Good afternoon,

Thank you so much for inviting us to be a part of this exciting day. Our family – not least Christian, Isabella, Vincent and Josephine – have been looking so much forward to taking part in the official opening of LEGO House and to being, set free to explore.

When I first heard about LEGO House, I was not entirely sure what kind of house it would be – or could even imagine what to expect.

In LEGO’s world, if you can think it, you can build it. 

Luckily, there were others that had the fantasy and vision to think it.  So we can stand here today, in the Home of the Brick, a house dedicated to play, fun and creativity.

Why is playing and having fun, so important in today’s complex and globalised world?

Well, across borders, cultures and all sectors of society, there seems to be a shared and the rightful recognition that we must prepare our children for a future, where they have a strong ability to adapt.

We also need to support the development of their skills. Skills like; creativity, problem-solving and working together - if they are to thrive and succeed in the 21st century.

Play is a gateway to doing just that.

When children play,

• They develop and grow.
• They use their creative thinking and practice their social skills.
• They engage in problem solving and they explore emotions.
• They learn through playing and having fun.

In short, children need to play.

In fact, Children also have the right to play. And the importance of play is clearly stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child.

Equally important is ensuring that they actually have the possibility to engage in play. In many places and countries, the hardships of life can mean that the importance of play is sometimes forgotten.

The creation of more universes and environments that actively stimulate the playful approach not only through childhood – but also through adolescence and adulthood, will lead to a future where play and learning go hand in hand with innovation and development.

And this is precisely the approach we are seeing, for example in tech-hubs around the world.

The new LEGO House in Billund, is a physical manifestation of a vision to stimulate life and creativity.

Visiting LEGO House will be an experience for young and old - and a gentle reminder of the importance of play and creativity in our lives.

Thank you.