Two Danish museums are among the six shortlisted in the international award category of the prestigious British Museums + Heritage Awards for Excellence 2016. The visitor and experience centre at Kongernes Jelling in Vejle and the Fængslet Prison Museum in Horsens are in the running alongside institutions from Belgium, the Netherlands and Australia.

Strong Jutland showing
The Kongernes Jelling centre is in the grounds of Jelling Church, which is also home to the famous Jelling Stones, the larger of which, erected by King Harald, is often referred to as ‘Denmark’s birth certificate’.

Its current exhibition ‘Home of the Viking Kings’ uses a modern and interactive approach to tell about the Vikings in Denmark and abroad, Denmark’s conversion to Christianity, and kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth.

Since opening in June last year, the exhibition has had 150,000 visitors and has received positive international media coverage, including from the New York Times. Hans Ole Matthiesen, the head of the centre, is delighted by the inclusion on the award shortlist.

“The many positive comments from our guests are fantastic, but a nomination like this is especially heartening,” he said.

The Fænglset Prison Museum in Horsens in east Jutland allows visitors to experience life behind bars and learn about the Horsens state prison’s 153-year history. It is even possible spend the night in a cell.