Designmuseum Danmark

I Took My Family to Copenhagen, and It Was Our Best Vacation Yet

"Located in the former Royal Fredericks Hospital, this compact museum highlights midcentury Danish design and works by Arne Jacobsen, Poul Gernes, and Kaare Klint across four wings surrounding a courtyard—easy to see in about an hour and especially appealing to children for its whimsical Egg chairs, Pop art, and funky lamps." - Sunshine Flint

Where Our Editors Are Going on Summer Vacation This Year

"Things I'm looking forward to include visiting the newly renovated DesignMuseum."

The Best New Museums in the World: 2023 Hot List

"Building a museum from scratch is a Herculean endeavor, but renewing a legacy museum is no easy feat either. Last summer, the DesignMuseum Denmark reopened its doors after a two-year renovation, its most exhaustive since it introduced its Ivar Bentsen and Kaare Klint–designed spaces to the public in 1926."

Designmuseum Danmark

"Building a museum from scratch is a Herculean endeavor, but renewing a legacy museum is no easy feat either. In summer 2022, the DesignMuseum Danmark reopened its doors after a two-year renovation, its most exhaustive since it introduced its Ivar Bentsen and Kaare Klint–designed spaces to the public in 1926. This reimagining, helmed by the local firm OEO Studio, imbues the historic building with contemporary ideas but leaves room for Klint and Bentsen’s legacy, from the vintage lamps that line the rooms to the tiny design details seen in every corner, even the locker rooms. That juxtaposition of traditional craftsmanship and modern concerns is also evident in the museum’s displays: Its historical collections (tsubas, snuffboxes, and plenty of chairs) sit alongside exhibitions that address contemporary global challenges like climate change. Finally, no visit is complete without an amble through the museum’s courtyard garden, with its linden trees and sculptures, and a visit to its gift shop, packed with books and ceramics you’ll want for your home." - Arati Menon

"Design is one of Denmark’s great success stories. Given this close association with the country, it’s particularly fitting that Designmuseum Danmark is just around the corner from the Queen’s Palace. You’ll find scores of iconic Danish designs here—everything from Arne Jacobsen’s Egg and Swan chairs to Paul Henningsen’s Artichoke lamps—as well as stunning collections of fabric and porcelain, all housed in a historic former hospital. The exhibitions are excellent, and the gift shop is just as good as you would expect."