Køge Museum

About the museum

The museum is housed in a two-story half-timbered building with a long side wing, built in 1619 as a merchant's courtyard and one of the oldest buildings in Køge. It is the last remnant of a larger double-courtyard complex and has been a protected monument since 1918. Over time it served as a merchant's courtyard, as a materials depot for the garrison, and in the 19th century as a spinning and poor house, before becoming a museum at the beginning of the 20th century. In the garden stands Daldorphs Hus, a house built around 1500 that was moved here from the market square.

After several years of restoration and replanning, the museum reopened completely redesigned on June 20, 2015. Today it belongs to Museum Sydøstdanmark, which also includes the Viking fortress Borgring near Køge, Danmarks Borgcenter in Vordingborg, and other sites on Zealand and Møn. The city archive Køge Byhistoriske Arkiv works in the same building.

The exhibitions span from a 7,000-year-old multiple grave from Strøby Egede through the Viking Age to the everyday life of the trading town. One focus is belief and superstition: the reconstructed burial chamber of a seeress from Trekroner-Grydehøj, portraits by Jim Lyngvild on the world of the Norse gods, and the great Køge witch trials of the years 1612 to 1615. In the museum garden, a playground recalls the ship of the line Dannebroge, which exploded in the naval battle in Køge Bugt in 1710.

Highlights

• Protected merchant's courtyard from 1619 in the center of Køge
• Reconstructed burial chamber of a Viking Age seeress (Vølvens Grav)
• Exhibition on the Køge witch trials 1612–1615
• Stone Age multiple grave from Strøby Egede
• Museum garden with café, Daldorphs Hus, and ship playground

Permanent exhibitions

• Vølver, guld og guder – The house's largest exhibition on belief and rituals of the Viking Age with twelve seeress portraits by Jim Lyngvild. Archaeologists comment in videos on where facts end and interpretation begins.
• Vølvens Grav – Walk-in reconstruction of the grave from Trekroner-Grydehøj discovered near Roskilde, with seeress, horse, dog, and grave goods. It vividly shows how the living wanted to protect themselves from the dead woman.
• Gaver fra fortiden – Journey through 7,000 years of local history from Stone Age burials to wedding dresses. Three researchers from the museum present their work on grave finds, Viking houses, and festive clothing.

Operated by

Museum Sydøstdanmark

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Copenhagen Card and for members of Køge Museums Venner. The museum garden and playground are accessible without an admission ticket.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The protected building, more than 400 years old, has level changes, stairs in the exhibition, and no elevator. Accessible parking spaces nearby. Pets are not allowed, but guide dogs for the blind are.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

With a treasure map, children go through the museum, solve a picture puzzle, and pick up a small reward at the ticket desk. In the garden there is a climbing playground in the shape of the exploding ship of the line Dannebroge. Strollers can be left at the reception; baby changing area by the toilets.

Getting there & parking

From the station via Ivar Huitfeldtsvej and Jernbanegade to Nørregade; the museum is the large red house near the market square.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Museum shop with ticket desk in the reception area, with cold and hot drinks as well; café in the museum garden. Free lockable cloakroom lockers at the entrance (only a few). Bringing your own food only in the garden.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit