Tivoli's story begins in 1843.
By 1841, Christian VIII had already granted Tivoli's founder, Georg Carstensen, permission for construction.
The following year, he succeeded in obtaining permission to establish the pleasure gardens on
Copenhagen's embankment, the area just outside the city's ramparts. On 1 May 1843, construction began
on the site and on 15 August Tivoli opened its gates to the public.
Tivoli was an instant success. 175,000 guests visited the gardens during the first, short season. One of the
guests was Hans Christian Andersen who visited on 11 October, the very last evening of the season. It was
here that he acquired his inspiration for his description of the emperor's garden, referred to in his journal
as "my Chinese fairy tale", or the Nightingale.
Today, Tivoli has around four million visitors a year, spread over three seasons: The summer season
(approximately three million visitors), Halloween at Tivoli (approximately 400,000 visitors), and Christmas
at Tivoli (approximately 800.000 visitors).
How it all began:
The romantic pleasure gardens found in parts of Europe were the inspiration for Tivoli; romantic because
they were landscaped in the natural style of an English garden. Georg Carstensen had seen such pleasure
gardens on his many trips abroad. In 1841, he applied to the king for permission to establish and run a
'Tivoli and Vauxhall' for five years. He took the name of Tivoli from one of his ideals, Tivoli in Paris, and
Vauxhall was a pleasure garden in London.
On military grounds
Carstensen's Tivoli and Vauxhall was established just outside the Vestervold ramparts on the city
embankment, which at that time was still guarded by the military. It was Copenhagen's governor, von
Hessen, who granted final permission for the use of the ground, and one of the conditions was that
structures must be simple and temporary so that Tivoli could be quickly dismantled in the threat of war.
Tivoli opens its doors
Construction progressed quickly. The building process began in May 1843, and although the buildings were
not entirely completed until the following year, Tivoli was sufficiently ready to open its doors for the first
season on 15 August 1843. The season lasted until 11 October, by which time Tivoli had been host to
174,609 guests.
Tivoli's oldest buildings
Tivoli's oldest building is Pantomimeteatret (The Pantomime Theatre), which dates from 1874. Along with
the Japanese Pagoda (1900) and Nimb (1909), it has become a Tivoli icon. The buildings from 1843 no
longer exist as they were made of wood and canvas.
Café Ultimo was refurbished in 1997 in the round building which had previously housed the Tivoli Tea
Rooms (1923-97). Before that it had also been used as a ballroom. The building dates from 1883.
Divan 2, now called Nimb Terrasse, and Divan 1, now Madklubben Grill, are still in their original locations
but have been converted and expanded many times since they were first constructed in 1843.
The St. Georg III Frigate, now home to the Pirateriet family restaurant, is the third frigate to be anchored in
the Tivoli Lake and was launched in 1993. The first frigate existed from 1887 to 1901 and the second from
1933 to 1940.
The Færgekroen Brewery originates from a temporary event held in 1934: The Fishing Village. The water
mill was added later and the microbrewery was established in 2005.
Glassalen (The Glass Hall Theatre), burned down during the Schalburg Corps' bombing in 1944, was rebuilt
in its original style in 1946 by Poul Henningsen, PH. It was originally a concert hall, dating from 1863, but
was later extended. After 1902, it was used for a variety of purposes such as theatre and revues and was
named Glassalen (The Glass Hall Theatre). Today, the Glass Hall Theatre is a venue for plays, revues and
concerts. It has a capacity of just under a thousand and was last renovated in 1998.
Grøften was originally called Teatercafeen (Theatre Café). It was a small café built onto the new
Pantomimeteater (The Pantomime Theatre) in 1874.
H.C. Andersen Slottet (Tivoli Castle) was erected as an arts and crafts museum in 1893 by architect Vilhelm
Klein. Tivoli acquired the property in 1978. Today, it is home to the Tivoli Boys Guard, Tivoli's offices and
meeting and function rooms.
