Overview

• The Agency for Culture and Palaces determined on August 12 that the ‘Big Mermaid’ must be removed under the Danish Museum Act because it was installed without permission.
• Dragør Fort’s status as a protected monument prohibits unauthorized alterations, and the agency said the sculpture disrupts the fortification’s historic military structure.
• Legal ownership of the stone statue remains disputed, leaving the responsibility for its removal unresolved.
• Critics have labeled its sexualized design “ugly” and “pornographic,” fueling discussions over artistic freedom and representation of women in public spaces.
• Commissioning patron Peter Bech has defended the mermaid’s proportions and is contesting the removal as supporters search for new exhibition venues.