Long before Walt Disney drew his first picture, an amusement park in Denmark was already 300 years old and well on its way to becoming the oldest entertainment attraction in the world. Situated just six miles from Copenhagen, Dyrehavsbakken (The Deer Pasture’s Hill) was opened in 1583, making it the oldest operating amusement park in the world. Known simply as Bakken (The Hill), it’s Denmark’s second-most popular attraction, with over 2.5 million visitors each year. When a natural spring was discovered in the forests of an area now known as Jægersborg Dyrehave, residents of nearby Copenhagen flocked to the area to sample clean water, something that was in short supply in the Danish capital. The large crowds brought with them entertainers, performers and vendors, giving birth to the amusement park. Today, the park has many modern amusement rides, including six roller coasters and several automated attractions.
