Museum Ordrupgaard

About the museum

In just a few years between 1916 and 1918, Henny and Wilhelm Hansen assembled one of the most important collections of 19th-century French painting outside France, including works by the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. In parallel they collected Danish art around 1900, above all Vilhelm Hammershøi and L. A. Ring.

Gotfred Tvede designed the Villa Ordrupgaard between Jægersborg Dyrehave and Ellemosen in 1916–1918 in the neoclassical style with influences from the Arts and Crafts movement. Originally intended as a summer house, from 1918 it became a permanent residence and home to the growing collection; Henny Hansen also cultivated rare plants in the park. After her death in 1951, the house and collection were opened to the public.

Over time further buildings were added: the house of the furniture architect Finn Juhl, completed in 1942 and now part of the museum; an extension by Zaha Hadid, opened in 2005 and made of lava concrete – her only work in Northern Europe – for special exhibitions, shop, and café; and in 2021 an underground building by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta, which houses the French collection. In 2026 the institution renamed itself Museum Ordrupgaard.

The collection comprises almost 500 works and objects, most of which are on permanent display. In the park, works by contemporary artists such as Olafur Eliasson, Jeppe Hein, and Doug & Mike Starn invite visitors to touch, climb, and play.

Highlights

• French collection with works by Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Gauguin, Morisot, and Matisse
• One of the most important collections of Vilhelm Hammershøi and L. A. Ring
• Extension by Zaha Hadid (2005) and underground building by Snøhetta (2021)
• Home of the designer Finn Juhl from 1942
• Art park with walk-in works by Olafur Eliasson, Jeppe Hein, and Doug & Mike Starn

Permanent exhibitions

• Den franske samling – Franske mesterværker fra realisme til impressionisme – In the underground Snøhetta building, paintings and rare pastels can be seen from Romanticism through the Barbizon school to Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
• Den danske samling – Hammershøi og dansk kunst omkring år 1900 – In the furnished rooms of the donors' villa, works by Hammershøi, L. A. Ring, Bertha Wegmann, and other Danish artists hang alongside furniture and crafts.
• Kunstparken – In the freely accessible park stand contemporary works that may be touched, entered, and played on.

Founded

1918

Director

Gertrud Oelsner

Admission & discounts

Tickets are valid for one year and are non-refundable. Free admission with the Copenhagen Card. The art park is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The entire museum is accessible by manual and electric wheelchair (access via the main entrance, forecourt with gravel; the museum recommends going around the outside of the ribbed Snøhetta building). Finn Juhls Hus is not wheelchair-accessible. Accessible restrooms in the foyer and in the Snøhetta building. Loan wheelchairs, walkers, and folding stools in the foyer (no reservation). Accessible parking spaces about 100 m from the entrance. The "Ordrupgaard" app includes a tour with image descriptions of 12 works for blind and visually impaired guests. Staff are trained for the sunflower lanyard.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The creative workshop and the play house Villapük – a miniature version of the museum villa by the artist duo Randi & Katrine – are open during opening hours. In the art park, children may touch, climb on, and play on works, such as the bamboo tower, the water pavilion fountains, and the mirror maze. Workshops depending on the season. Strollers allowed throughout the museum, baby changing table in the restrooms in the foyer.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located about 10 km north of Copenhagen near Dyrehaven. By bike about 3 km or 15 minutes from Klampenborg St. (bikes travel free on the S-tog).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Mondrups Café in the Zaha Hadid building with a terrace onto the art park (Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00, Wed until 21:00 with dinner menu). Coat check with hangers and lockers in the foyer (limited number); coats and larger bags are not allowed in the exhibition rooms. Picnics possible in the art park, dogs on a leash welcome in the park.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit