Frilandsmuseet Herning
Step from central Herning straight into a thatched 1800s village, where open‑air farmsteads, soundscapes and intimate exhibits bring Jutland’s heathland past to life.
Frilandsmuseet Herning is an intimate open‑air museum just a short stroll from Herning’s main street, where historic farm buildings, cobbled yards and crooked fruit trees recreate 19th‑century heathland life. Step into thatched farmhouses, a traditional smithy and themed interiors, from an occupation‑era apartment to Jens Nielsen’s imaginative farm world with more than a hundred viewing scenes. With free entrance, a welcoming museum garden and hands‑on glimpses of old crafts, it is an easy, atmospheric culture stop in the heart of Central Jutland.
A brief summary to Frilandsmuseet Herning
- Museumsgade 32, Herning, 7400, DK
- +4596261900
- Visit website
- Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours
- Free
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Mixed
- Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
- Thursday 9 am-3 pm
Local tips
- Plan your visit for a Thursday, when the museum buildings are open and volunteers often demonstrate traditional crafts in the farm environment.
- Bring a packed lunch to enjoy in the museum garden, where covered benches provide a sheltered spot among old apple trees.
- Allow extra time for Jens Nielsen’s Farm; with over a hundred small viewing scenes it is easy to linger longer than expected, especially with children.
- Wear comfortable, flat shoes; uneven cobbles, grass and low thresholds are part of the historic setting and can be tricky in delicate footwear.
- If you are sensitive to sound, note that the farmhouse soundscape installation can be quite immersive; step outside to the yard or garden for a quieter pause.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Seating Areas
- Sheltered Areas
- Picnic Areas
- Trash Bins
- Information Boards
Getting There
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Walking from central Herning
From Herning’s pedestrian main street area, Frilandsmuseet Herning is within an easy urban walk of roughly 10–15 minutes along paved, mostly level streets. The route is suitable for most visitors, including families with children and people using strollers, though some final approaches near the museum involve cobbles. As the museum is close to the town centre, there are plenty of cafes and shops en route if you want to combine your visit with a broader city stroll.
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Local city bus within Herning
Herning is served by local buses connecting residential districts with the central area around the railway station and main streets. Typical rides across town take 10–20 minutes and single tickets usually cost around 20–30 DKK, depending on zones and any concessions. From central stops it is a short walk to the museum quarter where Frilandsmuseet is located. Services run more frequently on weekdays than in the evenings and at weekends, so check departure times in advance, especially outside peak commuting hours.
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Car or rental car within Herning and surroundings
Arriving by car from elsewhere in Herning or nearby towns, you can expect a drive of around 5–20 minutes within the urban area, or 30–45 minutes from many smaller Central Jutland communities. There is a small parking area opposite the entrance and additional on‑street parking along Museumsgade, generally free but with time limits in some spots. During special events the closest spaces may fill quickly, so allow extra time to find parking in the surrounding streets.
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Regional train to Herning plus onward connection
If you are coming from cities such as Aarhus, Viborg or Vejle, regional trains to Herning typically take about 1–1.5 hours, with standard second‑class tickets often ranging between 80 and 160 DKK depending on distance and booking conditions. From Herning Station, you can either walk 15–20 minutes through the town centre to the museum district or take a short city bus ride. Trains run throughout the day, but late‑evening options are fewer, so plan your return journey ahead of time.
Frilandsmuseet Herning location weather suitability
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Clear Skies
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Mild Temperatures
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Any Weather
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Cold Weather
Discover more about Frilandsmuseet Herning
Heathland farm life in the heart of Herning
Frilandsmuseet Herning brings the countryside of 1800s Central Jutland right into town. A cluster of relocated farm buildings, barns and outbuildings is arranged around a traditional yard, complete with kitchen gardens and old apple trees. Walking in from modern Herning, you suddenly find yourself among timber beams, low doorways and the gentle smell of wood and earth. The museum focuses on the heaths of Central and West Jutland, once a sparse landscape of smallholdings, wind and hard work. Inside the thatched houses you can read the story of families who lived with peat fires, shared beds and simple tools, relying on sheep, small fields and craftsmanship to get by. Everyday objects are laid out as if the occupants had just stepped outside, giving a sense of lives lived close to the land.Old crafts and quiet village atmosphere
On Thursdays, the museum becomes especially vivid when volunteers demonstrate traditional skills. In the small smithy, iron is heated and hammered on the anvil, while the rhythmic sounds drift into the yard. Elsewhere, you may see people tending the garden or working with bees, keeping heritage techniques alive. Even when no demonstrations are taking place, the site has a gentle village atmosphere. Gravel paths connect the buildings, hens sometimes scratch in the grass, and the museum garden frames everything with hedges, flowers and slightly wild corners. It is a place that invites slow wandering, looking at construction details, and imagining how the heath farms once formed small clusters in an otherwise open landscape.Stories from occupation years and folklore
Indoors, one exhibition recreates a Danish apartment during the German occupation of the 1940s. Furniture, radio, textiles and small details show how ordinary people adapted to shortages, control and everyday uncertainty. It is a compact, thought‑provoking glimpse of recent history that contrasts with the rural rooms outside. Another space is dedicated to folklorist Evald Tang Kristensen, who collected songs, tales and everyday stories across Jutland. Through objects, texts and images you get a sense of the people he met and the intangible heritage they shared. The museum’s broader narrative ties these threads together, suggesting how landscape, belief and storytelling shaped the region’s identity.Jens Nielsen’s imaginative farm and soundscapes
A highlight for many visitors is Jens Nielsen’s Farm, a detailed model world where more than a hundred viewing scenes depict farm life around the early 1900s. Peering into the boxes, you can follow the rhythm of the agricultural year: ploughing, haymaking, winter evenings indoors and village gatherings. The miniature figures, animals and interiors create a playful way to understand how tasks and seasons structured rural existence. In one of the old farmhouses, a sound installation adds another layer. You hear the creak of floorboards, the clatter of kitchen work, children’s voices and outdoor noises, forming an immersive soundscape of a heath farming family’s day. Combined with the physical rooms, it becomes easy to picture the building as a living home rather than a static monument.Garden refuge and open‑air escape
