Norrköpings stadsmuseum

About the museum

The idea of a museum in Norrköping was raised as early as the 1860s, and a public museum opened in 1871. During the 20th century several museums and associations with different focuses were formed, among them Föreningen Gamla Norrköping (Old Norrköping Association) in 1930, whose collections were shown in Norrköpings museum at Kristinaplatsen from 1946. A fire in 1967 destroyed large parts of the city-history collections.

In the 1970s the Bergsbron block was designated as the site for a city-history museum, and the objects were moved there after a conversion. The city museum opened in the old factory premises by the Motala ström on 16 May 1981, in the middle of Norrköping’s industrial landscape. The craft exhibitions are largely based on collections from Stiftelsen Gammalt Hantverk (Old Crafts Foundation).

The museum looks after the local cultural heritage, with collections of objects, machinery, photographs, films, archive material and sound recordings. The main organiser is Norrköping Municipality.

Highlights

• Gate upp å gate ner (Street by Street): a reconstructed craft street with around thirty trades
• Människor & maskiner (People & Machines) with working looms and memories of textile workers
• Handelsboden, a recreated grocer’s shop from the period 1890–1950
• Den första staden (The First Town) and Den utvalda staden (The Chosen Town) on Norrköping’s history
• Free admission to the whole museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Gate upp å gate ner – hantverket förr i tiden – A reconstructed craft street where around thirty old trades are shown with tools in workshops and shops.
• Människor & maskiner – i nöd och lust – Voices of former factory workers, cloth samples, working looms and a recreated working day at a textile mill.
• Den första staden – Norrköpings historia från vikingatid till stormaktstid – Four historical figures guide visitors through how the town grew and changed from the Viking Age to the Age of Greatness (stormaktstiden).

Founded

1981

Operated by

Norrköpings kommun

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission to the exhibitions and the whole museum. Group tours cost SEK 2,500 on weekdays 08:00–16:00 and SEK 3,500 on evenings and weekends; pupil groups from schools in Norrköping Municipality are free of charge.

Accessibility

• Partially 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

There is a lift to all floors except floor 2.5 (Handelsboden). Three toilets are on floor 0.5, one of which is adapted for disabled people, and one toilet is on floor 3. More information is available from reception.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

A changing table is in the toilet for disabled people. Pushchairs can be left in the cloakroom on floor 0.5. The museum has activities for children and families, among them Barnens museum (Children’s Museum).

Getting there & parking

The entrance is in Holmbrogränd, a cross street to Västgötegatan. From the Resecentrum it is about a 15-minute walk. Directions for drivers are temporarily unavailable due to reconstruction in the surrounding area.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Coffee and tea are sold in the museum, and in summer also ice cream. Visitors may eat their own packed lunch in the museum’s lounge. Cloakroom and lockable lockers are on floor 0.5.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit