The museum was built inside the 150-meter-long concrete dry dock of a decommissioned shipyard.
The structure does not rise above ground level to avoid obscuring the view of the nearby 16th-century Kronborg Castle.
The building was designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and earned the RIBA Award for International Excellence.
The interior layout consists of continuous, gently sloping ramps rather than traditional staircases to mimic the feeling of walking on a ship's deck.
The museum holds a collection of over 300 ship models, some dating back to the mid-18th century.
The original shipyard operated from 1882 until 1983, when it ceased all shipbuilding activities.
The museum utilizes the dry dock's original pump house as part of the visitor experience.
The exhibition design incorporates 'The Cargo Ship,' a room that simulates a journey on a modern container ship.
The M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark is located in a subterranean space built within the dry dock of the former Elsinore Shipyard. Designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), the structure features sloping floor ramps that wrap around the interior void of the old dock rather than building above ground. The museum chronicles Danish maritime history spanning from the 15th century to contemporary global shipping. Exhibitions cover themes of trade, navigation, naval warfare, and the personal lives of seafarers. The museum utilizes immersive digital projections and interactive installations to depict the evolution of seafaring technology. Its location between Kronborg Castle and the local cultural harbor serves as a physical bridge between historic fortification and modern industrial repurposing. The architecture is purposefully invisible from the surrounding ground level, preserving views of the adjacent castle.
From the center of the dry dock floor looking upward to capture the contrast between the concrete architecture and the sky.
Walk the ramp systems slowly, as the incline is subtle but constant throughout the entire exhibition space.
Visit the outdoor area of the dry dock to appreciate the scale of the concrete walls and the architectural integration with the harbor.
Pair your visit with a trip to Kronborg Castle, located just a short walk away.
Attempting to find the entrance at ground level; look for the glass-walled ramp leading downward into the dock.
Closed on Mondays during the winter season.
