FLUGT: Refugee Museum of Denmark
FLUGT in Oksbøl tells the story of refugees past and present on the authentic site of Denmark’s largest refugee camp, combining history, architecture and human testimony.
Winner
Year: 2023
FLUGT, the Refugee Museum of Denmark, is a powerful and timely museum that tells the stories of refugees past and present. Located in the small town of Oksbøl on Denmark’s west coast, it stands on the site of the country’s largest refugee camp, where from 1945 to 1949 more than 35,000 German civilians lived. The museum is housed in the restored former camp hospital, now connected by a new architectural design by BIG, which blends historic buildings with the surrounding heathland and creates an inviting space for reflection and dialogue.
Created by Vardemuseerne after more than a decade of planning, FLUGT sheds light on a hidden chapter of Danish history while connecting it to today’s global refugee challenges. Its exhibitions are divided between the story of the Oksbøl camp and the broader history of refugees, asking why people flee, how they rebuild their lives and how societies respond. Visitors encounter personal testimonies, photographs and objects that show both the local past and the universal experience of displacement.
FLUGT is more than a museum of history. It is a place for learning, reflection and democratic conversation, brought to life through exhibitions, films, soundscapes, outdoor walks and educational activities. By showing the connections between refugees then and now, the museum reminds us that the refugee experience is not only history but also a reality that shapes our shared future.
Awarded the European Museum Academy’s Luigi Micheletti Award, FLUGT stands out as a model of how museums can address sensitive and complex histories in an open and inclusive way, combining authenticity of place, strong design and human storytelling.
Town: Oksbøl
Country: Denmark