Godthaab Hammerværk

About the museum

In 1858 the blacksmith Christian Zinck set up a hammer mill in the disused Godthaab paper mill on the Guldbækken stream and took over its name. The stream's strong gradient provided the energy: via canals, a turbine, and drive belts, hammers and machine tools ran on water power. The village smithy grew into the nationally known Zincks Fabrikker, which, with about 120 employees, made spades, shovels, rakes, and forks for gardens, agriculture, and trades, and also exported them.

The Zinck family ran the business for five generations. At the end of the 1980s the company passed to the Fiskars group, whose range keeps the brand name alive; the last production units in Godthåb were shut down in 2007.

Today the Godthaab Hammerværk is considered the last hammer mill in Denmark where the buildings, equipment, and watercourses are completely preserved. The factory buildings and surroundings on the Guldbækken are protected. Volunteers run the museum: a Monday team maintains the buildings and machinery, and the tours and café are also run by volunteers. In 2015 a steam engine built in 1906 by S. Frichs Efterfølgere was inaugurated; it came to the museum in pieces and was set up in the historic engine room.

Highlights

• Original workshop with water-powered hammers and machines that run during tours
• Canal system and turbine on the Guldbækken
• Exhibition of Zinck tools from about 150 years of production
• Steam engine No. 409 by S. Frichs Efterfølgere (1906)
• Café Hammer with its own Hammerværk beer

Permanent exhibitions

• Udstillingen – Large collection of the garden, agricultural, and craft tools made in the Zinck factories.
• Smedjen og maskinerne – The preserved workshop with forge, hammers, and water-powered machines, demonstrated in operation during tours.
• Dampmaskinen – Restored steam engine from 1906 from Aarhus, inaugurated in the historic engine room in 2015.

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on Dansk Mølledag (Danish Mill Day) (2026: June 21).

The public guided tours are included in admission.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

During the fall school holidays (week 42) there are activities for children. For school classes, an adventure box with museum objects and tasks suited to the grade level is available. Children under 18 accompanied by adults have free admission.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the village of Godthåb about 12 km southwest of Aalborg. A bicycle and pedestrian path runs between Godthåb and Svenstrup on the former Aalborg–Hvalpsund railway line.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available

Café Hammer with coffee, cake, ice cream, drinks, and its own Hammerværk beer; souvenirs are also on sale. For groups, breakfast, smørrebrød, tapas, and cake by advance order. Food and drinks you bring with you may not be consumed on the museum grounds.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit