Hans Christian Andersen made famous the Danish swan when he wrote his story Den Grimme Ælling (The Ugly Duckling). The swan is Denmark's national bird.

H.C. Andersen is especially famous for his fairytales (eventyr), although he wrote many plays, travelogues, novels and poems.

Den Lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid) can be seen in Copenhagen harbour.

You can today visit H.C. Andersen's house in Odense on Fyn.