SMK – The National Gallery of Denmark SMK - The National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) is Denmark’s largest art museum, featuring outstanding collections of Danish and international art from the past seven centuries. SMK is located just off of Copenhagen's Nørreport station. Here you can experience special exhibitions, the royal collections, guided tours, performances, art talks, concerts, workshops and much more. At the SMK you can enjoy the grand masters of art history along with cutting-edge contemporary artists and the rising stars of the art scene. No other museum in Denmark shows such a rich and varied selection of art – from the European classics of the Renaissance to the overwhelming diversity of modern and contemporary art. Here you will find gems by artists such as Mantegna, Nolde, Anna Ancher, Derain, Rubens, Matisse, Hammershøi, Munch, Abramovic, Danh Vo and Elmgreen & Dragset. SMK is especially famous for its beautiful collection of Danish Golden Age art, the country’s most comprehensive collection of Danish contemporary art – and one of the world’s best Matisse collections.    

Experience Frederiksborg Castle and Museum of National History with magnificent halls, portraits, history paintings, and special exhibitions, located just 35 minutes north of Copenhagen. The impressive Renaissance castle was built by Christian IV to showcase the king's power. With its fairytale-like location in the middle of the Castle Lake, surrounded by the Baroque Garden and the romantic landscape garden, Frederiksborg Castle offers a unique destination with great cultural experiences, garden walks, and boat trips with the Little Ferry on the Castle Lake throughout the summer. Museum of National History Museum and National Portrait Gallery Christian IV's (1588-1648) magnificent castle from the early 17th century now serves as the framework for more than 500 years of stories and myths that shaped Denmark into what it is today. Frederiksborg Castle is both Museum of National History and the National Portrait Gallery, where hundreds of portraits give faces to individuals who have shaped Denmark's history. The portrait collection is the country's largest and most significant, and the collection of paintings, busts, drawings, and photographs is continuously supplemented with new works. History paintings also communicate important national events. Experience the pomp and splendor of bygone times up close. The museum's fine period interiors and the castle's impressive grand rooms, such as the Castle Church, the Great Hall, and the Audience Hall, provide insight into changing periods and styles. Additionally, changing special exhibitions on portrait art and the history of both Denmark and Frederiksborg Castle are shown each year. The museum has been housed at Frederiksborg Castle since 1878 when it was established by the founder of Carlsberg, brewer J.C. Jacobsen, after a devastating fire in 1859. The museum continues to operate as a department of the Carlsberg Foundation. Frederiksborg for children Experience Frederiksborg Castle from a child's perspective with one of the museum's treasure hunts or the children's audio guide. During holiday seasons, there are special activities for children. Visit dnm.dk for current activities. Make the most of your visit Download the Smartify app for the museum’s audio guides. Use the app to scan and explore portraits and paintings. Download the app before your visit to be well-prepared. Also, keep an eye out for the museum's podcast PORTRÆT, which delves into both the castle and its collection. Dine at Rabarbergaarden Slottet The museum's restaurant, Rabarbergaarden Slottet (meaning the Rhubarb farm at the castle) brings the flavors of North Zealand to the table. Enjoy a gastronomic experience with local, organic ingredients from the sustainable farm-to-table kitchen. The restaurant is located in a former carriage port and stable building, offering views of both a lake and the castle at Northern Europe's largest Renaissance complex. The Castle Gardens Frederiksborg Castle was completed by creating gardens around the grand building complex. Christian IV had his own garden, but in 1720, architect J. Krieger was commissioned to create a Baroque garden. The Baroque Garden was recreated in the 1990s. The lowest terraces in the garden feature four monograms in tightly trimmed hedges: Frederik IV, Frederik V, Christian VI, and Margrethe II. These are the four monarchs under whom the garden has existed, from its establishment by Frederik IV to its restoration in Queen Margrethe's time. However, the Baroque Garden is not the only garden at the castle. Next to the Baroque Garden is the romantic, English-inspired garden, where a small Bath House Castle is also located. With its small lakes and groves, the romantic garden is designed to convey moods and showcase the beauty of nature. In contrast, the Baroque Garden with its straight lines and sharp edges represents the beauty that lies in human control over nature. Getting There The museum is open every day of the year. It takes approximately 35 minutes to drive from Copenhagen. If you are coming by train, the easiest way to reach Frederiksborg is via the S-train line A. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from Hillerød Station. You can walk along the Castle Lake or through the city's pedestrian streets with cafes and shops.      

Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art is a must see in Copenhagen for anyone interested in art and architecture. Den Frie is closed between exhibitions. Please check the website before going. Den Frie was founded by artists in 1898 and is one of the oldest venues for contemporary art in Denmark. It is in itself a unique and very beautiful wooden building designed by famous artist J.F. Willumsen. Den Frie’s fundamental aim is to present the very latest in contemporary art. We host exhibitions by national and international artists, all of which address current issues. The extensive programme of exhibitions and events are evidence of Den Frie’s role as an active platform for living art and
art production, and the commitment to contribute to contemporary existence. With its relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, Den Frie is also a popular meeting place for artists, students, tourists and the many locals who pass by. As a visitor you’ll feel welcome and enjoy having your interest in contemporary art stimulated, whether you’re an art connoisseur or a beginner. On top of which the architecture alone is well worth a visit. Den Frie also houses the café, Polykrom, where you can enjoy a delicious lunch or a well-made cup of coffee.   Exhibitions: Mea Sculpa, 24. Feb - 9. Jun 2024 As part of Den Frie’s exhibition series Dacapo revisiting former artist-run spaces, SQ – Louis Scherfig and Frederik Worm – presents Mea Sculpa? In 2013 Louis Scherfig and Frederik Worm founded SQ/squash (www.squashclub.biz) while studying at the art academy, and they ran the exhibition space together with Jonas Frederiksen until 2017. During its existence SQ organized solo and group exhibitions, publications and happenings in parks, exhibition spaces, sports venues, cinemas and in book format. Den Frie Udstilling 2024: Naboplanter, 13th of Apr. - 26th of May 2024 Den Frie Udstilling 2024: Naboplanter is curated by the artists Jesper Christiansen, Torben Ribe, and Hannah Heilmann, focusing on the possible social and artistic connections that exist between the members of the artist association Den Frie. As one of the oldest artists associations in Denmark, Den Frie was founded in 1891 and it has continually incorporated new members, like an old garden where a changing fauna of plants co-exist. The title of the show is inspired by Sofie Isager Ahls book Naboplanter, poetically conceiving human beings as social organisms able to cultivate relations accross species and families.

Jægerspris Castle is one of Denmark's oldest royal castles. It is beautifully located, surrounded by forest and fjords. The royal history goes back to the 13th Century and the castle has served as a hunting and summer residence for kings and queens. In 1854 Frederik VII and Countess Danner moved into Jægerspris Castle. They decorated the castle as their private residence and the rooms still stand as they did in the 1850s. The living rooms at Jægerspris Castle are decorated according to the taste of the time by the fashion- and style-conscious Countess Danner. Incidentally, the castle is the only place in Denmark where the interior design of the 1850s can be experienced as a whole. During a visit to the museum, you can also experience King Frederik VII’s archaeological collection, which contains several unique gold finds from the Bronze Age. You can also see an exhibition about the orphanage that Countess Danner set up at the castle. The exhibition tells how the children lived in the orphanage wards around the castle in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, and here it is shown how this large private orphanage has had an impact on childcare in Denmark. At the castle is a small cozy café, Cafe Danner, with organic coffee and tea, delicious cakes baked with care and cozy lunch. There is also a small shop with lots of gift ideas. The café and shop offer sheltered employment for people who find it difficult to find and maintain regular work. This year's special exhibition: In Eternal Memory. Countess Danner’s Jægerspris The history of Countess Louise Danner’s life sounds like a fairy tale. She was born in Copenhagen in 1815, as the daughter of an unmarried maid. Yet, fate would have her marry the King of Denmark one day and become one of the country’s significant benefactors. Who would have seen that coming? 1850 was the turning point of her life. That year, she married Frederik VII and received her noble title, Countess. But their love was continuously put to serious tests as King Frederik VII could not shield Louise from envy and gossip. According to the elitist opinion of the time she was not worthy of a king. Louise was courageous and experienced more than most. She transcended social and geographical boundaries – and yet she never forgot her own story. Before her death, she bequeathed her fortune to charity in two foundations which she established in the name of the king. One foundation was established to support the poorest women of the working class in Copenhagen, while the other was to aid vulnerable children by running an orphanage at Jægerspris Castle, and, aside from this, preserve the castle in memory of Frederik VII. 150 years have passed since Countess Danner’s death, and King Frederik VII’s Foundation at Jægerspris Castle still runs Danner’s orphanage and preserves the memory of Frederik VII and Countess Danner.

Frederikssund Museum is Roskilde fjord's cultural history museum. Frederikssund Museum's new permanent exhibition deals with the interaction between man, life around the fjords and Frederikssund's history. Frederikssund Museum is located just above the Crown Prince Frederiks Bro at Hornsherred in the historic red building from 1893. In the late 1900s, the old Færgegård (ferry house) was used as a guesthouse, where there were both guest rooms, kitchen and utility room that was often rented to families with children who would like to experience the fjord and the scenic surroundings around the area. It is said that Mr. Lorentzen who was hiring out of the farm at that time was a nice man towards the children and were allowed to pick wild raspberries in the woods behind the farm.