Voted Europe's Best Museum in 2026, Denmark's Den Gamle By offers one of the most original historical experiences imaginable, immersing visitors in 400 years of history through faithfully reconstructed streets and neighbourhoods.
With nearly 95,000 museums around the world, choosing the very best is almost impossible. Yet this is precisely the mission of the European Museum of the Year Awards (EMYA), which have recognised the continent's most innovative and inspiring institutions since 1977.
This year, Denmark's Den Gamle By (The Old Town Open-Air Museum of Urban History and Culture) won the prestigious European Museum of the Year Award during the EMYA ceremony held on 13 June in Bilbao, Spain. Located in Aarhus, the museum invites visitors to wander through a historical setting that traces more than 400 years of urban history, from the age of horse-drawn carriages to the 2010s.
Den Gamle By: an immersive open-air museum
Situated in Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city, Den Gamle By stands out for its unique concept. Entirely open-air, the museum allows visitors to travel back in time by exploring fully reconstructed streets, shops and homes.
More specifically, the experience takes visitors through four major historical periods:
- Visitors can stroll through the cobbled streets of 1864, admire the half-timbered houses and horse-drawn carriages, and sample biscuits and vanilla cakes prepared according to recipes dating from before 1880.
- The journey then continues into the modern era, where visitors can chat with costumed historical interpreters, admire the latest Ford and Citroën models at the local car dealership, and discover the shops and innovations of a modern Danish town in 1927.
- Next come the 1970s, a decade characterised by freedom of thought, feminism, and the arrival of new workers and lifestyles. From shopping in a period supermarket to enjoying traditional cake and visiting a typical family home, the immersion is complete.
- The visit concludes in 2014 with apartments representing different lifestyles and social realities, including that of a single woman, a former Blockbuster video shop, and a rainbow family headed by a lesbian couple raising three children.
Den Gamle By is far more than a simple historical reconstruction. It aims to provide a living immersion into the evolution of Danish and European society. Its goal is to help visitors better understand the challenges of the modern world while encouraging discussion around contemporary issues such as migration, sustainable development, sustainability, and social justice.
Five other museums also honoured by the prestigious European Award
Although Den Gamle By won the title of European Museum of the Year, several other institutions were also recognised during the EMYA ceremony:
- Finally, Finland's Malva Museum of Visual Arts won the award for Environmental Sustainability.
- London's Young V&A received the Council of Europe Museum Prize.
- Slovenia's Trate Museum of Madness Institute was recognised for Institutional Courage and Professional Integrity.
- In Switzerland, the Museum of Rural Civilisation of Mendrisiotto received the award for Hospitality and Inclusion.
- Germany's AlpenStadtMuseum in Sonthofen was praised for its Community Engagement.
- Finally, Finland's Malva Museum of Visual Arts won the award for Environmental Sustainability.
To determine these winners, EMYA follows a rigorous selection process. After reviewing around 45 applications, each shortlisted museum receives an anonymous visit from a member of the judging panel. Museums are assessed on the quality of their collections, the visitor experience they provide, innovation, inclusivity, and their wider social impact.
The judges then meet to compare the finalists and select the winners. It is a process that reflects the importance of the awards and helps shine a spotlight on museums with truly innovative and immersive concepts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfCVs6iwlxE
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