Nymindegab Museum

About the museum

The Nymindegab Museum lies in the landscape of dunes and fjord between the North Sea and Ringkøbing Fjord, near the fjord's mouth. It is now part of the Vardemuseerne and tells the largely forgotten story of one of Denmark's earliest artists' colonies: in 1879 the painter Laurits Tuxen came to Nymindegab and was so taken with the landscape and the fishing life that other artists such as Johannes Larsen followed him.

Around 200 paintings with motifs from the area now hang alongside objects that can be seen in the pictures. The exhibition, which reopened in 2020 after a comprehensive renovation, combines art and cultural history: it tells of the bait women (esepiger) who baited the fishing lines, of the fates of the fishermen, of seaside visitors from the big city, of local craftsmen, and of the singer Dorthea. Audio stations and scents bring everyday life in the fishing village to life.

The museum includes the open-air area "Friland" with the house and sawmill of the carpenter Larsen from the interwar period, where the flat fjord boats (gafpramme) were once built; today a boat guild builds boats there again to his plans. The museum also shows archaeological finds such as textile remains from the graves at Lønne Hede and, in the Whale House, the skeleton of a sperm whale almost twelve meters long that stranded near Nymindegab in 1990. Also looked after by the museum is the nearby former lifesaving station, which was in operation until 1975, has served as a museum since 1979, and houses Denmark's oldest surviving lifeboat, from 1890.

Highlights

• Around 200 paintings by the Nymindegab painters around Laurits Tuxen and Johannes Larsen
• Staged cultural history of fishermen, bait women, and seaside visitors
• Open-air area with the carpenter's house and sawmill
• Whale House with the skeleton of a sperm whale stranded in 1990
• Old lifesaving station with Denmark's oldest surviving lifeboat (1890)

Permanent exhibitions

• Kunstmalerens Nymindegab – Art meets everyday history: paintings by the Nymindegab painters alongside stories about fishermen, bait women, seaside visitors, and craftsmen, with audio and scent stations.
• Friland – Open-air area with the house and sawmill of the carpenter Larsen, a small bait house, and sunken kitchen gardens; glimpses into the vacation days of the seaside visitors.

Operated by

Vardemuseerne

Admission & discounts

14-day tickets and annual passes for all the Vardemuseerne at DKK 349, DKK 449, or DKK 649, available online. Free admission with an ICOM or ODM card. Schools and daycare centers visit the museum free of charge with advance registration.

Accessibility

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

Ramp in front of the main entrance; accessible restrooms with access from the café; two marked accessible parking spaces in front of the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

The museum promotes family outings: an exhibition with audio and scent stations, and an open-air area with the carpenter's house, sawmill, and sunken kitchen gardens to explore; children and young people under 18 accompanied by an adult get free admission.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located just under 3 km off the main road 181 in Nymindegab between the North Sea and Ringkøbing Fjord.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Café with coffee, soft drinks, and beer; outside, tables and benches for a packed snack. Museum shop in the vestibule with regional specialties, toys, amber jewelry, books, and posters.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit