The Green Museum

A Living Testament to Danish Rural Heritage

The Green Museum stands as Denmark's premier institution dedicated to the interconnected histories of hunting, forestry, agriculture, and food culture. Established through a 2017 merger between the Danish Museum of Hunting and Forestry and the Danish Agricultural Museum, this unified approach allows visitors to experience these four themes together for the first time under one roof. Located at Gammel Estrup, a historic estate 1.5 kilometers outside Auning in East Jutland, the museum occupies a setting that itself reflects centuries of Danish land stewardship and rural life.

Exploring Four Pillars of Danish Land Use

The museum's thematic focus addresses the use of land and resources across approximately 80 percent of Denmark's total land area, making it a vital repository of cultural knowledge. Visitors encounter extensive collections reflecting hunting traditions, forest management practices, agricultural innovation, and food heritage. The exhibitions are designed around the principle of putting people first—examining how ordinary Danes have worked the land, managed forests, hunted sustainably, and developed food traditions over generations. This human-centered approach transforms what could be purely historical documentation into narratives of daily life, ingenuity, and adaptation.

Gardens and Outdoor Experiences

Beyond the indoor galleries, the museum features an impressive show garden that showcases 250 varieties of Danish apples. This living collection demonstrates the agricultural diversity cultivated across Denmark and serves as both an educational resource and a sensory experience. The outdoor spaces allow visitors to walk among heritage plant varieties and understand the practical aspects of Danish farming and horticulture in a way that complements the museum's interior collections.

Setting and Accessibility

The museum's location on the Djursland peninsula, positioned between the towns of Randers and Grenå, makes it accessible to visitors exploring East Jutland. The estate grounds provide a natural, immersive environment that enhances the thematic content. While some areas present accessibility challenges for wheelchair users, the museum continues to work toward improving access to its collections and outdoor spaces. A restaurant, Den Gamle Stald, operates on-site and does not require museum admission, offering refreshment options for visitors.

Research and Cultural Significance

The Green Museum functions not only as a public institution but also as a research center investigating the cultural history of hunting, forestry, agriculture, and food across Denmark. This scholarly dimension ensures that exhibitions remain informed by contemporary research and that the museum contributes to broader understanding of rural cultural heritage. The institution's role extends beyond display to active documentation and interpretation of how Danes have shaped and been shaped by their natural environment.