Øhavsmuseet – Archipelago Museum, Faaborg

A harbourside museum with nature at its heart

Øhavsmuseet sits at Faaborg’s waterfront, just a few steps from the harbour basin and the South Funen Archipelago beyond. The museum’s setting is no coincidence: it acts as an urban gateway to the landscapes of sea, forest and marsh that define this corner of Denmark. Housed in a transformed industrial building, the museum keeps its warehouse bones but softens them with warm lighting, natural materials and contemporary exhibition design. Rather than displaying long rows of glass cases, Øhavsmuseet focuses on a single big idea: how nature shapes people – and how people, in turn, shape nature. The result is a hybrid between science centre, art installation and cultural history museum, with the surrounding archipelago woven into almost every story you encounter inside.

“Discover Yourself” – an immersive barefoot journey

The core of Øhavsmuseet is the award‑winning exhibition “Discover Yourself”. Here you leave shoes and everyday distractions at the door and step into a sequence of darkened, atmospheric rooms. Each space evokes a different environment – forest, coast, marshland or ancient seafloor – using sound design, projections, scents and changing textures underfoot. Walking in socks makes you acutely aware of temperature, softness and grain, turning the floor itself into an exhibit. Guided by an audio narrative in Danish or English, you move through several historical periods, from hunter‑gatherer communities to modern industrial society. Along the way, interactive stations quietly register your reactions, asking how you feel in each environment. Instead of giving you a test score, the exhibition nudges you to reflect on what kinds of nature calm, challenge or energise you.

Stories from the South Funen Archipelago

Behind the sensory effects lies a strong regional story. The museum draws on archaeological finds, local folklore and environmental research from the South Funen Archipelago and the nearby islands. You encounter tales of early seafarers, farmers and fisher folk who depended on tides, prevailing winds and fertile soils, as well as more recent narratives about dikes, fisheries and conservation. Physical objects are used sparingly but effectively – a tool here, a fragment of boat there – to anchor the more intangible installations. Together they trace how climate, coastlines and human needs have reshaped the archipelago over millennia, and how present‑day choices continue that process.

Architecture, light and sound working together

The transformation of the former warehouse into Øhavsmuseet is as carefully curated as the exhibits. The architects and exhibition designers carved the interior into a chain of contrasting chambers, each with its own acoustic and visual character. Subtle transitions in colour, height and materials guide you forward without obvious signage, while controlled lighting focuses attention on specific effects or artefacts. Soundtracks composed for each room range from whisper‑quiet forest rustling to the low rumble of distant waves, sometimes combined with the faint smell of seaweed or earth. This multi‑sensory approach aims to engage body and mind at once, making the visit feel more like moving through a story than reading about one.

A compact, family‑friendly experience

Øhavsmuseet is relatively small, and most visitors explore the indoor exhibition in about one to two hours. This makes it easy to fit into a wider day in Faaborg or as an introduction before heading out to hike, cycle or sail in the surrounding nature. Children and adults follow the same route, but the narrative is layered so that younger visitors pick up on the physical play and soundscape, while older ones catch deeper scientific and philosophical threads. Simple facilities such as restrooms, seating corners and information boards are integrated near the entrance and exit areas. Staff are usually on hand to help with practical questions and audio devices. Combined, these elements make Øhavsmuseet an approachable starting point for understanding why this small coastal town is so closely tied to the archipelago outside its doors.