Vaxholm Fortress Museum

The history of the 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, Oxdjupet 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 islands.

Vaxholm Fortress Museum

Opened 1947 at Oscar-Fredriksborg fort, and moved to Vaxholm Citadel, where it reopened in 1964. In 2003 the museum has been totally restored. The museum’s indoor department occupies thirty beautiful rooms and halls on both floors of the west section. Visitors see the fortress as it was in 1854, and can enter one of the Citadel’s bombproof vaults and see how things were during the Crimean War. In other settings you can call in on the Commandant, follow the issuing of orders ain a mine battery or visit the World War II coastal defence artillery post.

A visit to the Citadel should also include a visit to the café.

Opening hours

The museum is open all the year round to groups who have booked as well as to individual visitors by agreement.

June daily 12.00-16.00 (closed 19-21 June)
July-August daily 11.00-17.00
September two first weekends 11.00-17.00.

Entrance charge

Adults SEK 50. Children up to 19 years free. Stockholmskortet free.

Booked visits

Weekdays SEK 900 + 50 SEK/ pp
(groups less than 50 persons).
Weekdays after 17.00:
SEK 1200 + 50 SEK/ pp
Weekends SEK 1500 + 50 SEK/ pp
Schools: SEK 450 + 50 SEK/ pp

Communications

Take bus 670 from Tekniska Högskolan to Vaxholm, or go by boat (Waxholmsbolaget) from Stockholm to Vaxholm.

Then take the boat:
Kronuddens Taxi och Charterbåtar
Tel: 08-541 305 35 (adults: 50 SEK round-trip, one way 30 SEK, children from 7-12 years old and pensioners: 30 SEK) from Vaxholm to Kastellet, with several departures every hour during the museum's opening hours.

Information and booking

Tel. +46-8-541 718 90
Fax. +46-8-541 718 95
info@vaxholmsfastning.se

Also on the island

Conference center and accomodation.