The circus began as a humble affair, featuring Gottfried, his wife Marie, her siblings, and a handful of domestic animals, gradually evolving into Denmark’s largest and most successful circus under the leadership of their son Ferdinand and, later, their grandson Eli Benneweis—widely regarded as one of Europe’s most accomplished circus entrepreneurs. Notable milestones include a celebrated centenary in 1987, collaborations such as the Italian-Danish Circo Italo-Danese Palmiri Benneweis tour in the late 1950s and 1960s, and an ambitious period when the family managed other European circuses and produced summer performances at Copenhagen’s historic Cirkus Schumann building from 1970 to 1990. Despite more than 128 years of uninterrupted activity, the business ultimately shuttered in 2015 during a period of contraction, following a declared temporary closure for reorganization that, as of now, has not led to a relaunch.

Throughout its storied run, Cirkus Benneweis was celebrated for its broad range of acts, some of which featured exquisitely trained dogs. While Poodles and American Eskimo Dogs were mainstays in the circus world, the 1920s saw Ferdinand and Irene Benneweis showcasing as many as five Danish Swedish Farmdogs in the ring, a testament to the breed’s versatility and intelligence.

The legacy of Cirkus Benneweis endures not just as a Danish institution, but as a vital part of European circus history—marked by its adaptability, innovative spirit, and the enduring devotion of the Benneweis family to their art. Though its tent has remained silent since 2015, the circus provided fond memories for a generation of Danes.