Museum ERNST
Home and collection of the silverware manufacturer Frederik Ernst in Assens – antiques, porcelain, and art, staged by the collector himself.
About the museum
At Østergade 57 in Assens, the goldsmith Johan Ernst (1867–1924) built a workshop and shop in 1890; this became J. Ernst's Sølvvarefabrik (silverware factory), which mainly produced tableware and cutlery for goldsmiths across the country as well as for customers in Norway and Sweden. In the 1910s the factory was mechanized and reached its peak in the 1920s. In 1924, his son Frederik Ernst (1892–1976) took over the business, led it through difficult years, and ended production in 1954/55; he continued to run the shop until his death.
Frederik Ernst collected from childhood on – it began with a pewter jug he acquired at the age of ten. On trips, at auctions, and from dealers, he brought together almost 10,000 objects: silver, porcelain, faience, glass, pewter, furniture, and paintings, mainly from Germany, Denmark, England, and Italy. After the factory closed, he gradually turned the workshop rooms into showrooms and opened his home to the public; in 1963 the hall with festively set tables was added as a crowning touch. In 1975, he co-founded the foundation Familien Ernst's Samlinger's Fond to secure the collection.
Today Museum Vestfyn runs the house. On over 250 square meters, the manufacturer's residence shows more than 1,000 objects just as Ernst arranged them himself, including a table with Flora Danica porcelain. An exhibition tells the history of the silverware factory, and the Italian-inspired courtyard garden with water basin and sculptures was restored in 2016 based on photos from the 1960s. The museum also researches Ernst's life as a gay man in a provincial town.
Highlights
- Original manufacturer's residence with over 1,000 collection objects
- Set table with Flora Danica porcelain
- History of the J. Ernst silverware factory (1890–1955)
- Italian garden with basin, roses, and sculptures (freely accessible)
- Play room "mini ERNST" for children
Permanent exhibitions
- Fabrikantens lejlighed – The magnificently furnished rooms and halls show Frederik Ernst's collection of porcelain, silver, furniture, and paintings in his own staging.
- J. Ernst’s Sølvvarefabrik – The exhibition tells of the Ernst family's silverware factory and of life as a manufacturer in the provincial town of Assens.
- Operated by
- Museum Vestfyn
- Director
- Johan Møhlenfeldt Jensen
Admission & discounts
| Adults | DKK 95 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | DKK 80Students |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and teenagers under 18 free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · One companion of people with disabilities has free admission. |
| Students & apprentices | DKK 80 |
| Groups | DKK 170 per personTour 45–60 minutes, DKK 170 per person including admission; minimum price on weekdays DKK 1,020 (up to 6 people), on weekends and public holidays DKK 1,360 (up to 8 people). Packages with city tour and meal for tour groups on request. |
| 2-in-1 ticket Museum ERNST and Museum WILLEMOES | DKK 130In summer (2026: June 28 to August 10). |
| Vestfyns Museumsforening membership (year) | DKK 200Free admission to the exhibitions of Museum Vestfyn. |
Admission at the ticket desk; tickets for announced tours and lectures via place2book. Free admission with ODM or ICOM card, press card, Kulturpas (culture pass), and for members of Vestfyns Museumsforening. Garden, café, and shop without admission.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Historic buildings with level changes and stairs; according to the museum, difficult to access for guests with mobility impairments. Restrooms available, but no accessible restroom. In the exhibitions only service dogs; in the garden, dogs on a leash are allowed.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly: not available
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Free activity booklet for the tour. In the play room "mini ERNST," children can dress up and have themselves portrayed behind a gold frame, play with the dollhouse, or set a tea party. Family tour "Mystiske Mysterier" for children aged 6 to 12 on announced dates. Strollers stay outside (space in the garden at the café); baby changing available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The Assens city bus stops within walking distance of the exhibition houses.
By car
Free parking
Free parking without time limit on Reberbanen near the museum; on Østergade parking is limited to 1 hour, with further partly time-limited spaces at the Netto on Østergade.
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
CAFÉ ERNST with hot and cold drinks and sweets, daily newspaper, and games; in nice weather seating in the garden. Free Wi-Fi in the café. Bags and coats are not allowed in the exhibition – free lockable lockers in the museum shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography without flash allowed, with consideration for other guests. |
| Good to know | Home and collection on your own or with a guided tour (45–60 minutes, bookable at any time via booking@museumvestfyn.dk or +45 64 71 31 90, phone hours Mon–Thu 10:00–13:00). The free app "Museum Vestfyn" provides information on the objects. Educational programs of Museum Vestfyn for schools and daycare centers. |
