Denmark: An interactive maritime museum in Holbæk

A children’s boat-building workshop instead of 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. Exhibition curator Ronja Melbye-Hansen describes the activity 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 play 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. In 2019, YACHT reported on the official inauguration: Marstal Protector: The work is complete

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 in Holbæk displays wood riddled with holes and ship timber from the wreck of the ‘Havmanden’. An aquarium also displays live shipworms and other organisms from Holbæk Fjord.

Trip to Holbæk: Free entry

The exhibition ‘Håndværk & Horisonter’ is part of the ‘Moving Museums Through Play’ museum project. The National Museum is hereby collaborating 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 visiting 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 times in advance on the museum’s website. Our feature on the Traditional vessels at the ‘Fyn Rundt’.

You might also be interested in: The The Origins of the Optimist: Early examples were built by families themselves in Denmark and, later, in Germany as well. And anyone interested in the construction of the large prototypes will find an insight into the Traditional craftsmanship in Danish Smakkejollen boats.