Gåsepigen af Gerhard Henning

Updated April 16, 2024

## Gåsepigen af Gerhard Henning (The Goose Girl), Aalborg — what it is and why it matters

On Vesterbro 65 in central Aalborg, you’ll find Gåsepigen (“The Goose Girl”)—a bronze sculpture created by the sculptor Gerhard Henning (1880–1967).

It’s widely treated as one of Aalborg’s signature pieces of public art: a compact landmark that’s easy to miss if you’re rushing through the intersection, and surprisingly easy to appreciate once you stop for a minute and read the sculpture as a small scene rather than “just a statue.”

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## Where it is (so you don’t waste time)

– Address (as listed in multiple directories): Vesterbro 65, 9000 Aalborg
– Placement: On Vesterbro in central Aalborg (described as right in/near the city centre)
– Specific siting (notable for orientation): Placed at the corner of Stengade and Vesterbro. Danmark | Lex

Data freshness note: Your supplied “4.2 rating” is almost certainly a snapshot from a review platform and can shift as new reviews come in; treat it as directional, not permanent.

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## What you’re looking at (materials + design details)

Gåsepigen is a bronze figure group featuring a girl and a goose—the two central figures that literally give the work its name.

A detail many visitors walk past: the figures are set on a granite structure designed as a well curb / basin, based on drawings by Kaare Klint (1888–1954).

You’ll also see the donor’s mark in the stonework: archival photos document the inscription “C.W. OBEL 1787–1937” on the granite basin.

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## The backstory (commission, donation, and the “why 1937?” answer)

This sculpture wasn’t dropped here randomly—it’s tied to a very specific civic moment.

– Year / unveiling context: The sculpture was inaugurated in 1937. Danmark | Lex
– Who gifted it: It was donated to Aalborg by C.W. Obel in connection with the company’s 150-year anniversary.

If you want a primary-source-style confirmation beyond travel directories, C.W. Obel’s own historical timeline explicitly lists the gifting of “Gåsepigen” to Aalborg in 1937. Obel

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## The motif and what it’s referencing

Trap Danmark (a Danish reference work) states that the motif comes from a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Danmark | Lex

That matters because it frames how you “read” the sculpture. You’re not looking at an abstract emblem or a generic “girl with bird.” You’re looking at a scene meant to carry story-energy—something between folklore and civic identity—scaled down to a street-corner encounter.

(Keeping this strictly factual: the source identifies Grimm as the origin; it does not specify which exact Grimm tale in the snippet available.) Danmark | Lex

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## How to experience it well in 5–10 minutes

### 1) Circle it and view it as a small stage set
Because it’s a figure group (girl + goose) placed on a designed granite element, you get different emphasis from different angles: relationship first, then gesture, then the architectural “frame” of the basin/well curb. The granite design attribution to Kaare Klint is the clue that the base is part of the artwork’s intent, not just a pedestal.

### 2) Look for donor text (it’s part of the story)
The “C.W. OBEL 1787–1937” inscription is a compact way of encoding the donation context into the object itself. Archival descriptions explicitly note this inscription on the granite basin.

### 3) Pair it with nearby public art for contrast
Trap Danmark notes that Cimbrertyren stands close by. Even if you don’t know that work beforehand, it’s a useful pairing: two local icons, different scale, different energy, short walking distance. Danmark | Lex

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## Practicalities that are safe to rely on

– It’s a publicly sited sculpture on a city street (not a museum entry).
– You don’t need a reservation—this is “walk up, look, move on,” and it fits naturally into a central Aalborg stroll.

Outdated-data flag: Some third-party map listings show “open now” / 24–7-style hours for the location. Treat those as platform conventions for outdoor landmarks, not an official schedule.

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## Quick FAQ

### Is this the same “Goose Girl” you’ll see referenced in English guides?
Yes. Multiple tourism listings translate Gåsepigen as “The Goose Girl.”

### Who made it?
The sculpture is attributed to Gerhard Henning (1880–1967).

### Why is Kaare Klint mentioned with this artwork?
Because the granite pedestal/basin design is credited as being based on drawings by Kaare Klint.

### When was it installed?
Reference sources state 1937 for inauguration/installation context. Danmark | Lex

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## Suggested internal links (contextual placements)

Use whichever URLs match your RealJourneyTravels structure—these are recommended placements, not claims that the pages already exist:

– If you have a city hub: Best Things to Do in Aalborg (use this in the “Where it is” section as the broader itinerary anchor)
– For a nearby pairing: Cimbrertyren (Aalborg’s Bull) — what to know before you go (use this in the “Pair it with nearby public art” section)

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### Source integrity note
Everything above is grounded in the provided location details plus cited references. Where platforms are review-driven or operational details can drift (ratings / “open now” metadata), I flagged that explicitly.

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