Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet

About the museum

The museum opened in April 1968 on the edge of Esbjerg and was initially devoted to fishing; the collection on fishing and seafaring had previously been separated from the Esbjerg Museum. A saltwater aquarium was part of it from the start, and a seal pool was added in 1976.

In 1989 the outdoor area was created, showing fishing settlements, a small harbor, and a wooden shipyard, roughly from the time of World War II, and it has been continually expanded since; it includes fishing cutters, a rescue station, and an original bunker. In 2000 a new permanent exhibition on seafaring opened on almost 2,000 square meters, in 2002 the aquarium was renewed, and in 2013 a modernized seal pool (Sælariet) was inaugurated.

The museum combines natural and cultural history: it researches and presents life with the sea, from Danish fishing and the offshore industry to marine mammals and the Wadden Sea, and operates an on-call service for stranded seals and whales. Since January 1, 2024, it has belonged to the museum organization Museum Vest, which emerged from the merger with Sydvestjyske Museer.

In the coming years the museum will be converted into "Danmarks museum for havet": plans include its own children's museum, a covered seal yard as an exhibition space, a modernized exhibition hall, and a larger café. Construction is to begin in spring 2027 and be completed at the end of 2029; the museum remains open in the meantime and will receive a new name.

Highlights

• Seal facility with daily feedings and training
• Saltwater aquarium with a large touch pool, including cat sharks
• Outdoor area with fishing cutters, harbor setting, and rescue station
• Original bunker from World War II
• Exhibition on life in the Wadden Sea (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Permanent exhibitions

• Sælariet – Seal facility where harbor seals can be seen above and below water, with daily feedings and an accompanying exhibition on the seals of the Wadden Sea.
• Akvariet – Saltwater aquarium with native marine fish such as cod, turbot, and thornback ray, plus a touch pool for fish, starfish, and small sharks.
• Frilandsudstillingen – Outdoor area with a West Jutland harbor setting, a walk-through fishing cutter, salvage house, rescue station, and an original bunker from World War II.

Founded

1968

Operated by

Museum Vest (staatlich anerkanntes Museum)

Admission & discounts

Day ticket for the entire museum. Holders of an annual pass from a DAZA member (Danish zoos and aquariums) receive a 15% discount. Payment possible in DKK, euro banknotes, and with major cards.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Where there are stairs, there are elevators, wheelchair lifts, or ramps; paved paths lead through the outdoor area. Not all historic buildings in the outdoor area are accessible. For visitors with visual impairments, there are tactile and audio offerings (buildings and equipment in the outdoor area, touch pool, listening stations). Assessed by God Adgang. Guide and assistance dogs are allowed everywhere.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum sees itself as a destination for the whole family: touch pool, seal feedings, treasure hunt on a historic fishing cutter, climbing in the trawl net, and hands-on stations in the outdoor area. During school holidays there are family tours and activities; children's birthday parties are offered on weekends. Playground and picnic areas are available.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Café MS Smag (daily 11:00–16:30, hot meals until 16:00; with museum admission only). Food brought from outside may be eaten in the coat check area and at tables in the outdoor area. Museum shop with web shop. Dogs are allowed on a leash in the outdoor area.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Meeting rooms with meeting packages of varying length; also corporate agreements with free admission for employees.

Plan your visit