Kystmuseet Skagen
Open-air and exhibition museum in Skagen about fishermen, lifesavers, sand drift, and tourism at the northern tip of Denmark.
About the museum
The residents of Skagen founded their own town museum in 1927, initially housed in the Østerby district. In 1938 the collection moved to the dune site Svallerbakken in Vesterby and was henceforth called Skagens Fortidsminder. From 1997 it bore the name Skagen By- og Egnsmuseum, before it was merged in 2009 with the other cultural history museums of Frederikshavn Kommune into the Nordjyllands Kystmuseum; since then it has been called Kystmuseet Skagen.
On the open-air grounds stand rebuilt houses from three periods of local history: the "black" period until about 1875, the "yellow" period until 1907, and the "red" period after that. They show how differently wealthy and poor fishing families lived. They include the former rescue station from Kandestederne and a thatched windmill.
In the main building, exhibitions tell of fishing, seafaring, and rescue services on the dangerous coast, of the former Skagens Badehotel on Grenen, and of the development of tourism. A listening installation lets people from the year 1787 tell of the devastating sand drift. Audio guides, an activity house for children, a museum café, and a shop round out the offering.
Highlights
- Open-air grounds with houses from Skagen's black, yellow, and red periods
- Former rescue station from Kandestederne
- Permanent exhibition "Drømmen om Skagen" on the history of tourism
- Listening installation "SANDFLUGT" about the fateful year 1787
- Activity house with dress-up and playhouse for children
Permanent exhibitions
- Drømmen om Skagen – Exhibition on how the small fishing village developed since the 19th century into a sought-after vacation destination that today attracts guests from around the world.
- SANDFLUGT – Skæbnefortællinger fra Skagen i 1787 – Listening installation in which a customs officer, a fisherman's wife, and the last pastor of the later sand-buried church tell of the struggle against the drifting sand.
- Freilichtmuseum mit Häusern aus drei Perioden – Rebuilt residential houses and outbuildings show the life of rich and poor fishing families from the 19th into the 20th century.
- Founded
- 1927
- Operated by
- Nordjyllands Kystmuseum
- Director
- Philip Sviatchenko
Admission & discounts
| Adults | DKK 120 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and teenagers under 18 free. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Companions with a valid Danish Ledsagerkort (companion card) free. |
| Students & apprentices | DKK 90Weekly ticket for all venues of the Nordjyllands Kystmuseum with a valid student ID. |
| Groups (16+ people) | DKK 100 per personDay ticket for groups of more than 15 people; group weekly ticket for all venues DKK 130. Special offers for admission and lunch with advance order. |
| Weekly ticket (all venues of the Nordjyllands Kystmuseum) | DKK 150Valid for Skagen, Bangsbo, Bangsbo Fort, and Sæby. |
| Annual pass | DKK 325Free admission for the card holder and one companion, 15% discount on events, shop, and café, 20% discount at the Vendsyssel Historiske Museum; available only at the museum. |
The day ticket is valid for one museum. Day and weekly tickets can be converted into an annual pass. Free admission including for members of the museum associations in Frederikshavn and Sæby, ICOM and ODM members, as well as school classes and kindergartens. Kulturpas for 15- to 24-year-olds is accepted.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Playground / play area
Activity house for children with a dress-up chest and playhouse, accessible year-round. During school holidays, special children's activities, such as a creative woodworking workshop.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Museum café with courtyard (hours same as the museum), from June to August with an extended lunch offering and lunch boxes for children. Museum shop with books, home decor, and toys.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Audio guides are issued at entry. Guided tours year-round on request via the form on the website: DKK 1,000 per group plus admission during opening hours, DKK 1,100 outside; school classes DKK 800. In summer, volunteers demonstrate old craft techniques. |
