Trapholt

About the museum

The Danish dentist Gustav Lind, who worked in Amsterdam, and his wife Helene acquired extensive land on Kolding Fjord in the 1930s. They had the Dutch architect A. P. Smits build a summer house and laid out an apple orchard, whose gardens were designed by C. Th. Sørensen. From 1945 the couple lived on the estate year-round. In 1972 they founded the Trapholtfonden and handed the property over to Kolding Kommune, which in return committed to establishing an art museum there.

On June 2, 1988, the museum opened in buildings by the architects Boje Lundgaard and Bente Aude. The foundation of the collection was works from the Kolding Kunstforening; today it comprises about 7,000 works of art, crafts and design. Trapholt is a state-recognized museum. Its focal points include Denmark's largest collection of 20th-century chairs with more than 500 examples, a room of paintings by Richard Mortensen that was set up together with the artist, and Arne Jacobsen's Kubeflex summer house. A sculpture park with works by contemporary Danish artists surrounds the buildings.

At the end of 2025 the museum closed for an extension designed by the firm 3XN, which had won an architecture competition. Planned are an education and craft center for workshops and events, a glazed sculpture lounge facing the park, and new paths in the park. During construction, Trapholt maintains a presence in Kolding with pop-up events and school projects; reopening is announced for March 2027.

Highlights

• Denmark's largest chair collection with more than 500 20th-century chairs
• Arne Jacobsen's Kubeflex summer house
• Richard Mortensen room
• Sculpture park with a view of Kolding Fjord
• Extension by 3XN (reopening 2027)

Permanent exhibitions

• Kubeflex-sommerhuset – Arne Jacobsen's modular summer house can be visited on the museum grounds and shows his ideas on flexible living.
• Richard Mortensen-salen – A room with paintings by the Danish painter Richard Mortensen, whose hanging was developed together with the artist.

Founded

1988

Visitors per year

approx. 92,518

Admission & discounts

Prices per the website; discount cards are always calculated from the regular admission.

Accessibility

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

Carries the accessibility label of God Adgang. Wheelchairs and walkers can be reserved by phone. No elevator to the café balcony and the meeting room. Dementia-friendly tours for groups of up to 12 people.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Free tasks and art hunts, special activities for major exhibitions and "Pilfingerzoner," where children paint themselves or design chairs with wooden blocks. The whole museum is stroller-accessible; two loaner strollers, baby changing tables in the foyer and near the café, a children's corner in the café with drawing and building materials.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café Gustav Lind with a view of the fjord; Trapholt Designbutik. Food you bring may be eaten at tables in the park or, in bad weather, in the Madpakkehus in the Trappergården. Dogs not allowed except assistance dogs.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

Indoor and outdoor spaces for meetings, conferences and corporate events with 1 to 100 participants; catering via Café Gustav Lind.

Plan your visit