Dyrehavsbakken (The Deer Park’s Hill), commonly referred to as Bakken, is an amusement park near Klampenborg, about 10 km north of Copenhagen in Denmark, and it is the oldest amusement park in the world.
Founded in 1583, it was the favorite place for the people of Copenhagen for centuries. Kirsten Pill discovered a natural spring in what is now known as Jaegersborg Dyrehave, a large forest park north of Copenhagen. People from Copenhagen were attracted to the spring due to the poor water quality in central Copenhagen during this period. These large crowds attracted entertainers, whose presence eventually evolved into something like amusement parks as they are presently known.
According to history, the area that the spring was located on was on royal hunting grounds. King Frederick III decided to set up an animal park in the area, and later his son Christian V extended this park in 1670. The park was not open to the public until 1756.
The Bakken amusement park is a great mix of new and old rides and stalls. It has six roller coasters, and the most famous is Rutschebanen, a wooden roller coaster open since 1932. This roller coaster has been deemed an American Coaster Enthusiasts Coaster Classic.
The park is also home to dozens of other flat, or amusement, rides suited for all ages. It has Bumper cars, Ghost Train, Samba Tower, Water Cannon, Carousel, Little Trains, Water slides, and many more. It is a perfect blend of amusements, restaurants , pubs, and bars with entertainment and live music. Big brands are not allowed to set up stands at Bakken because of its historic value.
The park is also home to Bakkens Hvile music hall, where cabarets are common, as well as a Circus Revue.
The park is open daily from the end of March through the end of August. Visitors can see many deer in one place in a single day. It is the second most popular attraction in Denmark, after Tivoli Gardens amusement park.