Denmark: An interactive maritime museum in Holbæk

A children’s boat-building workshop rather than a static display case

The new exhibition at the Ships at the Danish National Museum in Holbæk is the ‘Børnenes Bådværft’ (Children’s Boat Yard). There, children build their own mini-boats and then try them out on the water. They are allowed to touch and explore the materials at the yard. The exhibition’s curator, Ronja Melbye-Hansen, describes the experience as a playful introduction to shipbuilding, seafaring skills, the forces of nature and life on board. In Holbæk, children can explore the fundamental question for themselves: what does a boat need to float and move?

Live animals in the museum

Another feature is the Bonavista training ship. It is modelled on the historic schooner of the same name and brings the lives of the sailors on board to life for children. The ‘real’ reconstructed Bonavista forms part of the museum’s historic fleet.

It is not only the ravages of time that take their toll on historic wooden ships: the shipworm burrows into wood underwater and can damage historic ship hulls. The Njord museum department in Holbæk displays wood riddled with holes and ship’s timber from the wreck of the ‘Havmanden’. An aquarium also features live shipworms and other organisms from Holbæk Fjord.

Trip to Holbæk: Free admission

The exhibition ‘Håndværk & Horisonter’ is part of the ‘Moving Museums Through Play’ museum project. The National Museum is therefore working with Designskolen Kolding to develop playful ways of teaching history; the programme, which runs until the end of 2027, is funded by the LEGO Foundation.

The museum grounds at Holbæk harbour are situated at Kanalstræde 2. The shipyard states that regular opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8 am to 3 pm, with free admission. Anyone travelling specifically to see the new exhibition should check the current opening hours in advance on the museum’s website.

Also of interest: The following demonstrates how traditional boatbuilding engages young people: History of the Danish gunboat ‘Corsør’, which were built jointly by pupils, apprentices and skilled workers. Anyone who would like to see how a small wooden motorboat is made today can visit the BOOTE feature on the construction of classic runabouts A glimpse inside the shipyard.