Dyrehavsbakken Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Dyrehavsbakken
Attractions
Entrance to Bakken
Location	Klampenborg, Denmark
Coordinates	55°46′33″N 12°34′29″E / 55.775813°N 12.574818°E / 55.775813; 12.574818
Opened	1583; 442 years ago (1583)
General manager	Niels-Erik Winther
Slogan	Der er noget om snakken, der er dejligt på Bakken (There is something to it, Bakken is lovely)
Area	75,000 m² (810,000 sq ft)
Total	33
Roller coasters	5
Water rides	1
Website	Bakken.dk

Dyrehavsbakken (which means Deer Park Hill), often called Bakken (meaning The Hill), is an exciting amusement park in Lyngby-Taarbæk, Denmark. It's located near Klampenborg, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of central Copenhagen. You can find it in the southern part of Dyrehaven, a large royal deer park.

Bakken first opened in 1583. This makes it the oldest operating amusement park in the entire world!

Each year, between 2.5 and 2.9 million people visit Bakken. This makes it the second most popular attraction in Denmark. The most famous park is Tivoli Gardens. Unlike Tivoli, it's free to enter Bakken. You only pay for the rides and attractions you want to enjoy.

History of Bakken
Rides and Attractions
Other Fun Things to Do
How Bakken Works
Images for kids
See also

History of Bakken

The story of Dyrehavsbakken began in 1583. A woman named Kirsten Piil found a natural spring in what is now called Dyrehaven. People in Copenhagen were excited about this spring water. At that time, the water in the city was not very clean. Many believed the spring water could even heal them!

Because of this, large crowds came to the spring. They especially visited in the springtime. These crowds attracted entertainers and sellers. Their presence is how the amusement park started.

For a while, the spring area was closed to the public. It was part of the royal hunting grounds. In 1669, King Frederick III decided to create an animal park there. His son, King Christian V, made the park even bigger in 1670. The area was named Jægersborg Dyrehave in 1671. It stayed closed to the public until 1756, when King Frederick V opened it again.

Once it was open, Dyrehavsbakken became very popular. Entertainers, sellers, and innkeepers returned. Bakken's fame grew across Europe. This brought other performers, like Pjerrot. He is a famous clown who is still a part of the park today! The park kept growing, even during the Napoleonic Wars. It became even easier to visit later on. Steamships started in 1820, and railroads in 1864. Poets and authors also wrote about Bakken, making it even more well-known.

As Bakken grew, some parts became messy. So, in 1885, some business owners formed a group. They called it the Dyrehavsbakken Tent Owners' Association. This group helped make the park better. They improved trash collection, restrooms, and water. They also helped bring electricity to the park. This association is still active today. All businesses in the park must join it.

The entertainment at Bakken also got better over time. Cabaret shows like Sansouci (opened 1866) and Bakkens Hvile (opened 1877) became very popular. In the 1900s, new things arrived. These included the Circus Revue and automated rides. Today, Bakken has many modern rides and fun things to do.

Rides and Attractions

Bakken started with a spring, but now it's a lively amusement park. It has many modern rides and fun things to do. Bakken has five roller coasters. The most famous one is Rutschebanen (meaning Roller coaster). This is a classic wooden roller coaster that opened in 1932. The park also has many other amusements and smaller rides. There's something fun for all ages!

Roller Coasters

Ride name	Type	Year opened	Manufacturer	Fun facts
Mariehønen (Ladybird)	steel sit down	1981	Zierer	This small coaster goes up to 26 km/h (16 mph) on a 60 m (200 ft) track.
Mine Train Ulven (The Wolf)	steel sit down	1997	Intamin	This mine train ride reaches speeds of 65 km/h (40 mph).
Rutschebanen	wooden sit down	1932	Lebela	This classic wooden coaster goes up to 75 km/h (47 mph) on an 852 m (2,795 ft) track. It's 22 m (72 ft) tall!
Tornado	steel sit down spinning coaster	2009	Intamin	The cars on this ride spin around the 300 m (980 ft) long track.
De Vilde Mus (The Wild Mice)	steel sit down	2012	Mack Rides	This is a compact wild mouse coaster.

