Wrecks - Museum of Wrecks on Djurgården in Stockholm

Vrak - Museum of Wrecks is a relatively new museum on Djurgården in Stockholm, which opened on 23 September 2021. This marine archaeological museum focuses on wrecks found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea and their history.

Wrecks - Museum of Wrecks in Stockholm

Vrak is a sister museum to the Vasa Museum and belongs to the National Maritime and Transport History Museums, together with the Maritime History Museum, MThe Arin Museum in Karlskrona and the railway museum in Gävle.

The wreck is located in Båthall 2 at Galärvarvet on Djurgården in Stockholm.

Visiting Wrecks - Museum of Wrecks

Visiting the Museum of Wrecks is an educational and entertaining experience. This is a modern and stylish museum, with a limited number of artefacts and lots of interactivity. We liked the museum because it involves you both emotionally and intellectually and gives you time to absorb what is on display.

Film screening: Sea of memories

The visit begins by entering a large dark room, where an evocative film is shown on the walls and ceiling. Boats glide by, containers sink, and divers swim above you, as if you are deep in the sea. At the same time, a dreamlike voice speaks, lulling you into the right mood. After the film, you are ready to face the mysteries of the seabed!

Exhibition at Vrak: Travelling Man

The first exhibition after the film is called "Travelling Man" and deals with the ship of the same name, the Kronan warship that sank in a severe storm on 27 November 1660 off Landsort. The wreck has been mythical for hundreds of years, and many attempts have been made to find it.

It was only in May 2012 that the ship was finally located. The wreck is not being salvaged and relatively few artefacts have been recovered. Nevertheless, the exhibition is fascinating, with floating 'holograms' showing objects found at the bottom. You can also listen to an eyewitness account from Andreas Bjugg, one of the survivors of the shipwreck. Suddenly the 17th century comes very close!

Exhibition on Wrecks: The Divided Sea

On the next floor is an exhibition called 'The Divided Sea'. It tells the story of six different sunken sites or ships. It starts with the drowned Stone Age site of Tybrind Vig and continues past Darss (14th century), Solen (1627), Vrouw Maria (1771) and U479 (1944) to M/S Estonia, which sank on 28 September 1994.

The exhibition is interactive in many ways. The rigid portraits on one of the walls, for example, come to life when the hanging tamps are pulled.

A voiceover is heard over the loudspeakers while a light show points to the arrow and ring paintings.

Exhibition at Vrak: The mission

Another interesting exhibition is the one called "The Mission". Here you can learn more about marine archaeological work or even solve a marine archaeological mission yourself. We have to say that this part of the museum is very neat and engaging, and if you have a specific interest, you can stand here and read for a long time.

We were drawn to the archive, partly because it was interesting, but also because it was so well done. You roll the filing cabinets to the side, and a recorded archivist appears.

The archivist tells exciting stories and asks questions. If you answer A, you can roll the filing cabinets to the left, and if you answer B, you can roll them to the right... In the next cabinet, the archivist reappears and gives answers.

More to see and do on Djurgården

Vrak - Museum of Wrecks is a new addition to Djurgården's museums, but there were already a lot of museums here. If you like Vrak, you might also like the Vasa Museum, the Maritime Museum and The Viking Museum. Nearby you will also find Skansen, which also has many stories to tell.

Have you visited Vrak - Museum of Wrecks? How was your experience? Please tell us!

Facts about Wrecks - Museum of Wrecks

• Address: Djurgårdsstrand 17
• Municipality: Stockholm
• County: Stockholm County
• Landscape: Uppland
• Sister museums: Marine Museum in Karlskrona, Maritime Museum, Vasa Museum and Railway Museum in Gävle.
• Read more: You can find more information at the museum's website.

Tours and activities

• Guided tours for groups: Bookable guided tours in Swedish or English for groups of up to 20 people.
• Book a venue: The Ytan room, with a view of the water, can be booked for association meetings or dinners.

Services and practical information

• Opening hours: The museum is open daily, except for certain public holidays. See the museum's website for up-to-date information.
• Prices: Adults 185 SEK and children and young people 0-18 years free of charge (2021).
• Shop: There is a souvenir shop with books and gifts.
• Food service: Vrak Café and Bar serves coffee, wine, soup, sandwiches, snacks and a children's menu.

Accessibility

• Entrance: To the right of the revolving door is a wide entrance door.
• Indoor environment: All public areas are wheelchair and pram accessible. A lift is available, with a 1.10 metre wide doorway.
• Toilets: On the entrance floor and on the upper floor there is a large toilet with a doorway 1 metre wide and 0.9 metres wide respectively.
• Guide dog: Assistance/guide dogs are welcome. Dogs are otherwise not allowed.
• Parking: Two parking spaces for people with special permits are available, about 20 metres from the main entrance.