Wanna Be Mermaid, Horsens

A modern mermaid on the Horsens waterfront

Wanna Be Mermaid stands on Jan Trøjborgs Plads at Horsens Harbour, where the urban waterfront opens toward Horsens Fjord. This outdoor sculpture by Danish artist Maria Rubinke reimagines the mermaid, one of Denmark’s most recognisable symbols, in a distinctly contemporary language. Rather than a postcard-pretty sea maiden, the figure appears stylised, slightly unsettling and full of attitude, echoing the city’s shift from traditional industrial harbour to creative waterfront district. Seen against the backdrop of moored boats, brick warehouses and new apartments, the sculpture becomes a visual anchor on the quayside. Its polished surface catches the ever-changing light off the water, while its human–fish hybrid form nods to Horsens’ maritime setting. As you move around the piece, the harbour sounds of rigging, gulls and lapping waves form a natural soundtrack to this modern take on a coastal icon.

Maria Rubinke’s playful yet unsettling imagination

Maria Rubinke is known for works that blend innocence with a slightly macabre twist, often using figurative forms that are both charming and disturbing. Wanna Be Mermaid fits this approach, suggesting a fairytale creature who does not quite belong in the world she inhabits. The title hints at longing and transformation, as if the figure is caught halfway between ordinary girl and mythical sea-being. Look closely and the pose and expression invite multiple readings. Is this a character dreaming of escape into the sea, or someone performing a role expected of her by the city and its visitors? The work plays with the weight of Danish mermaid lore while refusing to offer a simple, comforting image. This tension between aspiration and reality is part of the sculpture’s quiet power and makes it rewarding even for a brief stop.

Part of Horsens’ growing sculpture boulevard

The mermaid is one link in a chain of public artworks that form Horsens’ evolving sculpture boulevard, stretching from the railway station through the centre to the harbour and marina. Along this route, pieces by notable contemporary artists punctuate parks, plazas and streets, turning an everyday walk into an open-air gallery. By placing a bold mermaid right on the harbour, the city extends this artistic spine all the way to the water’s edge. Here at the quay, Wanna Be Mermaid works in dialogue with the industrial past of the port and the new residential and leisure developments around it. The sculpture signals that the harbour is no longer just a place of work and logistics, but also of art, leisure and waterfront life. It is easy to combine a visit with a stroll along the promenade, watching kayaks, yachts and the broad expanse of Horsens Fjord.

A compact stop for photos and quiet reflection

In practical terms, this is a small-scale, open-access stop rather than a full-blown attraction. There is no ticket office or enclosure; you simply encounter the sculpture in the public square. The area is flat and largely step-free, making it straightforward for wheelchairs, prams and casual visitors of all ages. Benches and low walls nearby provide places to sit and contemplate the piece and the harbour scene. Photographers will find plenty of angles: the sculpture framed against the water, reflected in nearby glass façades or silhouetted against soft evening light on the fjord. Changing weather dramatically alters its mood, from bright and playful in summer sun to brooding under low clouds. Even a short pause here can add a thoughtful, slightly offbeat note to a wider exploration of Horsens.

Stories, controversy and a living city symbol

Like many public artworks that rework beloved themes, Wanna Be Mermaid has occasionally attracted debate and strong reactions, including incidents of vandalism that only underline how visible the piece has become in local life. Such episodes form part of the ongoing story of the sculpture, marking it as a living element in the urban fabric rather than a distant museum object. Over time, the mermaid has helped place Horsens on Denmark’s unofficial “mermaid map”, alongside more famous figures in other cities but with a distinctly local spin. By situating a bold, slightly enigmatic sculpture right on the harbour, Horsens asserts its cultural confidence and its willingness to let contemporary art shape the identity of its renewed waterfront. For visitors, that means an encounter that is quick, free, and surprisingly thought-provoking.