Heltborg Museum

About the museum

Heltborg Museum is part of Museum Thy, the state-recognized museum of Thisted Municipality. It was prompted by a large group of paintings by the painter Jens Søndergaard, which the museum had acquired in the 1980s. In June 1991, work began in the former central school of the village of Heltborg, then in Sydthy Municipality, on building up an institution that was intended to combine art and cultural history; the art association Sydthy Kunstforening and the local history society for Sydthy took part. The official opening followed at Easter 1992.

Søndergaard (1895–1957) grew up in Hurup and returned to the landscapes of Thy throughout his life; his powerful, colorful pictures of sea, wind and weather form the core of the art collection, which has grown through purchases since then. The museum also shows works by other artists connected with Thy, such as sculptures by Erland Knudssøn Madsen and drawings by Ellen Raadal, as well as a memorial room for the local poet Hans Bakgaard.

Since 1992, the cultural history department has presented a large collection of farm implements from the time before the tractor. From 1994, experiments in smelting iron from bog iron ore took place behind the museum, and in 1995 construction began on an Iron Age farmstead based on the dimensions of a nearby excavation. Today it serves as a learning site for school classes and is brought to life by staff and volunteers in summer. From the grounds there is a view over the Limfjord.

Highlights

• Large collection of paintings by the Thy painter Jens Søndergaard
• Reconstructed farmstead from the early Iron Age with a summer program
• Farm implements from the time before the tractor
• Sculptures by Erland Knudssøn Madsen and a memorial room for Hans Bakgaard
• Iron Age market on the last weekend of July
• View over the Limfjord

Permanent exhibitions

• Jens Søndergaard – Farvekraft ad Helvede til – Paintings by the Expressionist who grew up in Hurup and painted the North Sea, wind and light of Thy in bold colors; plus insights into his life.
• Landbrug – Tools and implements from farm work before the tractor, supplemented by children's life in the countryside and the dialect of Thy; in summer with a demonstration beehive.
• Jernaldergården – Replica farmstead from the early Iron Age behind the museum, with craft demonstrations and hands-on activities in summer.

Founded

1991

Operated by

Museum Thy

Admission & discounts

The ticket also covers the Iron Age farmstead behind the museum.

Accessibility

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

Ramps available; most exhibitions are accessible to people with walking difficulties, but the building has several levels and some special exhibitions are located up stairs. The Iron Age farmstead has uneven grass areas and is only partly usable with a wheelchair or walker.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

For three weeks during the summer holidays the Iron Age farmstead is brought to life: children can carve, forge, shoot with bow and arrow, grind flour or bake bread. There are also art workshops for children and a film about children's life in the countryside in the 1960s. The Iron Age farmstead is accessible with a stroller; picnic tables in the summer half-year.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the old school of the village of Heltborg in southern Thy, east of Highway 11 near Hurup.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Small café in the former teachers' room with a view over the fjord (coffee, tea, water and sweets at the cash desk). Museum shop with books on local history, jewelry and souvenirs. For lunch, the museum refers visitors to places in Hurup. Dogs only on a leash at the Iron Age farmstead, not in the building.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit