Workers Museum (Arbejdermuseet), Copenhagen
Step inside Europe’s oldest workers’ assembly hall and trace 150 years of Danish working-class life, activism and democracy in the heart of Copenhagen.
Set inside Europe’s oldest workers’ assembly hall from 1879, Copenhagen’s Workers Museum (Arbejdermuseet) immerses you in 150 years of Danish working-class life and the rise of the labour movement. Period apartments from the 1880s to the 1980s, kid-friendly 1930s shops, and exhibitions on activism and democracy bring big social themes down to a human scale. A vintage-style coffee bar and traditional basement beer hall complete this vivid journey through the roots of Denmark’s welfare state.
A brief summary to Workers Museum
- Rømersgade 22, Copenhagen, Indre By, 1362, DK
- +4533932575
- Visit website
- Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours
- Mid ranged
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Indoor
- Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
- Monday 10 am-5 pm
- Tuesday 10 am-5 pm
- Wednesday 10 am-5 pm
- Thursday 10 am-8 pm
- Friday 10 am-5 pm
- Saturday 10 am-5 pm
- Sunday 10 am-5 pm
Local tips
- Allow at least two hours to explore; the period apartments, activism exhibitions and kids’ section are spread across several floors and reward unhurried wandering.
- Plan a mid-visit break in the 1950s coffee bar or the basement Café & Ølhalle to sample traditional Danish smørrebrød and soak up the historic interior.
- Many exhibits include Danish text; look for English summaries and consider renting any available audio or printed guides if you want deeper context.
- Families should head straight to the Kids’ Workers’ Museum early in the visit, then circle back for the main exhibitions when younger visitors need a change of pace.
- Weekday mornings outside school holidays are usually quieter, giving more space to sit, read and absorb the stories in the assembly hall and galleries.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Drink Options
- Drinking Water
- Food Options
- Seating Areas
- Trash Bins
- Information Boards
- Visitor Center
Getting There
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Metro and short walk from central Copenhagen
From central Copenhagen, take the M1 or M2 metro lines to Nørreport Station, one of the city’s main hubs; trains run every few minutes and the ride from Kongens Nytorv or Copenhagen Central typically takes 2–5 minutes. A standard adult single-zone ticket costs around 20–25 DKK. From Nørreport it is an easy, mostly level 5–10 minute walk through the city centre streets to the museum, suitable for wheelchairs and strollers in most weather.
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City bus within the inner districts
Several inner-city bus lines stop near Nørreport and Ørstedsparken, placing you within about 5–10 minutes’ walk of the Workers Museum. Typical journey times from neighbourhoods such as Vesterbro, Østerbro or Christianshavn range from 10–20 minutes depending on traffic. Use a standard city bus ticket or travel card (approximately 20–25 DKK for one zone); buses run frequently during the day but may be less frequent late evenings and on weekends.
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Cycling in Copenhagen’s bike network
For a very local experience, rent a bicycle from anywhere in the central districts and follow Copenhagen’s dedicated bike lanes toward the city centre. From areas like Vesterbro, Nørrebro or Østerbro, cycling times are typically 10–20 minutes. Most rental bikes cost from about 100–150 DKK per day. The streets around the museum are busy but bike-friendly; parking stands are usually available nearby, though they can fill at peak times.
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Walking from central sights
If you are already exploring central Copenhagen around Kongens Nytorv, the lakes or the pedestrian shopping streets, you can walk to the Workers Museum in roughly 10–20 minutes depending on your starting point. The route is on paved urban sidewalks with a few gentle inclines, generally manageable for most visitors. In winter, allow extra time in case of snow or ice and wear shoes with good grip.
Workers Museum location weather suitability
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Any Weather
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Rain / Wet Weather
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Cold Weather
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Mild Temperatures
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Hot Weather
Discover more about Workers Museum
A historic house of the labour movement
The Workers Museum is housed in the former Workers’ Assembly Hall, a red-brick complex completed in 1879 as a meeting place for Copenhagen’s emerging labour movement. Built when authorities restricted public gatherings, it was financed by small contributions from workers determined to secure their own democratic space. Inside, the grand hall still carries decorative murals, union banners and an architecture designed to express pride, solidarity and a belief in collective progress. For a century this building hosted fiery debates, union congresses, lectures, dances and social events that helped shape Denmark’s social democracy. Today it remains remarkably intact and forms part of a Danish UNESCO tentative listing of workers’ assembly halls, underlining its importance as a rare, well-preserved witness to the organization of industrial-era workers.Everyday life in Copenhagen’s working-class homes
The museum’s permanent exhibitions focus on everyday life rather than heroic statues. You step into reconstructed workers’ apartments, moving from cramped late‑19th‑century rooms through 1930s interiors and into more spacious 1950s and 1980s flats. Scuffed floorboards, enamel stoves, hand‑embroidered textiles and children’s toys evoke families stretching wages, sharing beds and slowly gaining comfort as the welfare state expanded. Shops and workplaces are rebuilt at full scale: a pawnbroker’s counter, modest clothing and grocery stores, and hints of the long hours that paid for even simple luxuries. Labels and audio stories highlight food, leisure, gender roles and housing shortages, showing how incremental reforms transformed daily routines over generations.Activism, rights and the making of the welfare state
Beyond domestic scenes, the museum traces how union organizing, strikes and political campaigns translated into collective bargaining, paid holidays and social security. Displays chart the rise of mass organizations, from trade unions to cooperatives and political parties, and show how they used the assembly hall for rallies, negotiations and cultural events. Recent exhibitions have explored themes such as slavery, migration, refugees and modern labour exploitation, linking Denmark’s colonial past and global supply chains to contemporary social struggles. Interactive elements invite you to consider your own working life, voice opinions on current debates, and see activism as an ongoing process rather than a finished chapter.Spaces for children, coffee and conversation
Families are well catered for in the Kids’ Workers’ Museum, where children can play shopkeeper in a 1930s grocer, dress up, try simple chores and learn through role‑play. It turns complex topics like class and rights into tangible experiences sized for smaller visitors. On the ground floor, a 1950s-style coffee bar serves classic Danish treats and nostalgic coffee substitutes once used during wartime shortages, while the listed basement "Café & Ølhalle" offers traditional open sandwiches and beer in a wood‑panelled hall. Bookshop shelves carry titles on labour history, politics and social issues, encouraging visitors to continue reflecting long after leaving the exhibitions.A living forum for democracy and learning
The Workers Museum is not only a guardian of artefacts but an active forum for civic education. It collaborates closely with schools and adult learners, using the building’s history to frame discussions on democracy, inequality and participation. Workshops, talks and events often take place in the same halls where workers once argued over strategy and policy. By combining immersive period settings, critical exhibitions and a powerful historic venue, the museum offers a nuanced perspective on how ordinary people helped shape modern Denmark. It is a place to slow down, listen to many voices from the past and consider how ideas of fairness, solidarity and rights continue to evolve today.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
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Explore Denmark's labor history at The Workers Museum in Copenhagen's historic Workers' Assembly Hall.
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For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Scenic
- Lively
- Entertaining
- Unique
- Casual
For the design and aesthetic lover
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- Rustic Designs
For the architecture buff
- Historic
- Landmarks
- Art & Design
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For the social media creator & influencer
- Photo Spots
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- Instagrammable
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Public-Transport Accessible
- Locally Managed
- Low Impact
For the kind of experience you’re after
- Cultural Heritage
- Photowalk
- Day Trip
- Mindfulness
- Festival / Event Nearby
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
- Solo Female Friendly
- Vegetarian Friendly
- Vegan Friendly
- Business Friendly
- LGBT Friendly
- Wheelchair Access
