Billund Billund is a small town in Jutland , Denmark , most notable as the home of the LEGO Group head office . A typical company town , it is also known for its theme park , Legoland , and for Billund Airport which is the second biggest airport in Denmark . The airport opened in 1964 and was built by the LEGO Group , but is now run independently . With a population of 6 , 146 ( 1 January 2012 ) , Billund is the second largest town in Billund Municipality , Region of Southern Denmark , following the municipal seat of Grindsted . On the outskirts of the town there is a LEGO factory , which , , manufactures 90 % of the company ' s products . Adjacent to the company ' s headquarters is the first LEGOLAND theme park , which opened in 1968 and is called LEGOLAND Billund . In addition to the LEGO Group , Sun Air of Scandinavia has its head office in Billund . History . Billund has long been part of the parish of Grene Kirke ( " Grove Church " ) whose original Romanesque building was first mentioned in 1291 . The town ' s name was first mentioned as " Byllundt " in the year 1454 and as " Billund " in 1510 . In 1880 , the town ' s first windmill was built on the road between Vejle and Varde . In 1895 , the mill burned to the ground but was rebuilt in 1897 , this time in the style of Dutch windmills . That same year , a railway was built from Vejle to Billund , and the route was later extended to Grinnell in 1914 . In 1916 , Ole Kirk Christiansen , who would later found Lego , bought a Billund furniture company that was founded in 1895 . He invested in the town , creating a new dairy and the Skjoldbjerg church a few miles south of town . In 1930 , Kirk Christiansen began producing utility items such as ironing boards , stepladders and miniature toys . His first toys were created from scraps from the production of his other goods but his true toy production started in 1932 . In 1934 , the toy factory was named " Lego . " In the late 1930s Billund experienced growth due to the factories and began to build waterworks , a gymnasium , and the town hall , though the local power station was closed and relocated . During the Nazi occupation in World War II , the old Lego Factory was destroyed by fire in 1942 , but a new one was immediately erected . In 1946 , the railway track from Grinnell was extended to the Lego factory . Plastic Lego Bricks were first released from the factory in 1949 . The 1950s brought a recession to Billund with the closing of the railroad . In response to the growing poverty , the Billund Housing Association was founded and created affordable housing as well as a retirement home . Lego created a large park north of town with a playground , outdoor scene , toboggan hill and a man - made lake in 1959 . In 1962 the Billund Airport was inaugurated , first as Lego ' s private airport , and was later opened for other uses . Legoland opened in 1968 , and Billund again began to experience growth . Geography . Billund is located approximately 13 kilometers ( 8 miles ) from Grindsted , 56 kilometers ( 35 miles ) from Esbjerg , and 27 kilometers ( 17miles ) from The Regional Capital of Vejle . Demographics . As of 2012 the town had 6 , 146 residents . In the beginning of the 1930s Billund was still a small village with only 300 residents . In the 1950s the village reached 500 residents and after this time that number increased rapidly . After only 20 years , in 1970 this number quadrupled to 2 , 065 residents . Population growth exploded because of LEGOs rapid expansion in the mid - 1960s . The town ' s demographics are characterized by many families with children ; approximately 27 . 3 % of the households in the town consist of couples with children . This is somewhat above the average for the region . The residents in the town mostly live in family houses . Tourism . Billund is a popular destination for tourists , especially families with children . In addition to Copenhagen , Billund is one of the few cities that have recently received more tourists in the last few years . The town is home to the theme park LEGOLAND which was opened in 1968 , and since 2009 has also been the home of Lalandia Billund , a waterpark and activity center .