Rødvig Skibsmotormuseum

About the museum

The foundation of the museum was laid by the former fishing skipper Orla Rasmussen and his wife Bodil, who began collecting old ship and boat engines in 1986. On June 2, 1987, the independent institution Rødvig Skibsmotormuseum was established at a founding meeting of 18 interested people. Orla Rasmussen was chairman and ran the museum until he fell ill in 1998; after the couple died in April 1999, their estate went toward preserving the museum.

The collection today comprises more than 300 engines from 1903 to 1973 with outputs from half a horsepower to around 300 horsepower. On display are hot-bulb, semi-diesel, diesel, and gasoline engines in two-stroke and four-stroke versions, outboard motors, opposed-piston engines, a Wankel engine, and model engines. For visitors, some hot-bulb engines are preheated with a blowtorch and then started by hand crank or compressed air, so that the sound of an old fishing cutter fills the hall.

In front of the museum stands the cutter Vivi, which was built in 1963 at the shipyard in Rødvig, fished mainly in the Baltic Sea for 28 years, and was donated to the museum in 1991; visitors can go aboard. The collection is complemented by ship models, blowtorches, block-and-tackle pulleys from sailing ships, and other maritime objects. The museum is run as an independent institution, supported by its members.

Highlights

• More than 300 ship and boat engines from 1903 to 1973
• Hot-bulb engines that are started up for visitors
• 1963 fishing cutter Vivi, which you can board
• Ship models and maritime equipment

Permanent exhibitions

• Motorerne – More than 300 ship and boat engines, from small single-cylinder units to large diesel generating sets, including several hot-bulb engines that are demonstrated.
• Kutteren Vivi – A fishing cutter built in Rødvig in 1963, set up on land after its fishing days and open to visit inside.

Founded

1987

Operated by

Den selvejende institution Rødvig Skibsmotormuseum

Admission & discounts

Schools and kindergartens: DKK 10 per child.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

The museum sees itself as an experience for children and adults; especially impressive are the running engines and the cutter Vivi, which you can board.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at the harbor of Rødvig.

Amenities & dining

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

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit