
Museum WILLEMOES
Birthplace of the naval hero Peter Willemoes in Assens – exhibition of Museum Vestfyn on heroes, naval battles, and the English Wars.
Over het museum
Willemoesgården at Østergade 36 is among the oldest houses in Assens. The eight-bay-deep gabled house was built in the 17th century at the corner of Kindhestegade. When the wholesale merchant Erich Nielsen took over the farm in 1675, he had the gateway rebuilt; the beam above it still bears an inscription from that year. For a long time the property served as a merchant's yard and warehouse, at times also as an administrative office where farmers and townspeople paid their taxes and where the district administrator lived with his family.
During this time, Peter Willemoes was born here in 1783, son of the district administrator Christen Christensen Willemoes. At twelve he went to the Naval Cadet Academy in København. In the Battle of Copenhagen Roads on April 2, 1801, the just 17-year-old commanded a floating battery with 24 cannons facing large English ships of the line and was already regarded as a hero in his lifetime. In 1808 he fell at Sjællands Odde aboard the ship of the line Prinds Christian Frederik. After the family moved away in 1795, the house became a merchant's yard again; in 1914 the municipality bought it, and it has been a listed building ever since.
Today the building belongs to Museum Vestfyn. The WILLEMOES exhibition asks what heroes mean to us today and lets eyewitnesses have their say, such as a diver who recovered finds from the wreck. Also on view are two paintings by Christian Mølsted of the naval battles. On the first floor you may touch things, and a maritime activity room invites you to steer and navigate; on the upper floor a small exhibition tells the history of the house.
Hoogtepunten
- Birthplace of the naval hero Peter Willemoes (1783–1808)
- Paintings by Christian Mølsted of the Battle of Copenhagen Roads in 1801
- Finds from the wreck of the Prinds Christian Frederik
- Maritime activity room with steering wheel and historic compass
- Gate beam with inscription from 1675
Vaste collectie
- WILLEMOES – Exhibition about the naval hero Peter Willemoes and the question of what significance heroes have today – with paintings, wreck finds, and hands-on stations.
- Willemoesgaarden – Small exhibition on the upper floor on the history of the house as a merchant's yard and administrative office.
- Beheerder
- Museum Vestfyn
- Directie
- Johan Møhlenfeldt Jensen
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
| Volwassenen | 50 DKK |
|---|---|
| Kinderen & jongeren | gratisgratis t/m 17 jaar · Children and teenagers under 18 free. |
| Mensen met een beperking | –begeleider gratis · One companion of people with disabilities has free admission. |
| Groepen | 125 DKK p.p.Tour 45 minutes, DKK 125 per person including admission; minimum price on weekdays DKK 1,020 (up to 8 people), on weekends and public holidays DKK 1,360 (up to 10 people). |
| 2-in-1 ticket Museum WILLEMOES and Museum ERNST | 130 DKKIn summer (2026: June 28 to August 10). |
Admission at the ticket desk. Free admission with ODM or ICOM card, press card, Kulturpas (culture pass), and for members of Vestfyns Museumsforening (DKK 200 per year).
Toegankelijkheid
- Rolstoeltoegankelijk: geen informatie
- Lift: geen informatie
- Aangepast toilet: niet aanwezig
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
- Hulphonden welkom
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
The exhibition buildings of Museum Vestfyn have level changes and stairs and are difficult to access for guests with mobility impairments. No accessible restroom. On the first floor, objects may be touched. In the exhibitions only service dogs.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
| Toegang kinderen | gratis t/m 17 jaar |
|---|
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
- Doe- en voelstations
- Kinderwagenvriendelijk: niet aanwezig
- Verschoonruimte
The exhibition is designed for play and discovery for children and adults: on the first floor you may touch things, and in the maritime activity room you can operate a steering wheel and navigate with a compass more than 100 years old. Family events on special event days, e.g., Apple Festival and Halloween. Strollers stay outside; baby changing available.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
The Assens city bus stops within walking distance of the exhibition houses.
Met de auto
On Østergade parking is limited to 1 hour; free parking without time limit on Reberbanen at Museum ERNST (Østergade 57).
The house is located on Østergade in the old town of Assens, at the corner of Kindhestegade, a few steps from Museum ERNST.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café: niet aanwezig
- Restaurant: niet aanwezig
Museum Vestfyn café in the nearby Museum ERNST (Østergade 57).
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.
Je bezoek plannen
| Rondleidingen | ja · duur ca. 45 min. |
|---|---|
| Aanbod voor scholen | ja |
| Fotograferen | Photography without flash allowed, with consideration for other guests. |
| Goed om te weten | Tours (45 minutes) bookable at any time via booking@museumvestfyn.dk or +45 64 71 31 90 (phone hours Mon–Thu 10:00–13:00). Educational programs on Willemoes, heroes, and the English Wars for schools. |


