National Aquarium Denmark, known locally as Den Blå Planet (The Blue Planet), opened in March 2013 in Kastrup, just outside Copenhagen, replacing a smaller aquarium that had operated in Charlottenlund since 1939. Designed by Danish architecture firm 3XN, the building’s distinctive whirlpool-shaped form has won international awards and become a landmark near Copenhagen Airport.
Billed as the largest aquarium in Northern Europe, the facility holds around 7 million liters of water across 53 exhibits, home to roughly 450 species and about 20,000 animals. Highlights include a 4-million-liter Ocean Tank with sharks and rays, a 16-meter underwater shark tunnel, and themed zones ranging from a piranha-filled rainforest to the cold waters of the North Atlantic.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Kastrup, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Opened: March 2013
- Size: About 12,000 m² (10,000 m² building, 2,000 m² outdoor)
- Water volume: About 7,000,000 liters
- Species: About 450 species, ~20,000 animals
- Annual visitors: About 1 million+ (1.3 million in its first year)
- Famous for: Northern Europe’s largest aquarium, in a whirlpool-shaped 3XN building with a 4-million-liter Ocean Tank shark exhibit
The Aquarium Experience
Visitors move through five main themed sections, including a tropical rainforest, the African Great Lakes, an evolution and adaptation exhibit, cold Nordic waters, and the warm-water Ocean Tank. The Ocean Tank alone holds about 4 million liters and includes a 16-meter transparent tunnel where sharks and stingrays glide overhead, one of the aquarium’s signature draws for visitors of all ages.
Architecture and History
The aquarium’s shape, inspired by a whirlpool with five arms radiating from a central point, was the winning entry in an international design competition by 3XN and has earned recognition including a RIBA EU Award. It succeeded Denmark’s original aquarium in Charlottenlund, which opened in 1939 and closed in 2012 when most of its animal collection relocated to the new, far larger Kastrup facility.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
National Aquarium Denmark (Blue Planet) FAQs
Where is National Aquarium Denmark located?
It is located in Kastrup, a suburb of Copenhagen, close to Copenhagen Airport.
When did the Blue Planet aquarium open?
It opened to the public in March 2013, replacing an older aquarium that had operated in Charlottenlund since 1939.
How much water does the aquarium hold?
The aquarium holds approximately 7 million liters of water across 53 exhibits, including a 4-million-liter Ocean Tank.
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Photo: Daniel from Melrose, United Kingdom / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.