On what date was Hans Christian Andersen born in Odense?

Hans Christian Andersen was born on 2 April 1805 in Odense, Denmark.

Andersen grew up in a poor family on the Danish island of Funen. His father was a shoemaker, and his mother worked as a washerwoman. Despite limited formal schooling, Andersen developed a strong interest in reading, theatre, and storytelling during childhood.

His birthday later became closely associated with children’s literature around the world. International Children’s Book Day is observed on 2 April because it marks Andersen’s birth date, although the observance was established long after his lifetime.

A common mix-up is to confuse Andersen’s birthplace with Copenhagen, where he spent most of his adult life. Odense remains the city most strongly connected with his childhood and now has museums and landmarks devoted to him.