Designmuseum Denmark

Step into Denmark’s design heritage at Designmuseum Danmark. Here, you’ll find a rich collection of both Danish and international design icons, alongside innovative solutions from the next generation of designers. The museum offers a diverse range of exhibitions, from the rugged homes and collector’s items of the past to contemporary designs and emerging trends, as well as creative solutions to global challenges. The museum also features Copenhagen’s greenest museum garden, a delightful café, and a design shop offering both timeless classics and unique, contemporary finds.

Founded in 1890 by the Industrial Association in Copenhagen and the New Carlsberg Museum Foundation, Designmuseum Danmark opened to the public in 1895 in a newly built museum on the current H.C. Andersens Boulevard. Since its inception, the museum’s mission has been to elevate the concept of quality in design, showcasing exemplary artifacts to inspire both industry professionals and consumers to become more critical and quality-conscious.

Since 1926, the museum has been housed in one of Copenhagen’s most beautiful rococo buildings, the former Royal Frederik’s Hospital, constructed between 1752 and 1757 under the reign of Frederik V, with designs by architects Nicolai Eigtved and Lauritz de Thurah. In the early 1920s, architects Ivar Bentsen and Kaare Klint renovated and adapted the building for museum use.

The museum’s collections, library, and archives form Denmark’s central knowledge hub for design history research. It documents contemporary developments in industrial design, furniture, and crafts, while also preserving exemplary works from earlier periods closely linked to modern production. Designmuseum Danmark is committed to conducting research in art and design history, sharing its findings through exhibitions, publications, and educational programs.