Ærø Museum
Welcome to the museum in Ærøskøbing
Ærø Museum is open all year round
Explore Ærøskøbing’s attractive old sheriff’s house from 1775 and learn more about Ærø’s highly distinctive history. Ærø Museum tells the story of life on Ærø, both then and now.
The Museum Garden
Next to the museum you will find a town garden containing plants and trees, giving you an idea of what a garden would look like around 1920. Don’t miss out on a walk in the garden during your visit to Ærø Museum.
Practical information
How much does it cost? May we bring a packed lunch? Find the answers on this page.
Opening hours
Monday–Saturday 11.00 am–3.00 pm
Summer period, 1 July–31 August:
The museum is open Monday–Friday 10.00 am–4.00 pm and Saturday/Sunday 11.00 am–3.00 pm.
Admission
2024
| Adults | DKK 65 |
| Children (0-17) | Free |
| Group rate (min. 10 persons) | DKK 55 |
| Combined ticket | DKK 100* |
* Includes admission to Ærø Museum and Hammerich’s House
For children (4–8 years) and their adults, we also have a free Cat Treasure Hunt.
We reserve the right to make changes.
Combined ticket
A combined ticket includes admission to both Ærø Museum and Hammerich’s House.
Combined tickets can be purchased from the ticket office at Ærø Museum, Brogade 3–5 in Ærøskøbing.
Group discount
For groups with a minimum of 10 paying guests, the price is DKK 55 per person. The group discount cannot be combined with other discount schemes.
We would ask groups of more than 10 to contact us in advance. This applies both if you are coming to look round yourself or if you would like a guided tour. This allows us to ensure that you have the best possible experience.
Free admission
Children and young people below the age of 18 have free admission to the museum.
Companions of disabled persons have free admission on production of their companion card.
Bus drivers and travel guides visiting the museum with a large group have free admission.
Pupils, teachers and students visiting the museum for educational purposes have free admission.
Payment
You can pay on arrival at the museum’s ticket office. Cash and card payments are accepted.
We can also send an invoice by e-mail or EAN number after your visit.
We will adjust the number on arrival so that you only pay for the number that were present on the day itself.
Contact Ærø Museum
Please contact Ærø Museum:
By phone +45 62 52 29 50 or by e-mail: info.aeroe@museumsydfyn.dk
How to find us
Ærø Museum, Brogade 3-5, 5970 Ærøskøbing
Ærø Museum is around 5 minutes on foot from the ferry berth (to and from Svendborg) and the bus stop (to and from Marstal/Søby) in Ærøskøbing. Bus travel is free on Ærø.
Parking
Ærø Museum is located right in the centre of Ærøskøbing’s narrow streets.
We therefore recommend that anyone arriving by car should park at the harbour or in Pilebækken. From there, it takes around 5 minutes on foot to reach the museum.
Food and drink
You are welcome to bring your own food and drink. Unfortunately, the museum does not sell food and drink.
The museum has indoor seating for around 16 people. From May to September, tables and benches are also available for use free of charge in the museum garden.
Shop
The museum has a shop with a fine selection of literature on local history, toys and souvenirs.
The shop has the same opening times as the museum. You are welcome to visit the shop without buying a ticket for the museum.
Accessibility
Admission
Companions of disabled persons have free admission on production of their companion card.
Access
The museum is housed in the protected Chief of Police’s house from 1775. The building contains staircases and is, unfortunately, difficult to access for people who have trouble walking and inaccessible to people in wheelchairs.
Dogs
Guide dogs and service dogs are welcome in the museum. We merely ask that they be kept on a lead and consideration shown to other guests.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in the museum.
Groups
We offer guided tours in English to private groups, associations, company events and anyone else wishing to experience the museum. A guided tour lasts for approx. 1 hour.
As the museum’s rooms are small, the number of people on a guided tour is limited to 20 so that everyone can have an enjoyable experience. On the other hand, there is no minimum number. For example, we would be happy to arrange a guided tour for a group of, for example, five people.
Please contact us in good time, ideally a minimum of 14 days before your visit. Please call on +45 6252 2950.
Photography
You are welcome to take photographs in the museum for private use.
For professional photography, you must contact the museum in advance by e-mail at: info.aeroe@museumsydfyn.dk
An island in the border country
Ærø is a rather special place in Denmark. Not only because it is a delightful island, but also because it is located in what was once the border country between the Kingdom of Denmark and the Duchy of Schleswig.
Until the war in 1864 (the Second Schleswig War), Ærø was part of the Duchy of Schleswig. It was not until the time of the peace settlement that Ærø became a Danish island, while most of the rest of Schleswig became part of the German Empire.
Ærø’s location in both the Baltic Sea and the South Funen Archipelago has meant that people on the island have leaned towards both Schleswig and Denmark.
In its own way, the border has acted as a resource and created opportunities for trade and shipping. In the exhibition, you will see various weights and measures, as well as coin finds from Ærøskøbing that bear witness to the trading relations throughout the Baltic.
For long periods, however, Ærø’s association with the Duchy also led to a number of decidedly complex administrative situations.
Ærø became Danish for the first time in 1867
From 1460, the Danish kings were also dukes of Schleswig, while at the same time younger sons and their descendants were also granted the title of duke. The dukes were ruling princes in matters relating to their own territories. However, in matters relating to the Duchy of Schleswig as a whole, they owed allegiance to the Danish king in his capacity as Duke of Schleswig.
For the inhabitants of Ærø, this meant that for almost 400 years the island was passed down, traded, exchanged and shared among various lines of dukes.
The period from 1634 to approx. 1700 was particularly chaotic, as Ærø was split into three mini-duchies under the rules of the Dukes of Plön, Glücksborg and Sønderborg, respectively.
In 1749, Ærø was brought together as one under King Frederik V, though the island remained part of Schleswig. It was not until 1867 that the island became Danish.
The effect of the border area
Although Ærø was located in Schleswig, the churches belonged to the Diocese of Funen. For this reason, the island’s clergy were educated in Copenhagen and sermons were held in Danish. Other officials were educated in the duchies and were therefore German-speaking.
The day-to-day language of the inhabitants of Ærø was insular Danish, with a variety of Ærø dialects. The various commercial and cultural relationships left their mark on the dialects.
The Western Ærø dialect reflected the close relationship with Als and the South Funen islands, while Eastern Ærø revealed links to Langeland and Lolland.
In the exhibition, you will be able to see examples of how the border area has influenced building practices and the island’s food culture.
The Sheriff’s house
As you walk around the museum, take note of the many fine building details. Brogade 3–5, where the Ærø Museum is housed, was bulit by Ærø’s first “landfoged” or sheriff Johan Heinrich Prehn.
The position of Sheriff was created in 1773. The Sheriff was the Royal Representative on the island, a position also known from the Faroe Islands and Danish West Indies.
Prehn was born in Flensburg and educated at the University of Halle. He arrived in Ærøskøbing with his wife in the autumn of 1773 and set about finding a house that was suitable as both an office and a home. Unable to find a building, he bought 2–3 smaller houses at the corner of Brogade and Nørregade and built a new one.
Prehn left the island as early as 1784, becoming Mayor of Sønderborg.
Museum since 1955
The next Chief of Police was not interested in taking over, instead building ‘Dommergården’ in the Town Square. Today, this is the museum’s administrative building.
After Prehn, the house was the residence and office of varying officials and their families, including acting as a post office and district tax office.
Around 1840, the house was divided into two units for land registration purposes. This explains why the building has two main doors and two staircases to the first floor.
Brogade 3–5 gained protected status in 1919, and since 1955 the house has formed the framework for Ærø Museum’s exhibitions.
