Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark, on 2 April 1805.
Andersen grew up in modest circumstances on the island of Funen. He later moved to Copenhagen, where his writing career developed with support from influential patrons. His fairy tales eventually made him one of the best-known Danish authors worldwide.
Stories such as “The Little Mermaid,” “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and “The Princess and the Pea” are associated with Andersen. Although Copenhagen became important in his adult life, Odense is his birthplace and remains closely connected with his memory through museums and commemorative sites.
A common mix-up is confusing Andersen with Søren Kierkegaard, another major Danish writer associated with Copenhagen. Andersen’s birthplace is Odense, Funen’s largest city, rather than Denmark’s capital.