Imagine stepping back in time. You are transported to the heart of Copenhagen’s working class history at the Worker’s Museum. This building stands as a testament to the struggles and triumphs of Danish workers.
The Worker’s Museum is housed in the original Workers Assembly Building. It was erected in 1879 by the labor movement. This building is on Unesco’s tentative list. It is the oldest workers meeting hall in Northern Europe.
Inside the Worker’s Museum, you can experience everyday life in 1950s Denmark. You can visit the apartment of the Sørensen family. They moved to Copenhagen in 1885. Explore the development of industrial work. Step into the lives of working-class kids at The Workers Museum for Children.
Don’t miss the chance to savor 1950s chicory coffee in the original coffee shop. Enjoy traditional Danish lunch in the authentic basement restaurant from 1892. The museum’s 1950’s coffee shop offers the famous coffee substitute, Rich’s. It was used during the Second World War. You can also try the classic Danish chocolate biscuit cake or a Star beer. Star beer comes from the old Danish brewery.
The Workers’ Museum aims to strengthen the will for an equal and just society. It creates engaging sessions with history. The museum collects, preserves, explores, communicates, and updates cultural heritage. This heritage includes the workers’ movement. It includes the history of working conditions and everyday life in Denmark.
The Worker’s Museum is a state-recognized museum. It focuses on the workers. It focuses on the everyday life of a broad span of the Danish population. It focuses on work life and the history of the workers’ movement. The museum has a specialized research library for worker history. It is one of the biggest nationwide private archives. This archive focuses on the political left’s parties, organizations, and personalities.
The Workers’ Museum was established in 1983. In 2004, it merged with The Labor Movements Library and Archives. The Labor Movements Library and Archives was founded in 1909.
The Workers’ Museum started from scratch. The museum collected objects for its first exhibition in 1984. The Danish Federation of Trade Unions strongly supported the foundation of the museum. They still provide the main financial support.
The permanent exhibitions are based on collections. They showcase the cultural history of the Danish working class. The cultural history of the Danish working class is from around 1850 until today. One exhibition tells about everyday life during the 1950s. Another shows the crisis in the early 30s. A third is called “The Sørensen Family”. It tells the true story of a Copenhagen working-class family. It spans three generations. The fourth exhibition is “The Peoples Century”. It describes the progress of workers. It describes the establishment of the welfare society and the Nordic Model.
Temporary art or cultural history exhibits are shown each year. The main part of the art collection is Danish art. It is from the period after WW2. It was created by The Workers Art Association. The library has an international book collection about the labor movement. The archives contain documents, papers, and photos. They are from The Danish Trade Unions and Socialist parties. They also include materials from persons from more than 100 years.
The Workers’ Museum stands as a powerful reminder. It reminds us of the dedication and resilience of Denmark’s working class. It has evolved into a vibrant cultural center. It preserves the stories of those who built the nation.