Trapholt Museum for Moderne Kunst (Trapholt Museum of Modern Art)

Trapholt Museum for Moderne Kunst (Trapholt Museum of Modern Art) Review

Just east of town is the Trapholt Museum for Moderne Kunst, one of Denmark's largest—and most highly acclaimed—modern-art museums. Rising over the banks of the Kolding Fjord, this sprawling white complex has been artfully incorporated into its surroundings, affording lovely water and parkland views from its floor-to-ceiling windows. A collection of 20th-century Danish paintings is displayed in the light-filled galleries; it includes works by Anna Ancher, Ejler Bille, Egill Jakobsen, J. A. Jerichau, Jais Nielsen, Richard Mortensen, Aksel Jørgensen, and Franciska Clausen. A true highlight is the Danish Furniture Museum, housed in a specially designed annex that is accessed via a circular ramp topped by a skylight. The superbly displayed collection includes the world's largest assemblage of Danish-designed chairs, offering a unique historical overview of the birth and popularization of the nation's furniture design. The museum keeps its furniture storage room open to the public, so you can peruse the entire collection even when it's not officially on display.

The Danish ceramics collection, one of the largest in Denmark, is also well worth a look, featuring works by Thorvald Bindesbøll and one-of-a-kind ceramics by Axel Salto, whose pieces often resemble living organisms. Famous designer Arne Jacobsen's summer cottage was moved to Trapholt and opened on its grounds. Café Trapholt serves coffee, beverages, and light meals. The gift shop sells local and international art and design-related gifts.