Located at the far end of the Horsens Fjord, Horsens is a culturally rich city on the east coast of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. It’s home to fascinating museums exploring the region’s industrial heritage and contemporary artists, as well as a 19th-century prison where concerts are occasionally held.
Things to do in Horsens
If you’re interested in the city’s industrial past, head to the Horsens Industrimuseum, which details life for Denmark’s working-class throughout history. Learn about their living conditions and the technological developments that have taken place over the years while admiring the antique equipment and everyday objects on display. Kids will love the new workshop area where they can get hands-on assembling a 1973 Puch Maxi moped.
Art enthusiasts can visit the Horsens Art Museum, which boasts an impressive collection of work by contemporary Danish artists. It houses the largest collection of artwork by the locally-born artist Michael Kvium, as well as pieces by Bjørn Nørgaard, Nina Sten-Knudsen and Cathrine Raben Davidsen.
Occupying a former prison is the Horsens Statsfængsel, which originally opened in the mid-19th century to house long-serving inmates and is now the largest prison museum in the world. As you explore its cells, learn about Carlo August Lorentzen, who dug a tunnel with a spoon and escaped in 1949. In addition to exhibiting prison-related artefacts, the Horsens Statsfængsel hosts concerts where big-name artists such as Metallica have performed.
Getting around Horsens
Horsens is a 40-minute drive from the centre of Aarhus and just over an hour from Aarhus Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Trains connect from towns and cities across Denmark to the Horsens railway station while buses travel throughout the city.