Copenhagen rebuilt in Lego with 14 residents as mini-figures

Copenhagen has returned to Legoland’s Miniland in Billund after a 2024 fire damaged parts of the miniature city, with a new 1:20 scale model of Islands Brygge now on display, featuring landmarks like Urban Rigger, a housing complex made from repurposed shipping containers.

Among the 14 Copenhagen residents recreated as Lego figures is 9-year-old Vita Agerlin Lund, who built her own miniature self in a swimsuit and flip-flops. Standing in the park with her family, she described the experience as both good and strange. Her father, Simon Agerlin Lund, joked that it felt a little awkward—“a classic dad joke,” as he put it.

The family, who often visit Havnevigen beach in Copenhagen, found it natural for Vita’s Lego figure to be placed there in the model. “It feels surprisingly familiar. We recognize the houses. It feels like this is where we belong,” Simon Agerlin Lund said.

Jan Mouritzen, daily manager of Miniland’s model department, said the idea to include real Copenhageners came from a desire to engage the public. “We thought it would be a fun idea to activate Copenhageners and see if anyone was interested. It turned out there was overwhelming interest.”

Applicants submitted personal stories with their requests, which Legoland staff will use to enrich guided tours. “We love the stories. We can say, ‘See that couple there? He proposed to her at Cirkelbroen in real life,’” Mouritzen explained.