The museum garden surrounds the historic buildings with lawns, benches and sheltered corners, making it a pleasant place to pause with a snack or a book. With its fruit trees and half‑covered seating, it works both as part of the historical setting and as a small green refuge in central Herning. Because entrance is free, it is simple to drop in for a short cultural break or to return with friends on another Thursday. Whether you are curious about Jutland’s heath culture, looking for a gentle family outing, or simply after an atmospheric place to slow down, Frilandsmuseet Herning offers a compact but rich window into Denmark’s rural past.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
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Unmissable attractions to see
Lokalhistorisk Arkiv I Herning
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Nordisk Film Biografer Herning
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Herning Station
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Lau Tune Møller
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Fermaten
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Purpose-built regional music venue bringing rock, jazz, indie, pop and more to an intimate, modern concert hall in the center of Herning.
Sdr. Anlæg
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Zency Herning
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Tekstilmuseet
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P-plads, Knudmosebjerget
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Locked - Escape Room
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Befrielsessten i Herning
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Mindeparken
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Knudmose
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MCH Messecenter Herning
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Herning Centret
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Essential places to dine
Backyard Burger
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Restaurant Flammen
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På Farten
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Hurtigt, mættende pizzaria- og kebabstop lige ved Herning Banegård – et uformelt knudepunkt for rejsende, pendlere og lokale på farten fra formiddag til sen aften.
Tap Del Bar
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Spanish-inspired gastrotapas, an impressive wine wall and crafted cocktails come together in a cosy, central Herning bar-restaurant made for social dining.
Restaurant Sankt Jørgen Herning
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Traditional Danish flavors and warm, wood-panelled charm in the heart of Herning’s central square, inside the historic Hotel Eyde.
Brasseriet
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Upscale European brasserie blending seasonal ingredients, curated wines, and attentive hospitality in central Herning.
Brdr. Price Herning
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Danish–French brasserie classics and warm, high-ceilinged charm in a former bank building on Herning’s main square, ideal for both leisurely lunches and festive dinners.
Coffee City Karma
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Lones Køkken
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No‑frills, central Herning grill and pizza house serving big portions, fast comfort food and late‑night bites on lively Bredgade.
SushiArt Herning
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Bryggeriet Herning
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Restaurant Jin
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Bone's Herning
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Mødestedet
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Café Dyrby's
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Family-run café-restaurant on Herning’s main square, serving generous brunches, classic comfort dishes and coffee in a warm, lived-in setting.
Markets, malls and hidden boutiques
Pillayar Stores
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Dalgashus
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Compact city‑centre arcade in Herning, combining everyday services, small shops and sheltered walkways in a convenient, low‑key shopping passage.
Ma-Griff
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Smart, distinctive women's fashion on Herning's vibrant pedestrian shopping street.
AL-Ting
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A cosy two-storey lifestyle boutique in Herning, where Danish design, interiors, fashion and gourmet treats come together in a warmly hygge-infused setting.
Jydepotten A/S
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Curated women's fashion from leading brands in the heart of Herning's main street.
ONLY
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Lambæk Guld Og Sølv ApS
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M.C. Mortensen, Officiel forhandler af Rolex
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Aaskov Modetøj A/S
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Mappstore (Herning City)
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Normal
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Essential bars & hidden hideouts
Petit Bar
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Heidi's Bier Bar
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The Old Irish Pub
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Bodega Gadespejlet ApS
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Murphy's Pub
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Bart
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Black Wolves
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Glamour Place
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Nightclubs & after hour spots
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temabar APS 23-05
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Tartan Pub
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Team Paderborner
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Nightclub entertainment in Denmark's scenic Dyrehaven forest and lakeside setting.
For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Tranquil
- Scenic
- Fun-filled
- Unique
- Casual
For the design and aesthetic lover
- Vintage Styles
- Rustic Designs
For the architecture buff
- Historic
- Parks & Gardens
For the view chaser and sunset hunter
- Iconic Views
For the social media creator & influencer
- Photo Spots
- Selfie Spots
- Architectural Shots
- Instagrammable
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Low Impact
- Public-Transport Accessible
- Locally Managed
For the kind of experience you’re after
- Cultural Heritage
- Photowalk
- Adventure Photo Shoot
- Day Trip
- Roadtrip Stop
For how adventurous you want the journey to be
- Easy Access
Location Audience
- Family Friendly
- Senior Friendly
- Child Friendly
- Teen Friendly
- Solo Friendly
- Couple Friendly
- Vegetarian Friendly
- Vegan Friendly
