ALBA ABELANET, EMMA SAMPSON, ANDRÉS BARRENECHEA, 30/04/2025
In the heart of Copenhagen’s famous Nyhavn district, an old tattoo shop has stood untouched since 1884. Tattoo Ole is believed to be the oldest tattoo shop in the world, preserving a long tradition of tattoo artistry.
“In the old days, it was sailors who came from all over the world to get a tattoo. Today, they arrive by plane. Of course, sailors had a different background — being isolated at sea and coming to port was something special. But the atmosphere is still the same. People come here wanting something personal to take home with them,” says Magpritt Petersen, the current owner of the shop. Petersen have been working in Tattoo Ole for more than 15 years now.
Although the future of the shop remains uncertain, Petersen says that preserving this long-standing artistic tradition simply feels right.
“For me, it’s always felt natural — not a burden. It’s just the way things are. I think if you overthink things, they can start to feel heavy. I sometimes believe you just have to go with the flow of life and not think so much of everything”.
Tattooing remains a vibrant tradition in Denmark, a country known today for its tattoo-friendly culture. According to a 2018 study by Dalia Research, Denmark ranks as the seventh country in the world with the highest percentage of tattooed people, with 41% of its population.
This story is for a global audience, but specially those from Denmark, and could be published on outlets like The Copenhagen Post or Visit Copenhagen.