About the museum
The museum is responsible for the management of the national natural history collections as well as the associated research and public outreach. The collections form the absolute core of the museum. They include approx. 14 million objects collected over 400 years, including skins, skeletons, insects on needles, herbarium plants, fossils, minerals and meteorites. In addition to this is also the living collections in the Botanical Garden, which include approx. 9,000 different plant species, such as orchid, cactus, carnivorous plants and exotic tree species. Some of the objects can be seen in the museum's exhibitions and in the Botanical Garden, while others are only available to researchers.
The museum provides world-class research and is thus organized as a department of the University of Copenhagen. The museum is a leader in citizen-driven science and engages the general public in mapping the Danish nature.
The new museum building will open in the spring 2027 and will be located in the Botanical Garden in the heart of Copenhagen. It will be a place where interdisciplinary research will have the best possible setting. The public can choose between a pleasant walk in the gardens, a visit to the beautiful Victorian Palm House or a journey of exploration of the big new museum building.
Our vision
To empower connection between people and nature
We want to inspire, engage and enable people to enjoy, understand and care for the diversity of the natural world.
Our purpose
Positive change for people and planet
We advance a scientific understanding of the natural world to help everyone make knowledge-based decisions for a sustainable future.
Our values
We are professional
We strive for excellence and expertise in everything we do.
We are responsible
We aim for positive social, cultural and environmental impact in our decision-making.
We are collaborative
We engage with society, value diversity and invite participation.
We are pioneering
We encourage imaginative thinking and future-forward approaches.
We are principled
We have moral integrity. We stand up for what we believe in.
We are curious
We are eager to learn, share and discover more about our natural world.
Our strategi 2030
Natural History – Curiosity, Knowledge and Empowerment for the Future
With Strategy 2030, we will focus on three overarching goals across the museum's activities:
1. Strengthen curiosity for nature
2. Strengthen knowledge about nature
3. Strengthen empowerment for nature
We will activate our collections, research, and communication, focusing on providing more people with the means to contribute to safeguarding nature's diversity and promoting a sustainable world.
Annual Report
In the annual report, you can read about the museum’s activities, research, public engagement, and collections work over the past year. The report provides insight into how we are turning Strategy 2030 into concrete results and strengthening interest in nature, knowledge of nature, and the capacity to take action for nature.