Harmonipavillon (The Harmony Pavilion) dates from 1907. The building has previously been a carousel and
a fruit stand.
The main entrance, with its pavilions, was built in 1890 by architects Richardt Bergmann and Emil Blichfeldt.
Originally, the entire building complex also included two large wings, the Apollo Theatre and Restaurant
Wivex. These were torn down around 1970. The current, modern buildings with their glass facades were
erected by Tivolis Tegnestue in 1990 and 1992.
The Japanese Pagoda (formerly The Chinese Pagoda) was built in 1900 by Tivoli director and architect Knud
Arne Petersen. It was originally an illumination tower but was later turned into a restaurant. At the time it
was built, the pagoda was described as an 80-foot-tall Japanese tower. Even so, it was called the Chinese
Pagoda for over 100 years.
The 1956 concert hall replaced the hall that was destroyed in the Schalburg bombing of 1944. It was
designed and built by architects Hans Hansen and Frits Schlegel. The concert hall was renovated in 2005
and restored to its original appearance. A new rotunda, with a café and bar, was also added to the building
as well as the Akvariefoyeren (The Aquarium Foyer) in the basement with its salt water aquarium with
sharks and tropical fish. Finally, a new extension on the back of the building houses, among other things,
rehearsal rooms and a restaurant.
The Onion Dome kiosk next to Plænen (The Open Air Stage) was built in 1873, designed by Tivoli director
Bernhard Olsen. It was renovated in 1998.
Nimb was built in 1909 by Tivoli director and architect Knud Arne Petersen. It was originally known as the
Bazaar building and was the third building of its kind on the site. The oldest, dating from 1843, burned
down and the second, dating from 1863, had to be torn down due to the expansion of the street outside.
The Plænen (The Open Air Stage) building, including Kähler at Tivoli, was erected in 1968 by architect Simon
P. Henningsen.
The vehicle and staff entrances are situated in the Norwegian log cabin erected for the Nordic Exhibition of
Industry, Agriculture and Art of 1888. Tivoli took over the building after the exhibition and converted it into
a dairy. Since then, the log cabin has been used as a barracks for the Tivoli Boys Guard.
Paafuglen (The Peacock) was built in 1883 based on a design by building inspector Friedrichsen. Before
1957, it was known as Tårnpavillonen (The Tower Pavilion).
The waffle bakery dates from 1908 and has been run by the same family since it was built.
Woodhouse dates from 1997 and was designed by architect Søren Robert Lund. This building originally
housed the Valhalla Borgen (Valhalla Castle) ride. However, after its renovation in 2011, Woodhouse
opened on the premises.
Tivoli's 100th Anniversary
Tivoli celebrated its 100th anniversary in the middle of the Second World War. Denmark was occupied by
Nazi Germany. There were curfews, strict blackout rules and restrictions on large gatherings. Tivoli
managed to remain open in spite of the occupation. Poul Henningsen, PH, designed a blackout lamp which
emitted a weak, horizontal light that could not be seen from the air. A number of air raid shelters were built
and firework displays were, naturally, completely banned during the period. However, 15 August 1943 was
an exception: Tivoli turned 100 and fireworks were allowed to light up the sky above the Gardens, which
had been decorated with flags and flowers. There were 112,802 visitors to Tivoli on its 100th birthday.
Nordic Exhibition of Industry, Agriculture and Art
18 May 1888 saw the opening of the biggest exhibition ever held in Denmark: The Nordic Exhibition of
Industry, Agriculture and Art. Tivoli was part of the exhibition and exhibition pavilions and halls were
erected around the gardens. There were also a number of new facilities and technical improvements to the
Tivoli Gardens.
Tivoli's Norwegian House is a relic of the 1888 exhibition and, today, houses Tivoli's offices. The Swedish
Villa in Bernstorff's Park and the Tuborg bottle on Strandvejen in Hellerup also originate from the
exhibition. In 1988, the bottle was temporarily relocated to Rådhuspladsen (Copenhagen's city hall square),
which also used to be an exhibition ground, to mark the 100th anniversary of the exhibition; yet another
testimony to the exhibition's great significance for Copenhagen. During its six-month run, 1.4 million people
managed to visit the exhibition and Tivoli.
The exhibition's main building was situated in the city hall's current location. There were large open spaces
on this site due to the fact that the ramparts at Vesterport had been demolished.
The Schalburg Corps' bombing of Tivoli
Tivoli managed to remain open throughout the occupation. However, the Gardens did not survive the war
unscathed. On the night between 24 and 25 June 1944, the Schalburg Corps' Peter group forced its way into
Tivoli and planted bombs which caused a great deal of damage.
Many of the buildings burned down or were completely destroyed: The concert hall, Glassalen (The Glass
Hall Theatre), Arena, Dansehallen (The Dancehall) and almost all of the buildings at the back of the gardens
which were designed for either rides or amusements. Rutschebanen (The Roller Coaster) was also damaged
but The Pantomime Theatre escaped due to the fact that the bomb was a dud.
There were several reasons why Tivoli was chosen as the target for the action. On the one hand, Tivoli was
a popular favourite and, therefore, the attack on Tivoli touched a nerve in the Danish people. On the other
hand, while Kjeld Abell was director, Tivoli had become a modern, indeed almost cultural-radical,
enterprise, with PH as the head architect and Leo Mathiesen as the conductor of The Glass Hall Theatre
where people danced the jitterbug and to jazz. Moreover, Tivoli's finance director, Victor Lemkow, was of
Jewish descent.
In spite of the massive destruction, the Nazis were not able to wipe Tivoli off the map. The Gardens closed
for 14 days; they were tidied and new, temporary buildings were erected. Then, Tivoli opened again.
Ironically, this is probably the reason why Tivoli remains true to its original concept. Tivoli's popularity was
on the wane between the wars; Danes felt that the Gardens were old-fashioned and unsuitable for a
modern metropolis such as Copenhagen. There were many suggestions as to how the site could be used for
other purposes and it was proposed that Tivoli should be moved to a location outside the city. When it was
time to rebuild Tivoli after the war, the mood had changed and people were interested in recovering what
they had lost.
Tivoli's amusements and rides
Obviously, the mix of rides and amusements will change over time. Technology progresses, providing
new opportunities, and we constantly expect a bigger adrenaline rush from new, exciting rides.
The Roller Coaster
Tivoli's wooden roller coaster dates from 1914 and is one of the world's oldest wooden roller coasters still
in operation.
The track is 720 m long, including sidings and workshop, and the cars can achieve maximum speeds of
around 50 km/h. The track is constructed so that no energy is transferred to the cars after they have
climbed the first hill; in other words, it is the sheer force of gravity that powers the coaster cars.
A train of cars weighs approximately 2000 kg. The cars are slowed down by the 'brakeman' on all turns to
prevent excessive speed. The braking system consists of two metal wings which are pressed against the
side of the track. Therefore, force must be applied in order to stop the train.
Tivoli has had a roller coaster since 1843. The first roller coaster was a source of both joy and indignation:
Joy on the part of the Gardens' guests who enjoyed the seven thrilling seconds the ride lasted and
indignation among members of the press who felt that people should be spending their energy on political
issues and their money on more practical things.
Tivoli's own specialists are responsible for all of the Roller Coaster's maintenance. They replace planks and
track section when required, they paint and lubricate the cars in the winter, and they replace the cable
used to pull the cars up the hill.
During the ride on the Roller Coaster, guests can look into Skærsilden (The Fun House), which is built into
Roller Coaster Mountain, as are Minen (The Mine) and Smøgen (The Alley).
There was energy rationing during the Second World War. Therefore, roller coaster cars were pulled up the
first hill by strong men operating a winch installed on the roof of the ride.
