LEGOLAND gained a major new attraction today when the Danish Minister for Transport Thomas Danielsen and his counterpart from the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, Claus Ruhe Madsen, inaugurated the large LEGOLAND exhibition on the construction of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel between Denmark and Germany.
The 250 m² Femern exhibition is centrally located in Miniland and includes a model of the tunnel factory, work vessels, the immersion of tunnel elements, traffic on the construction site and local sights from both Lolland-Falster and northern Germany.
The exhibition is the result of a collaboration between LEGOLAND and Sund & Bælt, the state-owned client organisation of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel. The aim is, among other things, to get more young people interested in vocational training and, in the long term, to attract more apprentices to the construction industry.
‘When you're at LEGOLAND, it's hard not to get carried away. Whether you're a child or an adult, the Fehmarn exhibition is simply impressive. I hope that some of the children who see how fantastic this project is will be inspired to pursue a career in the construction industry,’ said Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen at the opening ceremony.
Claus Ruhe Madsen, Minister of Transport in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, also took the opportunity to highlight the fascination of seeing the extensive tunnel construction between Denmark and Germany translated into LEGO bricks, while emphasising the project's importance for the connection between the two countries and the rest of Europe.
"I am always impressed when I visit the large tunnel construction site. But it is also fascinating to see this enormous project, which is so important for both our countries, recreated with thousands of LEGO bricks. LEGO connects people across borders and generations – just as the Fehmarnbelt tunnel will bring people, countries and markets closer together," said Claus Ruhe Madsen.
At LEGOLAND, CEO Michael Ottesen is looking forward to the park's many annual visitors experiencing the new attraction, which, with over 800,000 LEGO bricks, is one of the largest in Miniland.
"The exhibition on the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is a new area with lots of movement and interaction. I am convinced that it will be very well received by our guests, and I can already see that the children have started operating the cranes," said Michael Ottesen.
For Sund & Bælt, the collaboration with LEGOLAND is particularly important. The construction industry lacks skilled labour, and this is affecting the state-owned company, which is already investigating construction projects that could become a reality in the future.
‘We believe that this exhibition will help inspire many and spark an interest in some of the children who are playing today but may be the builders of tomorrow,’ said Mikkel Hemmingsen, CEO of Sund & Bælt.
About LEGOLAND
- The first LEGOLAND opened in Billund in 1968.
- Miniland was the focal point of the original LEGOLAND.
- In Miniland, you can experience magnificent buildings from around the world made from LEGO bricks.
- Today, there are 10 LEGOLAND parks around the world.
About the Fehmarnbelt tunnel
- The Fehmarnbelt tunnel is being built as an 18 km long immersed tunnel for cars and trains between the Danish island of Lolland and the German island of Fehmarn.
- The first ten of the tunnel's 89 tunnel elements have been cast.
- The tunnel will have a dual carriageway in each direction and two electrified railway tracks for high-speed trains. It will take 7 minutes to travel by train from Denmark to Germany and 10 minutes by car.
- The tunnel will enable trains to travel between Copenhagen and Hamburg in 2.5 hours.
- Femern Link Contractors (FLC) is the main contractor for the construction of the tunnel factory and tunnel.
- Sund & Bælt, the client organisation of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, has required the contractors to train at least 500 apprentices during the construction period.
