M/S Museet for Søfart

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1915 as the Handels- og Søfartsmuseet and was housed at Kronborg Castle for almost a century. At first it presented seafaring in connection with trade, fishing and the navy. As separate museums arose, for example for fishing in Esbjerg and for Viking ships in Roskilde, the focus shifted to the Danish merchant fleet from the Middle Ages to the present.

In 2013 the museum moved into a new building at the harbor of Helsingør and took its present name. It sits in a dry dock from 1955 on the site of the former shipyard, which was one of the important players in Danish shipping from 1882 to 1985. The design came from the firm BIG under Bjarke Ingels – his first completed museum: the exhibition spaces run underground around the open dock, which is crossed by sloping bridges. The opening was preceded by about five years of planning and construction.

In April 2025 the chronological permanent exhibition "Søfarer – 400 års danmarkshistorie" opened, which in addition to adventures and everyday life on board also addresses colonialism and the slave trade and includes works by contemporary artists. In addition there is a large collection of ship models, an exhibition about the architecture of the building and the play area DRØMMESKIBET for children. The museum is located in the Cultural Harbor Kronborg directly next to the castle.

Highlights

• Underground museum building by BIG in the former dry dock
• Permanent exhibition "Søfarer" on 400 years of Danish seafaring
• Ship models from the light-bulb ship to large shipping-company models
• Play and adventure area DRØMMESKIBET for children
• M/S Café in the middle of the dry dock

Permanent exhibitions

• Søfarer – 400 års danmarkshistorie – Chronological main exhibition on four centuries of Danish seafaring – from ship's boys and trading companies through colonialism to the container revolution, complemented by works by contemporary artists.
• Skibe på stribe – Ship models from floor to ceiling, from tiny ships in bottles to large shipping-company models, including FREDERIK VIII and the lost training ship KØBENHAVN.
• BIG dok – Using films, models and comics, Bjarke Ingels tells how the old dry dock became a museum and what technical hurdles the construction involved.

Founded

1915

Director

Anni Mogensen

Admission & discounts

Free with Copenhagen Card, K7 PLUS and ICOM and ODM ID, and for everyone in a seafaring uniform. 15% discount with a same-day Kronborg ticket, with a ferry ticket from Øresundslinjen or Mols-Linien and with DSB Plus. Discounts cannot be combined; online, only the Ældre Sagen discount applies. Tickets are valid for one year from purchase, no refunds. Kulturpas accepted. Shop and café are accessible without admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

Almost the entire museum is wheelchair-accessible; the entrance is a long ramp. A loan wheelchair can be reserved for a specific day via shop@mfs.dk. Accessible parking spaces in both parking areas at the shipyard.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

In the play area DRØMMESKIBET there is a harbor kiosk, a galley and costumes as a seagull, ship's dog or rat; children may play there only when accompanied by adults, and on weekends no groups of more than 10 children. In the creative workshop Sømandsværkstedet (weekends and holidays 11:30–16:30, summer holidays daily 10:30–17:30) ships are built for a small fee. Pirate children's birthday parties for first through fourth grade can be booked. Baby changing areas in the foyer and in the café.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

M/S Café in the dry dock with smørrebrød, fish dishes, vegetarian and kid-friendly food (September–June 11:00–17:00, July–August 10:00–18:00; table reservations via cafe@mfs.dk). Museum shop M/S Shop with maritime design products. Free coat check with lockable lockers; backpacks, large bags and umbrellas are not allowed in the exhibition.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 150 guests.

Conferences, meetings and company parties in the large auditorium (up to 150 people) overlooking the dock, in the conference room, on the mezzanine, in the M/S Café or in the dock itself; on request with a tour or dinner in the exhibitions. Inquiries to booking@mfs.dk.

Plan your visit