Oluf Høst Museet

About the museum

The museum is housed in Villa Norresân in Gudhjem, where the Bornholm painter Oluf Høst (1884–1966) spent a large part of his life with his wife Hedvig. Høst, born in Svaneke, studied in København between 1906 and 1915, including under Harald Giersing, and returned to Bornholm in 1929. That same year he inherited his aunt's house and bought the neighboring house of fellow painter H.P. Haagensen; the two houses were joined and extended in the 1930s.

Høst is among the best-known Danish painters of the 20th century. Recurring motifs were the Bognemark farm, the smokehouses and rocks around Gudhjem, midsummer bonfires, and fires. In 1933 he received the Eckersberg Medal.

The museum opened in 1998. The core of the collection, which now comprises over 50 paintings, sketches, and drawings, was acquired mostly from the Høst family, with individual works added later through auctions. The museum includes the rock garden, more than a hundred years old, with a former quarry, as well as two studios, one of which shows works by the eldest son, Ole Wiedemann Høst.

In winter 2021/22 the house was renovated for more than DKK 14 million, made accessible, and partly restored to a more original state. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum shows two special exhibitions per year, supplemented since 2025 by audio stories about the painter's life.

Highlights

• Over 50 works by Oluf Høst in the house where many of them were created
• Paintings of the Bognemark farm, his lifelong motif
• Steep rock garden with fruit trees from the 1930s
• Studio with works by his son Ole Wiedemann Høst
• Free audio guides in Danish, German, and English
• Film "Naturpsalmisten" about the painter

Permanent exhibitions

• Den faste samling – Over 50 paintings, sketches, and drawings by Oluf Høst from his early to his late work, including Bornholm landscapes, Bognemark, and fire paintings.
• Oles atelier – Studio in the garden with a selection of works by the eldest son, Ole Wiedemann Høst, who died in the Second World War.

Founded

1998

Director

Martin R. W. Brandt

Admission & discounts

School classes: teachers free, students DKK 25.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• 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

An elevator serves the whole house, including the upper floor and basement; most exhibition rooms are step-free, with a small difference in level in one exhibition. Accessible restroom in the basement, reachable by elevator. Dogs are not allowed in the museum; large bags and backpacks are not allowed in the exhibitions.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

An adventure case with a scavenger hunt through the house can be borrowed at reception. In the former chicken house in the garden, young and old may paint with watercolors and take the pictures home; games are available in the garden. Small strollers are allowed in the museum, large strollers stay in the garden.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Garden café with coffee, tea, wine, beer from Svaneke, and Bornholm lemonade; games and books in the garden are free to use. Museum shop with prints, books, and art supplies.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit