Skagens Museum

About the museum

The museum was founded on October 20, 1908, by the painters Michael Ancher, P.S. Krøyer, and Laurits Tuxen together with the hotelier Degn Brøndum and the pharmacist Victor Chr. Klæbel. They wanted to preserve what the artists' colony had created in Skagen since the 1870s and 1880s: young painters sought new subjects there far from the academic tradition, painted outdoors, and took their cue from French Naturalism.

The architect Ulrik Plesner, himself part of the artists' circle, designed the brick building on Brøndumsvej, which opened in 1928 with 325 works; the first director was the art historian Karl Madsen. In 1946 the dining room of the Brøndums Hotel was added, moved piece by piece into the museum together with its paintings and panels.

After extensions in 1982, 1989, and 2004, the largest expansion followed from 2014, with new exhibition rooms, a conservation workshop, and visitor areas; the slate-clad building was inaugurated by Queen Margrethe in 2016. At the same time the museum merged with the artists' houses Anchers Hus and Drachmanns Hus, so that the collection grew from around 2,000 works to about 20,000 objects. In the museum garden there are also the Havehuset, one of the oldest houses in Skagen and the first shared home of Anna and Michael Ancher, as well as an early studio of Krøyer's.

Highlights

• Largest collection of the Skagen painters, including Krøyer, Anna and Michael Ancher, Tuxen, and Viggo Johansen
• Original dining room of the Brøndums Hotel with portraits of artists
• Plesner building of 1928 and slate-clad building of 2016
• Museum garden with sculptures, the Havehuset, and Krøyer's early studio
• Open creative workshop for children and adults

Permanent exhibitions

• Romantiserede rebeller – New presentation of the collection in 19 thematic rooms showing the Skagen painters as innovators of Northern European art – from beach scenes to drowned fishermen.

Founded

1908

Operated by

Skagens Museum (selbstständige Einrichtung)

Director

Lisette Vind Ebbesen

Visitors per year

approx. 163,718 (2017)

Admission & discounts

The day ticket is valid all day with re-entry and includes the current special exhibition. A ticket bought on the same day can be exchanged for an annual pass, with the price credited.

Accessibility

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

The museum is accessible to everyone; wheelchairs and walking sticks are available free of charge. Two accessible parking spaces at the museum. Guide dogs are allowed, other dogs only on a leash in the garden.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Open workshop on the second floor where children and adults can experiment free of charge with the materials and techniques of the Skagen painters. Regular tours for children and their adults as well as workshops during the school holidays.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Museum café (Tue–Sun from 10:30) with coffee, cake, and cold drinks, also in the garden; accessible without a museum ticket. Museum shop with books, posters, clothing, and needlework kits. Bags are not allowed in the exhibitions; lockers are provided.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Weddings in museum halls or in the garden for DKK 1,250 (arrange with the registry office of Frederikshavn Kommune); indoors, guests other than the bridal couple pay admission, in the garden the ceremony is free for everyone. The museum remains open to visitors in the meantime.

Plan your visit