vfm Vaxholms Fästnings Museum

Vaxholm Fortress Museum

Welcome to the museum!

 

Embark on an exhilarating journey through time as you explore our captivating main exhibition, revealing the epic tale of the fortress spanning 500 years. In the reception area, you have the opportunity to borrow booklets in English or German. Furthermore, as you move between the museum halls, you will find concise English summaries of each room's content displayed in the archways.


On the second level of the museum, we invite you to explore the "Animals at War"exhibition. Discover the unexpected heroes who had no choice! Encounter the bear who enlisted, pigeons that saved soldiers, dogs on dangerous missions, seals on submarine hunts, heroic horses, spying cats, and much more. English translations are available in booklets that you can borrow within the exhibition room. Additionally, don't miss the exhibition dedicated to the Ytterby mine, where a remarkable nine elements have been discovered over the years. English information boards provide insightful details on this subject.


Descend to the museum's basement, where you can immerse yourself in the life of the fortress in the 1890s. Experience this captivating era firsthand, aided by English translations available for borrowing at the beginning of the exhibition.


During the summer season, free guided tours in Swedish depart at 12:30 and 14:30, at 15:45, we offer a historical overview in English.

 

If you're interested in visiting as a group when the museum is closed to the public, we happily accommodate year-round bookings. This is an ideal option for company groups or enjoyable and educational outings with friends and family. For more information, please contact us at 08-1200 4870.


We hope you will get a memorable and enriching experience exploring our diverse exhibitions.

 

 

The historic legacy of Vaxholm Fortress

 

The history of Vaxholm Fortress begins early in the 16th century, with the construction of a blockhouse on Vaxholm by Svante Nilsson Sture, the Regent. The king Gustav Vasa instructed the governor of Stockholm to replace the blockhouse with a stone tower, and to fill the narrow passage of Oxdjupet with rocks. This work was completed in 1839.

 

A Danish attack was repelled in 1612, and in 1719 the Russians were prevented from reaching Stockholm. In the 1870s, the defensive emphasis shifted from Vaxholm Fortress to the strait Oxdjupet. In 1876, Oxtjupet was opened to traffic and a new fort, Oscar-Fredriksborg, was built. Since the turn of the century, the forces defending the archipelago have moved their positions outwards, ultimately reaching the outermost perimeter of the Stockholm archipelago.

 

Vaxholm Fortress Museum

 

The museum opened in 1947 at Oscar-Fredriksborg fort and moved to Vaxholm Citadel in 1964. In 2003, it was restored. The museum's indoor department occupies thirty beautiful rooms and halls on both floors of the west section. Visitors can see the fortress as it was in 1854 and enter one of the Citadel's bombproof vaults to see how things were during the Crimean War. In other settings, you can visit the Commandant, follow the issuing of orders in a mine battery, or visit a World War II coastal defence artillery post.
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Below, you can watch a movie about the Vaxholm Fortress Museum. It contains information about how to get to the location, facilities on the island during high season, and images from the museum. The boat transport in this film is replaced by a cable ferry during 2023.

 

 

 


 

Opening hours 2024

 

May 25–26

June 1–2  
June 6–9

June 15–16

June 24–30
open 12.00 AM–16.00 PM


 July 1–18 Aug
Aug 24–25
Aug 31–1 sept
open  12.00 AM–17.00 PM 

 

15 min. tour in english starts from the museum at 15:45 PM (June 24–Aug 18 )

 
Information and booking
Phone: +46-8-1200 4870 (Information
and booking)

info@vaxholmsfastning.se

Entrance charge
Adults: 100 SEK
Seniors: 80 SEK
Children up to 19 years free.
Stockholm Pass free.


Guide booklets of the museum are available in the museum's reception in English and German.  A film about the history of the fortress is displayed in the museum with subtitles in English.

Communications
Take bus 670 from Tekniska Högskolan to Vaxholm, or go by boat (Waxholmsbolaget) from Stockholm to Vaxholm.
Cable Ferry service between Vaxholm and Citadel, 13/5-28/8.

From May 13 to 28 August  there is a cableferry service between the city of Vaxholm and Vaxholm fortress from quay 9 (near Vaxholms Hotel) See TIMETABLE. If you have further questions regarding the overpass to the citadel, please call: +468 1200 4870
Also on the island Conference center and accomodation.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Booking 08-1200 4870 © Vaxholms Fästnings Museum     Kastellet     185 99 Vaxholm        info@vaxholmsfastning.se

open 11.30–15.30