Naturhistorisk Museum Skagen

About the museum

The Natural History Museum Skagen is located in the dune forest Skagen Klitplantage in the former Højen train station on the Frederikshavn–Skagen line. The station, opened in 1890, lay where Flagbakkevej between Gammel Skagen and the sand-buried church crosses the railway; since 1964 it had been only a halt, and it was abandoned in 2005.

Since 1991, the biologists Poul Lindhard Hansen and Sanne Christensen have used the buildings for their privately run museum. In 2026 the 35th season took place. Both taught at secondary schools for a long time, and accordingly there is a large share of excursions and learning programs for school classes and groups.

The exhibitions are devoted to the nature of the Skagen Odde headland: the bird migration over Grenen with the birds of prey of the spring migration and all owl species observed here, the beach stones transported here by the Ice Age, the heath herbs from which the traditional schnapps is made, and the colonization of Vendsyssel by plants, animals, and humans after the last Ice Age. The museum owns about half a ton of mammoth remains fished out of the North Sea.

In summer, nature walks led by biologists set out from the museum almost every morning, for example to the migrating dune Råbjerg Mile or to the beach. In the attached nature center, plankton, insects, and fungi are studied; the museum shop sells natural objects, fossils, and rock collections.

Highlights

• Museum in the former Højen train station in the Skagen Klitplantage
• Bird exhibition with all owl species observed near Skagen
• Mammoth bones and teeth from the North Sea, some to touch
• Identification aid for beach stones and indicator erratics
• Nature walks led by biologists, for example to Råbjerg Mile

Permanent exhibitions

• Strand, klit og klitplantage – Birds of the coast, beach, and dune forest, including birds of prey of the spring migration, rare visitors, and all owl species observed near Skagen.
• De kom med isen – The stones on Skagen's beaches and their origin in Norway and Sweden, with guidance on identifying them and on the formation of Skagen Odde and Grenen.
• Fra istid til nutid – Small panoramas show how plants, animals, and humans colonized Vendsyssel after the last Ice Age – up to the Iron Age.

Founded

1991

Operated by

Privat (Poul Lindhard Hansen und Sanne Christensen)

Admission & discounts

Nature walks and activities have their own prices (usually adults DKK 60, children DKK 20); museum admission is included. Payment in cash, by card, or with MobilePay.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Several nature walks are explicitly intended for the whole family, such as mushroom hunting, collecting stones on the beach, or the tour to Råbjerg Mile. In the exhibition, mammoth teeth and bones may be touched; in the nature center, plankton and insects are examined under the microscope.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the dune forest Skagen Klitplantage on Flagbakkevej between Gammel Skagen and the sand-buried church (Den Tilsandede Kirke).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with natural objects, fossils (including mammoth and cave bear teeth), rock collections, and its own books on beach stones and herbal schnapps. Food you bring yourself is allowed.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit