently returned, but, once again, there was no public identification or statement from the perpetrator(s) .

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
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On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
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In 2003, the entire statue was dislodged from its base with explosives and toppled into the harbor.

Authorities reported the act as unsolved, with no individuals or groups identified or motives articulated .

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
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In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Reuters: In Copenhagen, the base of the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor
© AFP 2023 / Ritzau Scanpix / Ida Marie OdgaardThe Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen with a base painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen with a painted in the colors of the Russian flag base
Read ria.ru in
ZURICH, March 2 — RIA Novosti.
The base of the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, created on the basis of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, was painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor, Reuters reported.
The Russian flag was found painted on the basis of a statue of the Little Mermaid in Denmark on Thursday, in what police say is a “case of vandalism ” at Copenhagen ’ s most famous landmark and a popular tourist destination.
As specified, the front part of the stone on which the monument is erected is painted.
At the same time, the police still do not know “who is behind this incident. ”
"The answer is on the statue of an angel."
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By contrast, more recent incidents featured specific, publicly discernible motives.

Title:

Content: Moscow 24
Accidents
6: 40 PM
Home / Stories /
The lawyer compared the damage to the paintings of the student Malevich and Ilya Repin
Activism or hooliganism.
The figures in the picture of the pupil of Malevich “returned sight ”
The story of the damage to the picture of the pupil of Kazimir Malevich Anna Leporskaya at the exhibition in Yekaterinburg was continued.
The man who drew a ballpoint pen eyes abstract figures on the canvas, was an employee of the private security company, designed to protect the paintings.
A criminal case on vandalism was opened only after almost two months.
We understand the details of the history and motives of the suspect.
Photo: yeltsin.ru / ALEXANDER MEKHONOSHIN
Pulled the pen out of his pocket
The incident occurred on December 7 at an exhibition at the Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg.
One of the paintings by the student of Kazimir Malevich Anna Leporskaya "Three Figures" from the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery was spoiled.
On suspicion of vandalism detained a guard of the center, told Moscow 24 in the press service of the cultural institution.
Eyes (on the abstract faces of two figures. – Approx. ed.) in the picture was drawn by an employee of the private security service, who was entrusted with guarding the works, – with a souvenir pen “Yeltsin Center ”, which was lying in his pocket.
Anna Reshetkina
organizer of the discussion on the incident at the Yeltsin Center
It is reported that for the 60-year-old suspect, it was the first day of work in the gallery.
Immediately after the incident, he left the scene of the crime and for several days did not communicate with the administration of the Yeltsin Center.
After the incident, the guard was fired.
The work was removed from the exhibition and sent to Moscow for restoration.
In the Tretyakov Gallery, damage from damage was estimated at 250 thousand rubles with the insurance cost of the canvas at 75 million rubles.
According to Reshetkina, the picture has already been fully restored.
The case of the painting by Anna Leporskaya led to the revision of security protocols at the Yeltsin Center.
Protective screens were installed over all exhibits of the exhibition in the gallery.
The exhibition "The world as immateriality.
The birth of a new art "will continue its work until February 20.
Vandal painted a picture for 75 million rubles
Cultural affairs
The police initially refused to open a criminal case for damage to the painting, citing a small amount of damage to the work of art.
However, after the complaint of the Ministry of Culture of Russia to the Prosecutor General ’ s Office, law enforcement officers in February initiated a case of vandalism.
The police interviewed the suspect in the damage to the picture, noting that he behaves quite aggressively, “demonstrating that the whole process is not to his liking. ”
Maria Spiridonova, a member of the Russian Bar Association, told Moscow 24 that the suspected guard from Yekaterinburg faces arrest for up to three months.
However, he can get off with a fine of up to 40 thousand rubles or his three-month income.
At the same time, if the suspect makes amends for the harm caused to him, the judge may terminate the criminal case.
The lawyer recalled that a similar case occurred in 2018 in the Tretyakov Gallery itself with the painting by Ilya Repin “Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan November 16, 1581 ”.
Shortly before the closing of the gallery, Igor Podporin entered the hall and hit the canvas of the standing fence several times.
The man damaged the frame and canvas in three places.
He explained his actions by the fact that the picture, in his opinion, offends the feelings of believers and is unreliable.
Vandal was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.
Maria Spiridonova noted that in the case of Ilya Repin ’ s painting, the attacker received a real sentence, in particular, because he was tried under a more severe article – “Damage to the object of cultural heritage ”.
Photo: Sergey Vedyashkin / Moscow Agency
Avant-garde and actionism
Employee of the Ural branch of the State Museum of Fine Arts.
Pushkina Natalia Tsibanova told Moscow 24, what is the artistic significance of the damaged painting.
The work belongs to the avant-garde, which has become a transitional stage between classical and modern art, said Tsibanova.
"The work of Anna Leporskaya" Three Figures "is an example of the method of Suprematism developed by Kazimir Malevich - the reflection of the world through basic geometric forms.
We see the figures of people and the landscape, but we can ’ t say anything concrete about either.
So the artist gives the viewer the opportunity to complete the details in their imagination, ” said Natalia Tsibanova.
The art critic noted that acts of vandalism in relation to works of art can be considered as artistic only if they contain a conscious statement, and are not banal hooliganism.
In addition, actionism is possible only in the field of contemporary art, Tsibanova added.
In relation to classical works of art, such actions are unacceptable, the expert notes.
Modern art is created here and now, and very often artists themselves draw attention to their work due to strange acts.
For example, as in the case of British street art artist Banksy, who spoiled his painting “Girl with a Balloon ” on the shredder immediately after selling at auction in 2018.
Natalya Tsibanova
employee of the Ural branch of the State Museum of Fine Arts.
Pushkina
Banksy ’ s as-yet-uncut painting sold for £1.04 million, or $1.36 million, in 2018.
In 2021, it was sold at auction for 25.4 million dollars.
However, it is impossible to compare the story of Banksy and the guard from the Yeltsin Center, because they had different motives, the art historian notes.
“In Banksy ’ s case, the act of vandalism can be considered artistic because it is the author ’ s protest against the system and the market for the sale of works of art.
In the case of the painting of Leporsky, the man himself refers to the fact that he unknowingly spoiled it.
There is no need to talk about actionism, we can consider this act only in the legal field, ” said an employee of the Ural branch of the State Museum of Fine Arts.
Pushkina.
Another argument in favor of the inviolability of classical art is often the inability to reproduce it due to the death of the author.
Anna Leporskaya died in 1982 and will never paint such a picture again, Tsibanova added.
She called for condemnation of the act of vandalism against the painting, because otherwise it could set a dangerous precedent.
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In 2017, red paint was poured over the statue by activists protesting whale hunting—a direct environmental statement .

