Sea War Museum Jutland - Battle of Jutland Memorial Park

Sea War Museum Jutland: Bringing World History to Life

The Sea War Museum Jutland in Thyborøn attracts visitors from all over the world. It is the only museum in Denmark dedicated to telling the compelling story of World War I in the North Sea.

The museum is situated in Thyborøn, near the site of the largest naval battle in historie - the Battle of Jutland, which took place in 1916, just 100 kilometers from the west coast of Jutland. Although the ships were not visible from the shore, the thunderous gunfire could be heard at the location where the museum stands today.

This battle marked the first and only confrontation between the German High Seas Fleet and the British Grand Fleet. Involving 250 ships and 100,000 men, the sole purpose was mutual destruction, resulting in a horrific aftermath: 25 ships were sunk, and 8,645 sailors lost their lives.

The Sea War Museum not only recounts the Battle of Jutland but also covers four years of warfare in the North Sea, involving various ships, submarines, and airships. Men fought and perished in the cold waves of the North Sea, where the war's outcome was significantly influenced. Control of the sea route to England was crucial for winning the war, making the battle for the North Sea pivotal to its outcome.

The Sea War Museum: A Living, Evolving Experience

Experience an amazing exhibition on mines and torpedoes, with an outdoor part displayed in the museum courtyard. Other initiatives and donations from descendants continually introduce new elements and stories to the exhibition.

Battle of Jutland Memorial Park

In the dunes outside the Sea War Museum lies the Battle of Jutland Memorial Park, aligned with the North Sea site where the battle was fought. The park features 26 large granite stones shaped like the bow of a sinking ship. Each stone tells the story of one of the sunken ships and the number of casualties from that ship.

The reason there are 26 stones instead of 25 is that people also were killed on ships that did not sink. This last stone commemorates both German and British victims and serves as a reminder of the tragedy of the war.

The memorial park not only tells world history on Danish soil but is also an excellent example of “land art,” where the heavy granite stones blend with the wild nature of West Jutland. The artist behind the memorial park is sculptor and painter Paul Cederdorff.