Frihedsmuseet
Museum of the Nationalmuseet about the occupation and resistance in Denmark 1940–1945, with underground exhibition rooms at Churchillparken.
About the museum
The roots of the Frihedsmuseet lie in an exhibition with which the Danish resistance movement documented its work after the liberation in 1945. In 1957 the museum received its own building on the Esplanade at Churchillparken, between Kastellet and Amalienborg.
In April 2013, a deliberately set fire destroyed about two thirds of the building; however, the irreplaceable objects could be rescued. For the new building, the firm Lundgaard & Tranberg designed a museum whose exhibition rooms lie underground – as an image of the underground of the resistance and to protect the light-sensitive objects. Above ground, only an elliptical reception building with an enclosed square appears. The reopening in July 2020 fell in the middle of the Covid period; foundations such as the A.P. Møller Fonden contributed substantially to the financing.
The permanent exhibition "Vejen til frihed" tells the story of the occupation years through four resistance fighters and a Danish National Socialist and asks how you yourself would have acted. Among the most impressive objects are the original execution posts, the fishing boat Ternen, in which Jewish families fled to Sweden, clothing pierced by bullets, and a resistance radio set only the size of a phone book. At interactive stations you can print an illegal newspaper, crack codes, and send Morse signals.
The Frihedsmuseet belongs to the Nationalmuseet and forms a joint unit with the Krigsmuseet. The archive and databases on the occupation period are open to interested people by arrangement or online.
Highlights
- Original execution posts from the occupation period
- Fishing boat Ternen, in which Jewish families fled to Sweden
- Phone-book-sized resistance radio set from 1943
- Coat of the resistance fighter Flammen and key ring of Citronen
- Underground exhibition rooms by Lundgaard & Tranberg
Permanent exhibitions
- Vejen til frihed – Underground tour through the occupation period 1940–1945, told through four resistance fighters and a Danish National Socialist and their difficult decisions.
- Founded
- 1957
- Operated by
- Nationalmuseet
- Director
- David Høyer
Admission & discounts
| Adults | DKK 130 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and teenagers under 18 free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Free admission with a Ledsagekort (show it at the shop). |
| Groups (10+ people) | –10% discount on admission for 10 or more adults. |
| Private guided tour (up to 20 people, during opening hours) | DKK 1,100Plus admission; book at least seven days in advance |
| City walk "Byvandring til besættelsens København" | DKK 190On the first Saturday of the month in the summer half-year; museum admission not included |
10% cheaper when purchased online; the ticket is valid for one year from purchase and includes an audio guide. Free admission with all Copenhagen Cards. 20% discount with an annual pass from Frøslevlejren, Nationalmuseet, Frilandsmuseet, or Kronborg Slot; discounts cannot be combined.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Elevator available, the exhibition is wheelchair-accessible; there are seats along the way. Two wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge; personal electric scooters are not allowed. Service dogs welcome, other dogs not.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
In the exhibition you can print an illegal newspaper yourself, crack codes, and send Morse signals. Strollers may be brought along, and a baby changing area is available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Østerport Station
Train, Metro M3/M4, and buses 23 and 27 to Østerport Station; alternatively Metro M3/M4 to Marmorkirken; harbor bus to Nordre Toldbod.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No museum parking; paid parking in the surrounding area (green zone), finding a space is often difficult.
Visitor entrance Esplanaden 13.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
No café; the museum shop offers books, games, and souvenirs on the occupation period as well as beer, water, and sweets. Food you bring yourself can be eaten at benches in front of the museum.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography and filming for private purposes allowed; commercial recordings only with permission. |
| Good to know | Private tours ("Gå under jorden", "Det vi ikke taler om", or as a city walk) for up to 20 people, book at least seven days in advance. In the summer half-year, a public city walk on the occupation period on the first Saturday of the month (2 hours, approx. 3.5 km, not suitable for wheelchairs). School classes have free admission but should register beforehand (frihedsmuseet@natmus.dk, +45 41 20 60 80); classes below 7th grade only when accompanied by a teacher. |
