Værftsmuseet
Free museum on the history of the Helsingør Skibsværft (1882–1983) in old workshop buildings at Kulturværftet – with a children's shipyard.
About the museum
The Værftsmuseet tells the story of the shipyard that shaped Helsingør for over a century. From 1882 to 1983, more than 400 ships – freighters, ferries, and yachts – were built at the Helsingør Skibsværft, and for a long time it was the largest employer in the town. After its closure, the site at the harbor was converted into a cultural quarter, with the cultural center Kulturværftet now at its heart.
In 2007 the municipality decided to set up its own museum in some of the former shipyard buildings; it opened in 2010. It belongs to Museerne Helsingør, the municipal museums of the town, which together with the Bymuseum and the Skibsklarerergaarden present 600 years of city history. The museum also includes the shipyard's archive.
The exhibitions are spread over two rooms on either side of the Porten, the shipyard's former main gate. In the Garagen, it is shown how a ship comes into being, from the signing of the contract through planning, drawing, and model building to fitting out; ship models present ships built in Helsingør and their onward path. In the Kontrolkontoret, the shipyard management's meeting room from the 1960s is reconstructed with restored paneling, furniture, and the large grandfather clock. Former shipyard workers are volunteers at the museum and tell of their everyday working lives.
Highlights
- Exhibition "Et skib bliver bygget" on how a ship is built
- Models of ships from the Helsingør Skibsværft
- Reconstructed shipyard management meeting room from the 1960s
- Børneværftet with workbenches, Lego, and coloring pages
- Conversations with former shipyard workers
- Free admission
Permanent exhibitions
- Et skib bliver bygget – Shows step by step how a ship came into being at the shipyard – from contract, planning, and construction drawing to the crafts of fitting out.
- Skibe der blev bygget i Helsingør – Ship models of ships built in Helsingør with their further fate and a chronological overview of technical innovations over 100 years of shipyard history.
- Bestyrelseslokalet – Reconstruction of the shipyard management's meeting room from the 1960s in the old Kontrolkontoret, with a director's desk and portraits of the shipyard heads.
- Founded
- 2010
- Operated by
- Museerne Helsingør (Helsingør Kommune)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission, also for the metal workshop during school holidays. Group tours cost DKK 950 per group.
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
- Hands-on stations
In the Børneværftet, children can build ships out of Lego and color in ship drawings; during school holidays the staffed metal workshop is open, where young and old can make key rings or name tags. On the shipyard grounds, six "storytellers" tell child-friendly stories when you turn the valve wheel; there is also a free craft sheet (Skibsark) at the museum or at the reception of the Kulturværftet.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Helsingør Station (regional trains from København and Malmö, local railway from Hillerød) is about a 10-minute walk from the Kulturværftet. Bus lines 342, 347, 353, 388, 801A, and 803 stop at the Kulturværftet. The ferries from Helsingborg dock about a 10-minute walk away.
By car
Free parking
Free 24-hour parking at the Værftshallerne behind the Kulturværftet; paid spaces along the Kronborg area and in front of the Værftshallerne. Four accessible parking spaces at the Værftshallerne (access via Ny Kronborgvej).
Amenities & dining
On the surrounding shipyard grounds there is a street food market and cafés.
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 |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours for groups with a former shipyard employee (60–90 minutes, DKK 950) on request at museerne@helsingor.dk. On weekdays there are often volunteer former shipyard workers in the exhibition. Via the Useeum app there is the free tour "Værftsmuseet" with stories at 10 stations on the shipyard grounds. Educational programs via Museerne Helsingør. |
