New Museum
On 6 March 2027, we open the doors to the new national museum of natural history in the Botanical Garden. Experience a new landmark in Danish museum architecture, where the historic buildings of the Botanical Garden are united with unique new underground galleries and above-ground structures inspired by the forms of nature.
Explore eight new exhibitions that take you on a journey through the history of nature, from the formation of the Solar System and the origins of species to a natural world undergoing rapid change today. Along the way, you will experience nature’s remarkable forces, discover the extraordinary diversity of life, and gain a deeper understanding of your own place in the natural world.
The upcoming exhibitions
Universe
Touch meteorites, come face to face with the power of the Sun and learn more about the origin and composition of the universe.
Earth
Explore the earliest life on Earth, feel the force of volcanoes and discover beautiful minerals and fossils.
Life
From microorganisms to megafauna – discover how all life on our planet is connected.
Denmark
Experience Danish wildlife up close, balance on fallen trees and learn more about the nature of our small country.
Arctic
Journey along the coast of Greenland, across the ice sheet and deep beneath the Arctic Ocean.
Biodiversity
Explore extraordinary ecosystems and learn more about some of the most species-rich regions on Earth.
Humans
Learn more about human evolution and the impact we have on the world around us.
Ocean Hall
Dive beneath the surface and experience the ocean’s rich diversity of life.
Building the new museum
The new museum in the Botanical Garden was designed by Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects and architect Claus Pryds. The museum represents a new direction in Danish museum architecture, where the historic buildings in the protected garden are united with new underground galleries and above-ground structures inspired by the organic forms of nature.
The result is a museum building designed to strengthen Denmark’s position in natural science research while also creating a sensory experience of natural history and humanity’s place within it.
- The walls in the exhibition halls rise up to 10 metres in hight, and the ceilings are made from 180,000 small wooden slats that improve acoustics in the large spaces.
- The Ocean Hall measures 16 metres wide, 23 metres high and 50 metres long. The dome is constructed from 2,000 steel frames fitted with 1,600 triangular glass panels – only two panes of glass in the entire structure are identical.
- The welcome hall is a former engine house that was dismantled and then reconstructed using, among other things, the original facade bricks and steel lattice structures.
- The excavation for the foundation was 15 metres deep and 400 metres in circumference.
- The VILLUM Hall, the museum’s grand hall, has been restored to its original appearance through colour archaeological studies to acknowledge the history of the building.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Natural History Museum Denmark?
The Natural History Museum Denmark is Denmark’s national museum of natural history. The museum consists of several visitor destinations, all located within the Botanical Garden:
- The museum building on Øster Voldgade 5–7
Last opening day: 1 November 2026
- The Botanical Garden incl. the Palm House and the Butterfly House
- The new museum in the corner of the Botanical Garden
Featuring newly built underground exhibition halls as well as public spaces housed in historic, newly renovated buildings. The new museum opens March 6, 2027.
Who built the new museum?
The Danish Road Directorate and the Danish Building and Property Agency have acted as clients for the construction project that forms the framework for the new museum.
Per Aarsleff A/S has served as the main contractor for the new museum, which was designed by Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects and Claus Pryds Arkitekter.
Who created the new exhibitions?
The exhibition concept design was developed in collaboration between the museum and the design agency Tinker Imagineers, which won the international competition to create the new permanent exhibitions in 2018.
In 2023, the project entered the production phase, when the design agency Event Communications won the contract to realise the new exhibitions.
How large is the new museum?
With the new museum, we are welcoming visitors into a unique setting for the visitor experiences of the future. The new exhibition spaces will cover 7,000 square metres, while additional public areas, including the shop, ticket office, VILLUM Hall, restaurant, café and dining area, will comprise approximately 2,000 square metres. In addition, there will be approximately 500 square metres dedicated to teaching facilities for primary and upper secondary school students, including a lunch area for students. Collection storage, laboratories, offices and other staff facilities will make up 22,500 square metres.
These figures represent net floor area and do not include, for example, technical rooms, stairwells, corridors, storage rooms or toilets. In total, the new museum will comprise 32,000 square metres, divided almost equally between new construction and renovated historic buildings.
When will the new museum open?
The new museum will open to the public March 6, 2027.