Tivoli's amusements
The amusement arcades came to Tivoli from the USA in the 1920s at the invitation of Tivoli's director, Knud
Arne Petersen, although he could hardly have predicted their popularity.
In the Tivoli of 1843, there was a 'test-your-strength' machine, decorated with a bull's head, where strong
men could demonstrate their abilities before a crowd of admiring onlookers. There were also billiards and a
shooting range, illustrating that the tradition for playing games and competing at Tivoli is as old as Tivoli
itself.
There are several different types of amusement:
There are games of dexterity which test reactions, aim and patience, as it can be difficult to hit a net with a
ball or a teddy bear with a light rifle.
There are games of chance, typically the wheel of fortune, where you bet on a number or a symbol and are
rewarded if the arrow lands on your selection when the wheel stops. Finally, there are the one-armed
bandits and other arcade games. These are located in the large amusement arcades whereas the other
games are usually located in separate booths. The arcade games are pure exercises in dexterity. You may
have to race against another car on a video screen or down a snow-covered piste at incredible speed.
Simulator games even give you a feeling of movement when your seat moves with you around turns and
bends.
The one-armed bandit is purely based on luck and chance, just like the wheel of fortune. The size of a
player's winnings depends on the combination of symbols on the three drums. Hit three in a row and the
coins will stream out of the machine. It has been possible to play 'cash games' on the one-armed bandit
since 2001. The old-fashioned tokens have been replaced by real, valid coins, so there is no longer any need
to exchange cash for tokens. The arm, which gave the machine its popular nickname, has also been
replaced by a push-button.
In 2012, Tivoli opened its online casino, TivoliCasino.dk, which offers a wide selection of blackjack and
roulette games as well as new and more traditional fruit machine games.
Some of Tivoli's most notable directors:
Tivoli's first director was its founder, Georg Carstensen, who ran the Gardens from 1843 to 1848.
Bernhard Olsen, who established Copenhagen's Open Air Museum 'Frilandsmuseet', was Tivoli's director
from 1868 to1886.
Knud Arne Petersen was the director of Tivoli for a full 40 years, from 1899 to 1939.
Author Kjeld Abell held the role of director from 1940 to 1949.
Tivoli's current CEO is Lars Liebst. He took up the position in 1996.
The complete list of directors is as follows:
1843-1848: Georg Carstensen (1812-57)
1848-1858: "The Committee" (executive board) handles the management and selects its own chairman
1858-1863: Melsing (1821-1882), managing director
1858-1868: Adolph v.d. Recke (1829-1867), artistic director
1863-1873: C.A. Meyer (1817-1901), managing director
1873-1879: Klingenberg (1835-1902), managing director
1879-1882: Riise, managing director
1868-1885: Bernhard Olsen (1836-1922), artistic director (sole director 1882-1885)
1880-1910: During this period, there were also a number of finance directors. Thus, three people shared
the post of director. Member of the executive board and businessman T.S. Thrane was appointed to the
board of directors and held the title of director for a number of years. Even though he did not formally hold
the title of director for the entire period, his influence on the running of the Gardens was massive.
1886-1894: Robert Watt (1837-1894), artistic director
1894-1899: Thrane (1842-1910), sole director
1899-1940: Knud Arne Petersen (1862-1943), artistic director
1925-1950: Victor Lemkow (1883-1954), co-director (finance)
1941-1950: Kjeld Abell (1901-61), artistic director
1950-1975: Henning Søager (1913-1987) managing director
1951-1959: Inge-Lise Bock (1905-1959), artistic director
1975-1996: Niels-Jørgen Kaiser (1930-2001), managing director
1994-1997: Gordon Nielsen (born 1944), finance director
1996- : Lars Liebst (born 1956), managing director
1997-2000: Niels Leth Espensen (born 1956), finance director
2000- 2008: Michael Blønd (born 1960), finance director
2001- 2004 : Hans Henrik Gram (born 1954), director of operations
2008 - : Claus Dyhr (born 1967), finance director