Colleagues across decades
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- Michael Dano Andersen & Jan Willy Hansen
Bella Center Copenhagen marked its 50-year anniversary in 2025 – a milestone that invites reflection on how Denmark’s largest venue has transformed across five decades. Few people can describe that evolution more vividly than Michael Dano Andersen and Jan Willy Hansen. Together, they hold way more than 50 years of experience in the house. They arrived as young assistants in the early 1990s, one building stands, the other rewinding videotapes, and today they are among the senior leaders shaping the daily operations and long-term development of the venue.
“People often ask me whether I have ever grown tired of the same old here. The truth is, I have never needed to go anywhere else to find change.”
Their careers mirror the transformation of Bella Center Copenhagen itself. When Jan joined in 1990, the Bella Center Copenhagen he stepped into was defined by a strong, practical craft culture:
“Back then, everything was extremely hands on. We built things ourselves, we solved problems on the spot, and the pace followed the exhibition seasons.”
“Back then, everything was extremely hands on."
In those years, the calendar was dominated by travel fairs, car exhibitions, boat shows and large Scandinavian EDB and office fairs. Over time, these formats gave way to new kinds of events. A major highlight was the COP15 climate summit in 2009, which marked Bella Center Copenhagen’s breakthrough on the global stage. Since then, the venue has hosted political meetings, large international congresses, global corporate gatherings and major Danish cultural events. The 2000s brought rapid expansion with new conference facilities, major renovations and eventually the development of Bella Arena. Jan recalls being part of nearly every step:
“I have helped build halls, auditoriums and meeting rooms for more than 30 years and it still feels as if we have only just begun.”
The shift toward large international congresses changed everything: expectations, workflows and the type of expertise required.
“When the congress business really grew, the entire organization professionalized. I moved from AV into planning because suddenly the scale was completely different,” Michael explains and adds: “People often ask me whether I have ever grown tired of the same old here. The truth is, I have never needed to go anywhere else to find change. Bella has changed constantly and that has kept me curious.”
"Our first waste sorting system was three bins with homemade stickers."
The culture evolved as well. What once felt like a tight and improvisational workshop became a modern venue with specialized teams and international colleagues. Yet some things did not change.
“Our value related to teamwork was formally written down some years ago, but the truth is that it has always been here. People support each other across roles, teams and units. That is part of Bella’s DNA,” Jan says.
Sustainability also grew from simple beginnings to a more structured practice.“Our first waste sorting system was three bins with homemade stickers. Today we sort in 21 fractions. That says a lot about the journey,” Jan notes.
"I have helped build halls, auditoriums and meeting rooms for more than 30 years and it still feels as if we have only just begun."
Multiple decades in the same house shape both the people in it and the building itself. This is also why Hall D is informally known among colleagues as Hall Dano, while one of the most used meeting tables carries the nickname the Jan Willy table. These small markers reflect a larger truth: employees shape Bella Center Copenhagen as much as the venue shapes its events. When asked what the next 50 years will bring, they both answer without hesitation: continued development, but with the same human foundation. “Buildings change, owners change, strategies change, but the way colleagues support each other, that is the constant,” Michael concludes.
