Danish refugee museum sees sharp drop in visitors

The Flugt refugee museum in Oksbøl, Denmark, has seen visitor numbers fall by more than 10,000 in a year, well below its target of 100,000 annual guests, reports DR.

Last year, only 37,000 people visited the museum, which explores historical refugee movements in Denmark—a significant decline from 66,000 in 2023, its first full year of operation.

“It was fewer than we expected. That’s always disappointing,” said Claus Kjeld Jensen, director of Vardemuseerne, the institution overseeing Flugt.

The museum opened in 2022 with a 50 million kroner loan guaranteed by Varde Municipality. Local politicians are now closely monitoring its finances, though Claus Brink (V), chair of the Culture and Health Committee, said the current figures remain “within range.”

“Of course, visitor numbers could reach a point where I’d be concerned. But we’re far from that,” Brink told DR.

Museum leaders hope the trend will reverse this year as the final section of the site opens on June 5. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the new wing will recreate the barracks that housed 35,000 German refugees in Oksbøl after World War II, offering visitors an immersive experience.

“We’ve had a half-finished museum, which limited attendance. Now that it’s complete, we expect 40,000 visitors this year,” Jensen said, adding that the long-term goal is 40,000–50,000 annual guests.

Flugt is part of Vardemuseerne, which also includes the Tirpitz museum—a far more popular attraction, drawing 136,000 visitors in 2024.