1st - 3rd floor -
From Vikings to welfare. From absolute monarchy to democracy. Denmark's history is a tale of staggering changes, disappointing defeats and spectacular victories.
See the objects that testify to everything that has shaped us. Three exhibitions that convey one Danish history: "Denmark's Prehistory", "Denmark's Middle Ages and Renaissance" and "Danish History 1660-2000". You start on the tundra in the Stone Age, and we leave you in outer space.
1.
Before the butcher provided the meat, they had to do it themselves
A broken twig. Some droppings. Trail after trail leads the hunters and their dogs to the next meal, through the dense forest 9000 years ago. With bow and arrow, they bring down animals larger than themselves: moose, bears, and mighty aurochs. In the exhibition “The Prehistory of Denmark” you can stand face-to-face with the aurochs, and imagine if the 2-meter-tall beast came thundering towards you.
Bull's
2.
A belief in God or just a good deal?
Poppo holds the red-hot iron in his bare hand. Harald Bluetooth watches – astonished, perhaps fearful. Is it Poppo's Christian God he fears, or the superior army of the German emperor, looming threateningly at the border? According to the story, the king is baptized - thereby making Denmark Christian. See the scene depicted on the Tamdrup plates in the exhibition "Denmark's Middle Ages and Renaissance".
Image gallery
1 / 3
A random discovery
It was by chance that the Golden Horns became the national symbols of Denmark. In fact, Kirsten Svendsdatter stumbled upon one of them in a field in 1639.
2 / 3
What is Danish, really?
The country's artists ponder over what constitutes Danishness? The answers are not straightforward. It is necessary to find something to hold on to, as the 19th century is scarred by defeats and losses. And here, the Golden Horns help.
3 / 3
Two golden horns. One golden age.
The Golden Horns become a symbol of Denmark's greatness. A magnificent and legendary past, where princes in the 5th century might have toasted with them. See them in the exhibition “Denmark's Prehistory”.
3.
Would you sacrifice your head for the freedom to speak and think?
Chop. The head is separated from the body. Johann Friedrich Struensee is dead, executed for lese-majesty and embezzlement. French thoughts of freedom attracted Danish followers and foes. Struensee embraced these ideas and sowed the first seeds in the form of fledgling freedom of speech and the abolition of torture, before his royal affair ruined it all. See the axe used to behead Struensee in the exhibition “Danish History 1660-2000”.
4.
You should not do the same as your parents
The farmer's daughter now has opportunities to acquire knowledge at a folk high school. N.F.S. Grundtvig's idea that the farmer should be a citizen opens doors for the future. The 19th century is a 'century of choice', where many seize the opportunity and become enlightened citizens during a stay at a folk high school. And with a little silver arrow on your jacket, you can show that you have met new people and established cultural roots. See one of the arrows in the exhibition 'Danish History 1660-2000'.
5.
Do you give the beggar food, even though he is breaking the law?
The tramp wanders. He begs for food, even though it's illegal. The man fears ending up in the poorhouse, where hard labor and no civil rights await. At the beginning of the 20th century, the welfare state as we know it today has not been invented. There is only poor relief for the few and the humiliating poorhouse. It is not until 1933 that politicians introduce a law that ensures everyone the right to assistance in cases of illness, unemployment, and accidents. Look a beggar in the eyes at the painting A Hungry at the Door in the exhibition 'Danish History 1660-2000'.
6.
Equality is the story of rules, religion, and red pills
Every morning, girls press the red pill out of the foil. Because this little pill can shape the future: the choice between becoming a young mother or remaining a young girl. The contraceptive pill has been a step towards gender equality, just like women's suffrage and access to the labor market. See one of the small packages in the exhibition “Danish History 1660-2000”, which made it possible to separate sexuality and motherhood.
Open today
10:00 - 17:00
Admission ticket
What is the taste of Denmark?
Together with Hansen's Ice Cream, we’ve tried to tell the story of Denmark in a single scoop. It’s red berry pudding with cream and pieces of licorice. Available exclusively at the National Museum of Denmark and associated museums.