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

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During global anti-racism protests in 2020, the phrase “racist fish” was painted on the statue’s base, embedding the act within contemporary political and social discourse—though scholars noted no racist undertones in Andersen’s fairy tale .

Most recently, in 2023, the stone beneath the statue was painted in the colors of the Russian flag.

The act was interpreted as a pro-Russian statement in the context of the Ukraine conflict, but the individual or group responsible remained unidentified .


The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, created by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and installed in 1913, is a celebrated cultural landmark inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale.

Situated on a waterfront promenade, the bronze statue weighs 175 kilograms and has been vulnerable to repeated acts of vandalism for over a century.

Since its unveiling, the statue has endured a succession of intentional damages.

The first major attack occurred in 1964, when vandals decapitated the statue, stealing the head, which was never recovered.

The perpetrators’ identities and specific motivations were never disclosed in public records, reflecting a pattern in which most major incidents remain officially unsolved.

This attack, as with those that followed, was interpreted as an affront to Danish cultural identity and garnered substantial media attention.

In 1984, the statue’s right arm was severed and removed by unidentified individuals.

As in previous cases, no one claimed responsibility, and the attack again highlighted the statue’s status as both a symbol and a target for unsanctioned public expression.

The arm was later restored.

Another beheading occurred in 1998.

Vandals decapitated the statue for a second time, but unlike the 1964 incident, the head was eventually returned and restored to the statue.

The individuals responsible were never identified, and details regarding their intentions remain unknown.

In 2003, the statue was dislodged from its base by explosives and fell into the harbor.

This marked one of the most dramatic attacks on the monument.

No group or individual openly claimed responsibility for the bombing, and Danish authorities did not identify the perpetrators.

The incident intensified conversations about the security of public art in Denmark.

The statue has frequently been defaced with paint and graffiti.

A notable example occurred in 2017, when the statue was drenched in red paint as a protest against whale hunting.

The specific group or person responsible was not publicly identified, but the act’s direct message was apparent: it was intended as opposition to Denmark’s links to whaling practices.

Another high-profile act of defacement took place in 2020 in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement.

During international protests after George Floyd’s death, the words “racist fish” were painted on the statue’s base.

No claim of responsibility was reported, and Andersen scholars stated there were no evident themes of racism in the original fairy tale.

The graffiti appeared to be a contemporary political statement within a global discourse on racial injustice, linking the statue symbolically with worldwide events.

In March 2023, vandals painted the base of the statue in the colors of the Russian flag.

Though the individuals responsible were not identified, the act was widely interpreted by observers and media as a sign of support for Russia amidst the war in Ukraine.

Danish police began an investigation, but no culprits were publicly named.

Throughout its history, the statue has faced multiple cases of graffiti, repainting, and politically charged slogans beyond those highlighted above, with most incidents remaining unsolved and their precise motivations opaque to authorities and the public alike.

Ultimately, while some episodes—such as the red paint protest in 2017 and the “racist fish” graffiti in 2020—are linked to explicit political or social causes, the overwhelming majority of physical attacks and defacements have been carried out by unknown individuals and their personal or collective motivations remain unconfirmed in official records.

The statue’s visibility and symbolic value have made it a recurring site of protest, dissent, and public attention both within Denmark and in the international arena.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, created by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and installed in 1913, is a celebrated cultural landmark inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
Advertisement
The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

Situated on a waterfront promenade, the bronze statue weighs 175 kilograms and has been vulnerable to repeated acts of vandalism for over a century.

Since its unveiling, the statue has endured a succession of intentional damages.

The first major attack occurred in 1964, when vandals decapitated the statue, stealing the head, which was never recovered.

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
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On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
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The perpetrators’ identities and specific motivations were never disclosed in public records, reflecting a pattern in which most major incidents remain officially unsolved.

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
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In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Reuters: In Copenhagen, the base of the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor
© AFP 2023 / Ritzau Scanpix / Ida Marie OdgaardThe Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen with a base painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen with a painted in the colors of the Russian flag base
Read ria.ru in
ZURICH, March 2 — RIA Novosti.
The base of the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, created on the basis of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, was painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor, Reuters reported.
The Russian flag was found painted on the basis of a statue of the Little Mermaid in Denmark on Thursday, in what police say is a “case of vandalism ” at Copenhagen ’ s most famous landmark and a popular tourist destination.
As specified, the front part of the stone on which the monument is erected is painted.
At the same time, the police still do not know “who is behind this incident. ”
"The answer is on the statue of an angel."
The most terrible secret of the Vatican is about to be revealed
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This attack, as with those that followed, was interpreted as an affront to Danish cultural identity and garnered substantial media attention.

Title:

Content: Copenhagen residents were outraged by the behavior of American tourists
1: 09 AM
The unusual behavior of an American tourist in Copenhagen caused a storm of indignation among other travelers who witnessed this incident.
The girl came to the statue of the Little Mermaid and, not paying attention to the prohibition to touch the monument, began to touch and even kiss her.
The witness of this incident was a tourist named Dylan Trinkler, who captured everything on his phone.
The video shows how the girl climbed the pedestal of the monument, pressed her face against it and began to kiss the statue.
At the same time, clear warning signs about the prohibition of such actions were installed around the sculpture.
Many people began to condemn the violator, shouted at her to leave.
It should be noted that the statue of the Little Mermaid was installed in 1913 and is made of bronze and granite.
It is part of Danish cultural heritage and is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen ’ s famous fairy tale about a mermaid who gave up her underwater world for the love of a prince on land.
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Monument to the fairy tale "Mermaid" in Denmark (DeafSPB)
Author Oleg Loginov
Oleg Loginov — HSE student, Pravda.Ru freelance correspondent

In 1984, the statue’s right arm was severed and removed by unidentified individuals.

As in previous cases, no one claimed responsibility, and the attack again highlighted the statue’s status as both a symbol and a target for unsanctioned public expression.

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Mona Lisa was attacked by a French man who smashed a cake to promote the concept of environmental protection.
A man disguised as a disabled woman has attacked the world famous painting “Mona Lisa ’ s Smile ” at the Louvre in Paris with a cake, saying artists should pay more attention to the earth.
The scene of the attack was photographed by several people and posted on social media on the 29th, and the Louvre Museum refused to comment on the matter.
A video posted by a Twitter user showed museum employees wiping cake cream from bulletproof glass of "Mona Lisa's Smile", while another video showed a man dressed in white being taken away by security.
"A man disguised as an old woman suddenly took off his wig and jumped from a wheelchair in front of the painting 'Mona Lisa's Smile' to try to smash the bulletproof glass protecting the painting, then smashed the cake into the painting and threw roses all over the place.
""
The man said in French: "Someone is destroying this earth... all artists, think of the earth."
That's why I did it.
Think about the earth.
It is clear that he is doing this for the sake of environmental protection.
This is not the first time that the Mona Lisa Smile has been attacked.
After a Bolivian man threw stones at the painting in 1956, damaging the left elbow of the painting, the museum installed bulletproof glass to protect the painting.
The painting was installed in a reinforced case in 2005 to control temperature and humidity.
The 77cm long and 53cm wide Mona Lisa is the masterpiece of the Renaissance painter Leonardo da Vinci. On August 20, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen, and the museum offered a high reward and was widely reported by the media, which greatly increased its popularity.
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The arm was later restored.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

Another beheading occurred in 1998.

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

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Vandals decapitated the statue for a second time, but unlike the 1964 incident, the head was eventually returned and restored to the statue.

The individuals responsible were never identified, and details regarding their intentions remain unknown.

In 2003, the statue was dislodged from its base by explosives and fell into the harbor.

This marked one of the most dramatic attacks on the monument.

No group or individual openly claimed responsibility for the bombing, and Danish authorities did not identify the perpetrators.

The incident intensified conversations about the security of public art in Denmark.

The statue has frequently been defaced with paint and graffiti.

A notable example occurred in 2017, when the statue was drenched in red paint as a protest against whale hunting.

The specific group or person responsible was not publicly identified, but the act’s direct message was apparent: it was intended as opposition to Denmark’s links to whaling practices.

Another high-profile act of defacement took place in 2020 in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement.

During international protests after George Floyd’s death, the words “racist fish” were painted on the statue’s base.

No claim of responsibility was reported, and Andersen scholars stated there were no evident themes of racism in the original fairy tale.

The graffiti appeared to be a contemporary political statement within a global discourse on racial injustice, linking the statue symbolically with worldwide events.

In March 2023, vandals painted the base of the statue in the colors of the Russian flag.

Though the individuals responsible were not identified, the act was widely interpreted by observers and media as a sign of support for Russia amidst the war in Ukraine.

Danish police began an investigation, but no culprits were publicly named.

Throughout its history, the statue has faced multiple cases of graffiti, repainting, and politically charged slogans beyond those highlighted above, with most incidents remaining unsolved and their precise motivations opaque to authorities and the public alike.

Ultimately, while some episodes—such as the red paint protest in 2017 and the “racist fish” graffiti in 2020—are linked to explicit political or social causes, the overwhelming majority of physical attacks and defacements have been carried out by unknown individuals and their personal or collective motivations remain unconfirmed in official records.

The statue’s visibility and symbolic value have made it a recurring site of protest, dissent, and public attention both within Denmark and in the international arena.


The Little Mermaid statue, a symbol of Copenhagen, was created by Edvard Eriksen and installed in 1913, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale .

Over the decades, the statue has become a repeatedly targeted site for vandalism, reflecting intersecting threads of culture, protest, and counter-culture in Denmark.

The first major incident occurred in 1964, when the statue’s head was stolen and never recovered.

The perpetrators and their motives remain unknown, though the act is widely regarded as purposeless vandalism .

In 1984, vandals removed the statue’s right arm, again anonymously and without claimed motivation beyond destruction of public art .

The statue's head was decapitated a second time in 1998 by a group of vandals; this time, the head was recovered and restored, yet no individuals or political affiliations were publicly identified, and the act was not accompanied by any overt statement .

In 2003, the statue suffered severe damage when explosives detached it from its base, forcing it into the bay.

Again, the perpetrators remained unknown and no explicit motive was confirmed, marking the event as further senseless vandalism .

The subsequent pattern of attacks, however, took on clearer political resonance.

In 2017, red paint was sprayed as a protest against whale hunting; while no specific group was cited, the intent aligned with animal rights activism .

In 2020, amid global protests following George Floyd’s death, the statue's base was defaced with the words “racist fish.”

Though the act drew international attention, scholars rebutted any racist link to Andersen’s original narrative, and the responsible party was not identified .

Most recently, on March 2, 2023, the base was painted in Russia’s flag colors, interpreted as support for Russia during the Ukraine conflict; police investigated, but no suspects were named .

The Little Mermaid statue, a symbol of Copenhagen, was created by Edvard Eriksen and installed in 1913, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale .

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
Advertisement
The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

Over the decades, the statue has become a repeatedly targeted site for vandalism, reflecting intersecting threads of culture, protest, and counter-culture in Denmark.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

The first major incident occurred in 1964, when the statue’s head was stolen and never recovered.

The perpetrators and their motives remain unknown, though the act is widely regarded as purposeless vandalism .

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
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In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Reuters: In Copenhagen, the base of the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor
© AFP 2023 / Ritzau Scanpix / Ida Marie OdgaardThe Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen with a base painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen with a painted in the colors of the Russian flag base
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ZURICH, March 2 — RIA Novosti.
The base of the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, created on the basis of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, was painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor, Reuters reported.
The Russian flag was found painted on the basis of a statue of the Little Mermaid in Denmark on Thursday, in what police say is a “case of vandalism ” at Copenhagen ’ s most famous landmark and a popular tourist destination.
As specified, the front part of the stone on which the monument is erected is painted.
At the same time, the police still do not know “who is behind this incident. ”
"The answer is on the statue of an angel."
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In 1984, vandals removed the statue’s right arm, again anonymously and without claimed motivation beyond destruction of public art .

The statue's head was decapitated a second time in 1998 by a group of vandals; this time, the head was recovered and restored, yet no individuals or political affiliations were publicly identified, and the act was not accompanied by any overt statement .

In 2003, the statue suffered severe damage when explosives detached it from its base, forcing it into the bay.

Again, the perpetrators remained unknown and no explicit motive was confirmed, marking the event as further senseless vandalism .

The subsequent pattern of attacks, however, took on clearer political resonance.

Title:

Content: Poland! It was never on my travel list. In my mind, it’s an East European country ravaged by world wars. So when I was assigned a trip to Poland, I hesitated briefly. Then I said to myself: I know very little about the country, so let this be a voyage of discovery.

A fantastic voyage of discovery it was. Over seven days, Poland surprised and enchanted me with its history, culture, architecture, natural beauty, fresh fruits and cuisine. The swing through Warsaw, Gdansk, Gdynia, Lodz and Wroclaw lent me a new perspective. I saw a modern country with good infrastructure, clean roads, green vistas, rolling fields, ancient baroque-style palaces, ornate churches, centuries-old architecture and fantastic food.

I would have liked a more immersive experience because there was so much to see and take in. I wanted to sit at one of the wayside restaurants in Wroclaw and watch the world go by with a beverage in hand. Take a stroll through Piotrkowska Street in Lodz. Stand a bit longer on the Orlowo Pier in Gydnia with the wind in my face and watch the Baltic Sea. And Gdansk, where do I even start? The charming port city brims with history.

Poland is no stranger to history, and the past is inextricably entwined in its capital, Warsaw. A city that was destroyed in the Second World War and rebuilt from the ruins. The city is a testament to the resilience of the Poles, who repeatedly bounced back from the horrors of wars and partitions. Time stands still in Warsaw, particularly in the Old Town.

Brutal wars and a painful past may be a recurring theme in Poland, but Frederic Chopin occupies pride of place in Polish tourism. Rightly so, because he is the most famous Pole in the world. People throng Chopin concerts worldwide, and some don’t even know he’s Polish. Chopin spent his later years in France and is buried in Paris, hence the confusion.

Chopin is everywhere in Poland. I arrived at the Frederic Chopin International Airport in Warsaw. A visit to the Holy Cross Church brought me closer to Chopin’s heart. Literally. It resides in one of the church’s pillars after being smuggled into Poland, past Soviet border guards by his sister, as Chopin requested before his death.

Stepping outside the church, I came across the Chopin benches. The black granite benches, found in 15 places in Warsaw, play Chopin’s works and offer a map to other bench locations. Walking past them, I found a Chopin lodging where he lived as a young man. Heading to the Royal Lazienki Park, I found a sculpture of Chopin sitting under a willow. An outdoor concert was underway.

A 60km trip to Zelazowa Wola brought me to Chopin’s birthplace (he was born in 1810). A lone building with all things Chopin remains on the premises. Aleksandra Swigut, a pianist, played a couple of the maestro’s works. Warsaw is also home to a Chopin Museum. But there’s much more to Poland than Chopin.

WARSAW: UNESCO HERITAGE EXCEPTION
Unesco world heritage sites generally are of archaeological significance. But Warsaw’s historic city centre is an exception: all the structures were built in the 20th century, although some have a 14th-century feel about them. Poland rebuilt the city with popular donations after Nazi troops systematically demolished 80-90% of the buildings when Poles earned German leader Adolf Hitler’s wrath with the Warsaw uprising of 1944.
After the war, Poland mobilised its people to rebuild Warsaw with the rallying cry: “The entire nation builds its capital.” The rebuild of Old Town started in 1945, and most of the work was completed in less than ten years, although additional reconstruction continued into the1980s, reports say. Pre-war photographs, architectural drawings and 18th-century paintings by Italian artists Marcello Bacciarelli and Bernardo Bellotto acted as visual guides in the reconstruction.
Undamaged bricks, slabs and fragments were used in the reconstruction. The project was completed with the reopening of the Royal Castle in 1984. With that, Warsaw and Poland reclaimed their past and pride.

A monument that pays tribute to David Copernicus stands prominently at Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street, Warsaw. He’s the Pole who taught us that Earth revolves around the Sun and not the other way around.

Further away is the Royal Castle, a sprawling brick-red building that dominates Castle Square, where Sigismund’s Column haughtily pierces the sky. Difficult to believe that the buildings were rebuilt structures after Germans dynamited the originals following Adolf Hitler’s fury at the Poles’ stubborn resistance.

A few steps away, the Warsaw Mermaid awaited, with a shield aloft and swinging sword over her head. Moving away, I came across the home (now a museum) of Marie Sklodowska-Curie, a Nobel winner in Physics (for the study of spontaneous radioactivity) and Chemistry (discovery of Radium and Polonium, the metal is named after her homeland).

THE MERMAIDS OF WARSAW
Mermaids, there are aplenty in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. But the Syrenka (mermaid in Polish) in Old Town is the most famous. Where did these half-woman half-fish creatures come from? Apparently, there’s no single answer.
Popular legend has it that two mermaid sisters swam across the Baltic Sea and parted ways at Gdansk: one went to Copenhagen, and the other came down the Vistula River and rested near the Old Town in Warsaw. Impressed with the place, she decided to stay, but the fishermen were unhappy with her for freeing fish from their nets. Her beauty and singing won them, but a greedy merchant kidnapped her to make money on travelling shows at fairs. A fisherman’s son rescued her, and a grateful mermaid vowed to defend the village that became Warsaw.
Another one says that when a prince lost his way on a hunting trip, the mermaid shot arrows into the sky to guide him to safety. The third tale is about a griffin (a mythical animal with the head and wings of an eagle and the body, hind legs, and tail of a lion) who defended the city and accompanied fishermen into the Baltic. During a trip, he fell in love with a mermaid, and the two returned to live in Warsaw. The griffin died in the battle with the Swedes, and the mermaid took up arms to defend the city. The grateful people made her the symbol of Warsaw and placed her in the coat of arms.
Stories there are many more, and each is fiercely disputed, according to reports. Mermaids too are many in Warsaw. The one at Old Town Square attracts the most tourists, another one can be spotted near the Swietokrzyski Bridge, and a third stands near the Markiewicz viaduct. More lesser-known statues of mermaids are sighted around the city.

Some grim moments at the boundary of a former Jewish Warsaw Ghetto were followed by a trip to the magnificent Wilanow Palace, a baroque-style summer residence of King Jan III Sobieski built in the 17th century.

Another palace loomed in Lazienki Krolewskie, or the Royal Baths Park: the Palace on the Isle, which dates back to the 17th century. Initially a Baroque Bathouse Pavilion, it was converted into a neoclassical palace before it became a museum.

Slate grey skies with dark clouds and a steady drizzle greeted me in Gdynia. The chilly winds failed to thwart a lazy walk over the 180-metre Orlowo Pier, the wooden structure built during the First World War. A coffee warmed me for a spot of forest-bathing as I hiked the nature reserve with the affable Marek Kaminski, the Guinness record-holder who has been both the poles.

Soon I stepped into Gdansk, a seaside city steeped in history. All the ruins were rebuilt in precisely the same manner. I walked the streets in awe, marvelling at the buildings but not fully knowing the weight of history and a past that tied Gdynia and Gdansk to the start of the Second World War.

Gdansk is the land of Lech Walesa, the man with a walrus moustache, who led the Solidarity Movement from the docks and rose to become the country’s first democratically elected president. I knew that. But I didn’t know of another Gdansk son, Daniel Fahrenheit, who is more known for devising the Fahrenheit temperature scale and less for inventing the mercury-in-glass thermometer.

The city is also the capital of amber, a fossilised resin from coniferous trees. So a visit to Amber Museum is mandatory. It traces the trade and history of amber from 8000 BC and is a virtual repository of all things amber.

Lodz was the next stop. Lodz is pronounced Wuj and written Łódź in Polish. Being a textile manufacturing centre, Lodz is a fashion capital, and a long walk through Piotrkowska Street is also a must for film buffs. It didn’t happen due to a time crunch. The Lodz film school helped film directors Roman Polanski, Andrzej Wajda and Krzysztof Kieslowski learn the craft.

The land of gnomes, Wroclaw beckoned me. Statues of little people are found everywhere in the city: in the alleys, doorways, street corners and even the city centre. Although more of a tourist gimmick now, its origins lie in the underground protest movement during the days of communism.

Wroclaw in Lower Silesia is adorned with beautiful buildings, especially around the Rynek (Market Square). Many colourful buildings were rebuilt after the wars but retained their appeal. A buggy ride helped us whistle past many landmarks, but we did make it to the Hydropolis (a water research centre) and the Raclawice Panorama, which houses a 360-degree 3D painting. It’s not a technological marvel but an artwork that fuses art on canvas and real-life objects to depict the 1794 Battle of Raclawice.

A stay at the Ksiaz Castle hotel was a throwback to the past, but the spooky night tour of the 13th-century castle produced spine-chilling encounters with four ghosts of people who served the House of Hochberg. The German and Soviet forces ravaged much of the castle during the wars, and rumours abound that a lost Nazi gold train is said to be buried near the castle.

I didn’t find the gold train but was treated to Poland’s bounty. The seven days sure did change my perception of the country. There’s much more to see and enjoy. So I will be back.

Jen-koo-yeh Polska (Thank you Poland).

In 2017, red paint was sprayed as a protest against whale hunting; while no specific group was cited, the intent aligned with animal rights activism .

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

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In 2020, amid global protests following George Floyd’s death, the statue's base was defaced with the words “racist fish.”

Though the act drew international attention, scholars rebutted any racist link to Andersen’s original narrative, and the responsible party was not identified .

Most recently, on March 2, 2023, the base was painted in Russia’s flag colors, interpreted as support for Russia during the Ukraine conflict; police investigated, but no suspects were named .

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
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On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
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The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, created in 1913 by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tale, is a prominent symbol of Danish cultural heritage.

Positioned by the waterfront, this bronze and granite figure has become one of the city’s most recognized attractions but is equally known for its long history as a frequent target for intentional vandalism.

These repeated attacks reveal the statue’s place not just as an urban monument, but as a dynamic canvas for protest, dissent, and broader cultural commentary.

The first dramatic episode occurred in 1964, when the statue’s head was sawn off and stolen under cover of darkness.

Despite a sweeping investigation, neither the severed head nor the perpetrators were ever found, and the precise motivation remains an unsolved mystery.

This act set a precedent, marking the statue as vulnerable and as a vehicle for making statements that typically attract wide media and public attention.

Four years later, in 1984, vandals severed and removed the right arm of the statue.

The arm was subsequently recovered and reattached, but no individuals or groups were publicly identified as responsible, nor were explicit reasons disclosed.

The following major incident took place in 1998, when the head was again decapitated—this time by a group of individuals who, while identified, did not publicize their motivations.

As in 1964, the act represented a bold challenge to the statue’s status and provoked widespread discussion within Denmark.

In 2003, the attacks escalated in severity: explosives were used to blast the statue off its base, toppling it into the waters below.

This act is typically interpreted as political or social protest, though those involved were never definitively identified and no clear message was claimed.

The authorities responded with prompt repairs, but the episode reinforced the statue’s status as an ongoing site of contestation.

In addition to these physical attacks, the statue has been a repeated site for symbolic, visually impactful protest.

In 2017, it was drenched in red paint to protest whale hunting, calling attention to environmental and animal rights concerns in the region.

Paint and graffiti have offered protestors a way to connect contemporary causes with a globally recognized Danish symbol.

Political and social tensions have also found expression on the statue during recent turbulence.

Following worldwide protests after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, the phrase “racist fish” appeared in graffiti across its base.

Though no evidence links Andersen’s original tale to racist motifs, the act exemplified the way protestors use the statue to discuss current events or express dissenting voices, particularly when the perpetrators remain anonymous.

A further politically charged incident occurred in March 2023, when the rock beneath the Little Mermaid was painted in the colors of the Russian flag.

The act was widely interpreted as a gesture of support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict.

As with many previous cases, those responsible were never caught, but the incident again underscored the statue’s role as an international symbol appropriated by parties wishing to broadcast political messages, especially in times of significant conflict or upheaval.

These incidents demonstrate a consistent pattern: few perpetrators are identified, and when a message is explicit—from environmental activism to anti-racist protest or international politics—the statue’s visibility ensures the issue is amplified.

The Little Mermaid’s repeated targeting over the years speaks both to its power as a national icon and to its function as a projection surface for dissent, activism, and, at times, mischief.

In almost every instance, authorities respond with prompt restoration and public condemnation, yet the very public location of the statue has made comprehensive protection challenging.

The cyclical process of vandalism and restoration has, paradoxically, helped cement the statue’s status—not diluting its significance, but rather entangling its cultural meaning with themes of contestation and renewal.

Ultimately, the repeated assaults on the Little Mermaid reflect the shifting landscape of societal dialogue in Denmark and beyond.

Once a simple homage to Andersen’s fairy tale, it has become a living and reactive testament to changing ideas about heritage, protest, and the politics of public space.

For a walking tour focused on culture and counter-culture, its history vividly illustrates how shared monuments can evolve into battlegrounds for contemporary values, serving not only as attractions but as mirrors of the passions, anxieties, and complexities of the times.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, created in 1913 by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tale, is a prominent symbol of Danish cultural heritage.

Title:

Content: Fairytale-like European city is 'spellbinding' and has 'something for everyone'

A beautiful European town is a destination full to the brim of exciting and interesting things to do.

By Paul Tregunna, Travel and Lifestyle Reporter

Nyhavn has become synonymous with Copenhagen (Image: Getty)

The Nordic countries are perhaps the closest opportunity travellers have to transport themselves into their very own fairy tales.

With beautiful cities and charming locals, they are some of the finest countries in the world to visit.

None more so than Denmark, an incredibly friendly country that connects mainland Europe to Scandinavia.

Its capital city, Copenhagen, is one of the continent's most well-known places, yet it isn’t as popular a city break destination as it perhaps should be.

With its colourful houses and lively atmosphere, the iconic area of Nyhavn has become synonymous with Copenhagen.

The colourful houses of Nyhavn are the perfect backdrop to relax and grab a drink (Image: Getty)

A perfect place to kick back and grab a drink by the water, Nyhavn was originally a commercial port welcoming ships from all over the world.

Once home to the legendary writer Hans Christian Andersen, the neighbourhood wouldn't look out of place in a picture book itself.

There are a number of boat trips operating from Nyhavn, offering visitors a chance to explore the sights of Copenhagen by water. It is a great opportunity to get your bearings and spot any attractions you’d like to see up close, whilst providing interesting commentary on the history of this fantastic city.

You can buy tickets for one of the boat trips on the day from Nyhavn, but they can also be purchased online in advance. The prices vary depending on which provider you choose to travel, and tickets should range from around £16-£20 for an hour-long journey.

The Little Mermaid sculpture is a must-see (Image: Getty)
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Hans Christian Andersen’s presence is still felt throughout the city. You have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Danish Author at the Hans Christian Andersen Experience - a charming and interactive museum detailing his life and the fairy tales he penned.

The Hans Christian Andersen Experience is a part of Ripley’s Believe it or Not, an entertaining exhibition on the world’s weirdest and wackiest true stories. You can purchase a combo ticket for both from 206 KR (£23.74) for an adult, and 139 KR (£16.02) for a child aged 4-11.

One of Hans Christian Andersen’s most famous stories is The Little Mermaid, which was written in 1837 and has subsequently been adapted into a number of films. In the Langelinie area of Copenhagen there is a bronze statue depicting the titular mermaid, unveiled in 1913, which is well worth taking the time to see.

Another of Copenhagen’s most iconic attractions is the spectacular Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world.

Tivoli Gardens are one of the world's oldest amusement parks (Image: Getty)

With something for everyone, Tivoli has roller coasters, rides, shows and a feel-good atmosphere. If Disney is the ‘happiest place on Earth’, Tivoli mustn't be far behind.

The sheer scale of Tivoli is mind-blowing, and you can easily spend a full day there and not cover everything. There are a number of ticketing options which can be viewed on the Tivoli website, but bear in mind Tivoli Gardens reopens on March 22.

Connected to Tivoli is a superstore specialising in one of Denmark’s most famous exports - LEGO.

The LEGO Store Tivoli Gardens is a must visit for fans of the iconic building blocks, as the highlight of the shop is a station where you can design and make yourself out of LEGO, providing a truly unique memento.

The Church of our Saviour's spectacular spiralling spire offers fantastic views over Copenhagen (Image: Getty)

Standing tall over the city is the spellbinding spire of Our Saviour’s Church, which visitors have the opportunity to climb.

After ascending 400 steps, with the last 150 externally spiralling around the tower, you will be blessed with one of the best views of Copenhagen - some 262 feet in the air.

Entrance to the tower is free, but it is advisable to book online in advance to secure a timeslot. If you aren’t a fan of heights, it’s best you give the climb a miss.

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Positioned by the waterfront, this bronze and granite figure has become one of the city’s most recognized attractions but is equally known for its long history as a frequent target for intentional vandalism.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
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The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

These repeated attacks reveal the statue’s place not just as an urban monument, but as a dynamic canvas for protest, dissent, and broader cultural commentary.

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
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On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
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The first dramatic episode occurred in 1964, when the statue’s head was sawn off and stolen under cover of darkness.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
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An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

Despite a sweeping investigation, neither the severed head nor the perpetrators were ever found, and the precise motivation remains an unsolved mystery.

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
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In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Reuters: In Copenhagen, the base of the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor
© AFP 2023 / Ritzau Scanpix / Ida Marie OdgaardThe Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen with a base painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen with a painted in the colors of the Russian flag base
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ZURICH, March 2 — RIA Novosti.
The base of the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, created on the basis of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, was painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor, Reuters reported.
The Russian flag was found painted on the basis of a statue of the Little Mermaid in Denmark on Thursday, in what police say is a “case of vandalism ” at Copenhagen ’ s most famous landmark and a popular tourist destination.
As specified, the front part of the stone on which the monument is erected is painted.
At the same time, the police still do not know “who is behind this incident. ”
"The answer is on the statue of an angel."
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This act set a precedent, marking the statue as vulnerable and as a vehicle for making statements that typically attract wide media and public attention.

Four years later, in 1984, vandals severed and removed the right arm of the statue.

The arm was subsequently recovered and reattached, but no individuals or groups were publicly identified as responsible, nor were explicit reasons disclosed.

The following major incident took place in 1998, when the head was again decapitated—this time by a group of individuals who, while identified, did not publicize their motivations.

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

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As in 1964, the act represented a bold challenge to the statue’s status and provoked widespread discussion within Denmark.

In 2003, the attacks escalated in severity: explosives were used to blast the statue off its base, toppling it into the waters below.

This act is typically interpreted as political or social protest, though those involved were never definitively identified and no clear message was claimed.

The authorities responded with prompt repairs, but the episode reinforced the statue’s status as an ongoing site of contestation.

In addition to these physical attacks, the statue has been a repeated site for symbolic, visually impactful protest.

In 2017, it was drenched in red paint to protest whale hunting, calling attention to environmental and animal rights concerns in the region.

Paint and graffiti have offered protestors a way to connect contemporary causes with a globally recognized Danish symbol.

Political and social tensions have also found expression on the statue during recent turbulence.

Title:

Content: Go to contents
The concept of the princess.
Posted June.
01, 2023 07: 34
Updated June.
01, 2023 07: 34
한국어
Recently, there has been a fierce debate on Theater Street due to the emergence of black mermaids.
A beautiful white princess with red hair.
What impressed us was Disney ’ s reinterpretation of the original 1989 animated film.
Hans Christian Andersen wrote a fairy tale about a mermaid princess in 1837, and there is no specific race in the original.
Although the film Mermaid Princess is controversial due to the color of the protagonist ’ s skin, it became a topic about 10 years ago in Andersen ’ s native Denmark when the mermaid princess appeared as a man. The artist duo Elmgreen and Dragsett ’ s “He (Gold) ” (2012 • photo) is the protagonist.
Mikael Elmgren of Denmark and Ingar Dragset of Norway have been working together since 1995.
Constantly demonstrating their work challenging the idea of immobilization, He (Gold) reinterprets Copenhagen ’ s bronze statue of the mermaid princess as a male version.
Edward Erikson made the mermaid princess in 1913 like a world tourist attraction, but because it is an 80 cm tall bronze statue, many people commented that it was very disappointed after seeing it.
Elmgreen and Dragoset painted the mermaid figure in the same position as the mermaid princess with a large expansion to 2 meters in height, and then painted it with gorgeous gold.
Instead of fins have legs, it seems that the love with the prince has succeeded.
But it may be because of the loss of voice, the expression looks sad.
The naked man sitting on the rock with his legs together completely contradicted traditional masculinity.
The mermaid seemed to be in deep meditation, appeared very quiet, cowardly and fragile, and looked uncomfortable.
In traditional art, naked men show off their strong bodies and pose as heroes.
The statue of the mermaid princess, erected in the Italian port city of Monopoli, has also been embroiled in controversy recently.
This time, the princess's oversized body became a problem.
Times have changed.
People ’ s preferences have also changed.
But the idea of Disney ’ s skinny, beautiful white princess still seems hard to change.

Following worldwide protests after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, the phrase “racist fish” appeared in graffiti across its base.

Though no evidence links Andersen’s original tale to racist motifs, the act exemplified the way protestors use the statue to discuss current events or express dissenting voices, particularly when the perpetrators remain anonymous.

A further politically charged incident occurred in March 2023, when the rock beneath the Little Mermaid was painted in the colors of the Russian flag.

The act was widely interpreted as a gesture of support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict.

As with many previous cases, those responsible were never caught, but the incident again underscored the statue’s role as an international symbol appropriated by parties wishing to broadcast political messages, especially in times of significant conflict or upheaval.

These incidents demonstrate a consistent pattern: few perpetrators are identified, and when a message is explicit—from environmental activism to anti-racist protest or international politics—the statue’s visibility ensures the issue is amplified.

The Little Mermaid’s repeated targeting over the years speaks both to its power as a national icon and to its function as a projection surface for dissent, activism, and, at times, mischief.

In almost every instance, authorities respond with prompt restoration and public condemnation, yet the very public location of the statue has made comprehensive protection challenging.

The cyclical process of vandalism and restoration has, paradoxically, helped cement the statue’s status—not diluting its significance, but rather entangling its cultural meaning with themes of contestation and renewal.

Ultimately, the repeated assaults on the Little Mermaid reflect the shifting landscape of societal dialogue in Denmark and beyond.

Once a simple homage to Andersen’s fairy tale, it has become a living and reactive testament to changing ideas about heritage, protest, and the politics of public space.

Title:

Content: Copenhagen residents were outraged by the behavior of American tourists
1: 09 AM
The unusual behavior of an American tourist in Copenhagen caused a storm of indignation among other travelers who witnessed this incident.
The girl came to the statue of the Little Mermaid and, not paying attention to the prohibition to touch the monument, began to touch and even kiss her.
The witness of this incident was a tourist named Dylan Trinkler, who captured everything on his phone.
The video shows how the girl climbed the pedestal of the monument, pressed her face against it and began to kiss the statue.
At the same time, clear warning signs about the prohibition of such actions were installed around the sculpture.
Many people began to condemn the violator, shouted at her to leave.
It should be noted that the statue of the Little Mermaid was installed in 1913 and is made of bronze and granite.
It is part of Danish cultural heritage and is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen ’ s famous fairy tale about a mermaid who gave up her underwater world for the love of a prince on land.
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Monument to the fairy tale "Mermaid" in Denmark (DeafSPB)
Author Oleg Loginov
Oleg Loginov — HSE student, Pravda.Ru freelance correspondent

For a walking tour focused on culture and counter-culture, its history vividly illustrates how shared monuments can evolve into battlegrounds for contemporary values, serving not only as attractions but as mirrors of the passions, anxieties, and complexities of the times.