Aalborg Søfarts- og Marinemuseum with its
main attraction, the submarine SPRINGEREN, was opened on 24th May 1992 by His Royal
Highness, Prince Consort Henrik in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.
Since then the Museum's collections have increased considerably, and now house among other
things a comprehensive collection of maritime radio receivers and transmitters as well as
nautical instruments illustrating the evolution of these navigational aids. The Museum has
become one of the major tourist attractions in Aalborg and Northern Jutland, visited
annually by several thousand Danish and foreign tourists The SPRINGEREN will always be a
part of the Museum's history, because it was the reason for its establishment and later
expansion. When Danish Navy took the SPRINGEREN and her sister ships of the
DELFINEN-class, the last submarines to be fully designed and built in Denmark, out of
active service, many people were of the opinion that at least one of these submarines
should be preserved for posterity. Enterprising people in Aalborg heard about this, and
negotiations between Aalborg City Council and the Navy began as early as in 1986. The
SPRINGEREN arrived in Aalborg in 1990, at the same time as plans for a maritime and naval
museum developed.
Soon afterwards the Navy offered the last decommissioned, gas turbine torpedo boat,
SØBJØRNEN, to the Museum. Many government institutions like Farvandsvæsenet (Navigation
and Hydrography Authority) as well as private companies, Aalborg Havn, (the Port), Aalborg
Værft (the Shipyard), shipping companies and individuals donated objects worth
preserving to the new |
 museum.
Kind assistance from the City of Aalborg made it possible to place the Museum in an ideal
maritime setting by the Limfjord next to Skudehavnen. The architecture of the museum is
designed to make the buildings blend in with its maritime environment. The green areas,
where many of the larger exhibits are placed, give, together with the scattered buildings
an impression of space and interaction between in- and outdoor exhibitions. This guide
book describes the permanent exhibitions of the Museum, to which, however, new exhibits
are constantly being added. From time to time the museum arranges special exhibitions
which aim to illustrate the maritime development. Welcome to AALBORG SØFARTS- OG
MARINEMUSEUM. The story of the Museum, which began with the acquisition of the SPRINGEREN,
continues giving guests of all ages who visit the Museum, now and in the future, exciting
and active day out. We hope to see you again at the Museum. |