Other Rides

Each ride needs a certain number of coupons to enjoy:

Afro Cups – spinning cups (4 coupons)
Bumper Cars – bumper cars (81)
Crazy Theater – indoor laser shoot-out (6 coupons)
Enterprise – enterprise spinner (5 coupons)
Extreme – giant swing (6 coupons)
5D Cinema – shows 4 different movies, each about 10–12 minutes long (8 coupons)
Ghost Train – indoor ghost train (5 coupons)
Gyngen – a Zamperla Happy Swing that opened in 2024 (7 coupons)
Hullabaloo – funny house (4 coupons)
Jungle Boats – boats and water shooting (4 coupons)
Polyp – polyp spinner (5 coupons)
Rodeobanen – bumper cars (8 coupons)
Safari – dark ride laser shoot out (5 coupons)
Samba Tower – air carousel (4 coupons)
Svæveflyveren – Zamperla WindstarZ moved from Emerald Park in 2024 (8 coupons)
Spinning Car – hovercraft ride (4 coupons)
SRV – simulator ride (4 coupons)
Swan Station – aerial swan ride (5 coupons)
Tidsmaskinen – a Zamperla NebulaZ, added for the 2021 season (8 coupons)
Tower Thrill – a 30-meter-tall drop tower (6 coupons)
Water Cannon – water shoot out on boats (5 coupons)
Viking Ship Dragon – swinging Viking ship (5 coupons)
Water Slide – a log flume ride. It travels a 390-metre-long (1,280 ft) course and has two drops (5 coupons)

Children's Rides

Bin Express – roundabout (4 coupons)
Børne Ferris Wheel – mini Ferris wheel (4 coupons)
Carousel – children's carousel (3 coupons)
Hip Hop – mini drop tower (4 coupons)
Jeep – on track jeep ride (3 coupons)
Klatrejungle – challenge course
Little Trains – mini train ride (4 coupons)
Mini Dumpo – circular ride (3 coupons)
Santa's Obstacle Course – play area

Shows and Entertainment

Bakkens Hvile – cabaret show
Circus Revue – a live revue show from May to August
Pjerrot the Clown – the park's friendly mascot performs daily
Bakken Animals – an animal show

Past Attractions

Ride name	Year opened	Year closed	Manufacturer	Description
Dillen	before 2003	2020	Zierer	This was a jet-ski ride. It was removed to make space for Tidsmaskinen.
Græshoppen	2021	2023	KMG	A thrill ride that spun and flipped riders upside down.
Racing	1972	2020	Zierer	This single-seat car-style coaster was built in 1971. It was replaced by Græshoppen.

Other Fun Things to Do

Bakken has more than just rides! You can find seven different game halls. These have carnival-style games, slot machines, and places for dancing. Pjerrot the clown, who is the park's mascot, performs every day for younger children.

The park is also home to Bakkens Hvile music hall. Here, you can often see cabaret shows. There's also the Circus Revue, which is a live circus-style performance. You can also enjoy live music in the lounges and bars around the park.

Bakken has many restaurants with different types of food and prices. You can find street food vendors, buffets, and fancier restaurants. The food ranges from classic amusement park treats like hamburgers and cotton candy. You can also try traditional Danish cuisine. This includes Pølser (Danish hot dogs), Æbleskiver (Danish popovers), and Smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches). Bakken also has many bars and lounges. They serve popular Danish beers like Carlsberg and Tuborg.

How Bakken Works

Bakken is open daily from late March until the end of August. It's free to walk into the park area. However, you need to pay for the rides and attractions. Prices depend on the ride. You can also buy discounted coupons, wristbands, or season passes for unlimited fun!