Our History
Christiania—a former military zone in the heart of Copenhagen—lay deserted after the military left. In 1971, the site was taken over by a group of people with a different vision for the neighborhood. They renamed the areaChristianiaand established the framework for an experimental and alternative community.
Just one year later, in 1972, Landsbysmedjen was founded by Lars Engstrøm and his friends Jesper, Kjeld, and René. The four entrepreneurs humbly began by making wood-burning stoves out of old oil drums and steel sheets they found at the town’s scrap yards. Transportation was handled using old cargo bikes from the war era—a simple yet essential tool that would soon take on greater significance.
From the very beginning, Christiania decided to be a car-free neighborhood. This sparked the imagination: How else could people transport children, groceries, building materials, and everything else that’s part of a vibrant urban community? The answer was bicycles and trailers. The blacksmith’s shop therefore set to work producing sturdy bicycle trailers. The first ones were built on old bed frames—rough, but functional. Over time, the design was improved, the materials were replaced, and production became more professional.
The bicycle trailers quickly became an indispensable part of everyday life in Christiania, but word also spread beyond the city walls. More and more people discovered the practical and durable trailers, and demand grew. As this happened, the foundation for a small business was laid—a business that was officially registered in 1978 and would later evolve into what we know today as Christiania Bikes.
In Christiania, it had already become common practice to transport children in bicycle trailers. But Lars had an idea that would change everything: instead of having the children behind him, he wanted to move the carrier to the front of a tricycle. That way, he could have direct contact with the children while improving safety—and it made for a much more enjoyable ride. On May 16, 1984, Lars gave his girlfriend Annie the first Christiania bike as a birthday present. She thought she was unwrapping a racing bike—but instead, there stood the world’s first Christiania bike. The very same day, the first orders were placed.
In 1989, Annie and Lars moved their production from Christiania to Bornholm, where a small operation took root on an old farm. Soon, local farmers became part of the adventure—they hand-built wheels, sewed bike covers, and produced parts for the bicycles.
Today, our production facilities are located both on Bornholm and in Copenhagen. Here, we manufacture and assemble more than 100,000 steel components and other essential parts for cargo bikes and trailers every year. At the same time, we collaborate with a number of Danish and European subcontractors who produce custom-designed parts and equipment. Other key components—such as engine parts, frames, brakes, wiring, and lights—are sourced from experienced suppliers in Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, and many other countries.
From a small workshop in a car-free community to an international company, our journey has always been guided by the same vision: to create modes of transportation based on community, sustainability, and integrity.
