Copenhagen is the European capital home to the Little Mermaid statue, unveiled in 1913.
The bronze statue sits on a rock at Langelinie promenade beside Copenhagen's harbour. It was commissioned by brewer Carl Jacobsen, whose interest in a ballet based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale inspired the project.
Edvard Eriksen sculpted the figure, which was unveiled on 23 August 1913. The statue depicts the mermaid from Andersen's story after she has become human and surrendered her voice in pursuit of the prince she loves.
The Little Mermaid is smaller than many visitors expect, standing about 1.25 metres tall. It has been repeatedly vandalized, including incidents involving paint, decapitation, and removal from its base. The statue is one of Copenhagen's best-known symbols, but it is separate from the city's historic Nyhavn waterfront.