Back to Top
August 13, 2017
39615
Save the World's Oldest Tattoo Shop
Dear Tattoo Artist/Enthusiast
This letter concerns the petition to support the oldest tattoo parlor in the world, which is in danger of being closed down.
The world's oldest tattoo parlor, Tattoo Ole in Nyhavn 17, Copenhagen has been a place for tattooing since 1884. It’s a living cultural institution of art and believed to be the oldest parlor in the world still remaining at its original location.
The owner of the building has terminated the lease of the shop because they want to turn it into a kitchen to be used by the restaurant, which is also located in the building.
The owner will take this to court on the 14th of September, 2017.
To support the case of the shop owner, Maibritt Petersen, we have made an online petition. Which is now signed by more than 5000 supporters. The petition will be used in court. But we need even more support, so you get this letter.
The petition can be found here:
https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-the-worlds-oldest-tattoo-shop
We believe that it would be a catastrophe if this historical shop were closed down. It’s unique in the world of tattooing and therefore we hope you will support the case by writing a signed letter where you state why this shop has to stay open at this specific location.
Background: We have located documents recording people getting tattooed in NYHAVN 17 since 1899. At that time, it was a bar, a tobacco shop and a barbershop that they would share it with.
In the beginning, it was a table in the far corner, and as far as we know, there was always a tattooer working there. By the 1920’s early 1930’s, it became a regular tattoo shop with some world-known tattooers like Hans Hansen, Albert Hansen, Henry Jensen, Holger Jurgens and Tato Jack/Helmuth Mikaelsen working there.
In 1947 the shop was taken over by Ole Valdemar Hansen, also known as Tatovør Ole. Artists such as Ole, John Larsen/Dullerknaller, Peter Petersen, Tattoo Freddie, Tattoo Lucky and even the famous Herbert Hoffmann were tattooed at this place.
In the 1980s it was artists like Andy Larsson, Danny Hansen, Tom Viking, Mike Christensen, Tattoo Bimbo/Jørgen Thorstein, Henning Jørgensen, Søren Kempff and even Mike Malone worked there.
The Nyhavn 17 tattoo parlor might be the most described and documented anywhere. The parlor has been several times in the press, books and literature over the years and by some, today still described as the original birthplace of Danish tattooing as we know it.
Nyhavn 17 is known to be the place were sailors, workmen and Kings got tattooed. Ole Hansen used the phrase King of tattooers, tattooer of the King. Our crown prince proudly bragged about it on TV at The Brandts Klædefabrik’s TATTOO exhibition, were proud of our royals having tattoos as the crown prince having continued the tradition in some way.
Nyhavn 17 is still visited by guest tattoo artists and tourist from all over the world.
Up until the 1980’s Nyhavn, with all its tattoo parlors was the centre of tattooing in Scandinavia. Many of the artists who worked there still inspires artists from all over the world today.
We hope you can help us. If you need more info, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Best regards.
Lionel Titchener
Tattoo Club of Great Britain
389 Cowley Road
Oxford
OX4 2BS
P.S.
Please can you forward this letter to all your friends and ask them to sign the petition.
