Attraction of the Month, Denmark
All aboard: the Danish Railway Museum celebrates 50 years of fun You do not have to be a child or a train fanatic to visit the Danish railway Museum – but chances are that exploring the towering steam engines, riding the popular mini train, and stepping aboard vintage carriages will make you feel like both. This year, the museum celebrates its 50th anniversary, inviting visitors of all ages to join the fun. By Signe Hansen
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Photos: Danmarks jernbanemuseum
Conveniently located just steps from Odense’s central station, the Danish Railway Museum is housed in a striking historical roundhouse – once a locomotive workshop, complete with a massive turntable still visible in the main hall. Since opening its doors on 17 April, 1975, the museum has grown from a modest two-track display to a 21-track treasure trove of Danish railway history. As the country’s official railway museum, it boasts an impressive collection of locomotives, carriages, railcars, buses, and countless railway artefacts. “What makes us unique is that you don’t just look at the trains from a distance,” says Maria Vallø Strauss, head of marketing 80
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Issue 180
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July 2025
and communications. “You can get up close, walk through many of the old carriages, sit on the hard wooden benches from third class, or peek inside a royal salon coach. For me, just the sheer scale
of the locomotives when you stand up and close to them is breathtaking.” Full steam ahead for kids While the museum has plenty to offer grown-up visitors looking to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the Danish railways, it is also a haven for children. The outdoor mini train is an undisputed favourite – not just with kids, but with visitors of all ages. Running yearround through highlights from the Danish railway routes, it is the kind of ride that inspires repeat visits. “Everyone loves the mini train. It’s often the reason families return,” says Strauss, adding. “I actually had to change the text on the website as so many adults came to ask if they could go to. And, yes, everyone can try.” Visitors can also hop aboard a real veteran train or vintage bus that circles the museum’s private tracks, although not every day, but with increased frequency during the summer.