KØN – Gender Museum Denmark

About the museum

KØN grew out of the women's movement and women's studies of the 1970s. At the end of October 1982 the association Kvindemuseet was founded in Aarhus, and during the festival week of 1984 the women's museum opened its first exhibitions – in the former police station and a former restroom building on Cathedral Square.

The building is in the old city hall of Aarhus, which was inaugurated as the city's town hall in 1857. In 1991 Kvindemuseet received state recognition as a nationwide specialist museum for the cultural history of women in the modern era.

In 2016 the Danish cultural authority expanded the museum's mandate to the cultural history of all genders. Accordingly, in February 2021 the museum renamed itself KØN – Gender Museum Denmark; "køn" is the Danish word for gender.

The collection documents the lives of women, men and people beyond these categories in town and country. On around 1,200 square meters the museum presents permanent exhibitions such as the historic council chamber with an interactive game about democracy, as well as several new special exhibitions every year. The building also houses a café and the garden Mathilde Fibigers Have.

Highlights

• Old council chamber with the interactive "Byrådsspillet"
• Permanent exhibition "SEX.ED. – krop, køn og idealer" (since June 2026)
• History of the Danish women's movement
• Historic city hall building from 1857 on Cathedral Square
• Café and the garden Mathilde Fibigers Have

Permanent exhibitions

• Den gamle byrådssal – The historic council chamber explores democracy and the history of gender; in the interactive Byrådsspillet, visitors decide on municipal issues themselves.
• SEX.ED. – krop, køn og idealer – Interactive exhibition about sex education, the body and beauty ideals with historical objects and personal stories, developed together with young people.

Founded

1982

Director

Karen Friis

Admission & discounts

Schools and educational institutions with a teacher have free admission. Members of the KØN-Klub (annual fee DKK 290, under 30 and retirees DKK 230) have free admission and receive guest passes. 20% discount with Politiken Plus or Saxo Premium. The café is accessible without admission.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

Elevator to all floors, but the exhibition on the second floor is not wheelchair-accessible. Light folding chairs on every floor. Assistance dogs are allowed. Accessible parking spaces directly next to Aarhus Domkirke in front of Hotel Royal.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Free admission under 18. Strollers stay outside in the garden Mathilde Fibigers Have. Interactive stations such as the council chamber game; the permanent exhibition "SEX.ED." is aimed mainly at teenagers and school classes.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Coat check
• Lockers

KØN Café with lunch menu, accessible without admission. Lockable coat lockers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 80 guests.

Rooms for meetings, conferences (up to 80 guests), weddings and other events in the historic city hall; in summer also the garden Mathilde Fibigers Have.

Plan your visit