The Danish Welfare Museum

In the center of Svendborg lies the Danish Welfare Museum in the Nordic region’s best-preserved poorhouse. It operated from 1872 until 1974. Upon entering the gates of the poorhouse, individuals lost their civil rights, such as the right to vote and guardianship over their own children.

Behind barbed wire and high walls, you will experience an important part of the history of Danish welfare. The museum tells the stories of the many people who lived or live on the fringes of society: the poor, the sick, the homeless, the ‘unadapted,’ and the orphans.

The rooms remain as they were when the poorhouse closed in 1974. You can see where the poor slept, ate, worked, bathed, and were punished. You will encounter the bathhouse where all newcomers were washed, deloused, and dressed in the poorhouse’s clothes. You will see the dining hall, where the same menu was served week after week, all year round. You will step into the mat workshop, where thousands of mats were made. The poorhouse also includes a utility and ornamental garden. For over 100 years, the place was self-sufficient with vegetables. Today, the garden is maintained by the museum’s volunteers. Be sure to visit during your stay. The museum features several special exhibitions that bridge the past and present.

Svendborg Museum, including the Danish Welfare Museum, is certified as a Green Attraction.