Valby Tingsted
Tingstedet in Valby is one of those places where the past and present meet so naturally that you hardly notice the transition. The square has been the heart of the neighbourhood for hundreds of years, and even today it buzzes with life, stories and little details.
In the middle of Valby lies Valby Tingsted, or Tingstedet as it is commonly known, a small square that feels like the neighbourhood's living room. This is where the village's old thing (thingstead) was located, where farmers met, judgments were passed, and bells called people together. Today, a circle of stones still marks the historic thingstead, while cafés, shops and Spinderiet form a modern setting around the square.
The past is embedded in the walls. The former children's asylum from the 1870s overlooks the square, and a few steps away are the old riding school and the low village houses of Valby Langgade. At the same time, everyday life is very contemporary, with fast food, sushi, small cafés and city life all year round. The Valby Local Committee regularly uses Tingstedet for events such as Christmas tree lighting, culture days and debates about the future of the district, and their social media is full of pictures of the square through the ages.
In 2025, Tingstedet gained another iconic layer of history when the new Olsen Gang statue was unveiled. The three bronze figures of Egon, Benny and Kjeld stand in the square facing Nordisk Film, where the iconic films were created. The statue was financed by fans and foundations and has already become a place of pilgrimage for both locals and tourists, who pose for photos with Denmark's most beloved criminal gang.
The square is therefore both a historical centre, a cultural scene and an everyday hub. A place where Valby's village past meets the energy of the big city, and where new stories are constantly being added to the old ones. Standing in the middle of the square, you can almost hear the echoes of voices from the past mingling with the sound of S-trains, prams and clinking coffee cups, while the Olsen Gang keeps an eye out for the next heist just around the corner.