Save the date: The Maritime Museum and Aquarium opens on December 10

A brand new aquarium building underground housing seaweed forests, fish and a living coral reef. Salt-splashed stories, fantastic objects and new children's exhibitions with space for exploratory play. The Maritime Museum and Aquarium opens its doors on 10 December after a major renovation and extension.

– It is an eagerly-awaited popular meeting place that is now reopening. The renovation and extension of the Maritime Museum and Aquarium is one of several major cultural policy initiatives currently taking place in Gothenburg. Investing in culture is investing in future generations, says Anna Rosengren, Director of the Cultural Administration.

A new aquarium, a new entrance, better access and new exhibitions
The renovation and extension of the Maritime Museum and Aquarium is one of the city’s largest cultural policy initiatives – and the largest renovation in the museum’s history. A new entrance has been opened up on the busy Karl Johansgatan in order to improve crowd flow.

New stairs and elevators have been installed for better access and a completely new aquarium building with an area of around 1,100 square metres has been built underground in the museum park. The museum also has a new bistro and museum shop, more extensive green spaces in the park and no fewer than six new exhibitions, including a large new permanent exhibition that extends over more than 400 square metres and displays more than 300 objects from the collections.

– We are happy to welcome both new and old visitors back to a new building with larger public spaces and exciting experiences for all the senses. The sea is our world, and it has never been more important for our planet and our habitats. Our exhibitions allow you to view current research and become fascinated and absorbed by the life above, below and on the surface of the sea, says Carina Sjöholm, Museum Director.

Scroll down for more information about our exhibitions. Press photos will be added in advance of the opening in December.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS AND THE AQUARIUM

Floor -1

THE AQUARIUM
The new Aquarium is an underwater world with the ocean at its core. The new hall has an area of 1,100 square metres and the aquariums hold ten times the volume of water they held previously. It contains around 15 aquariums displaying habitats and fish from all over the world. The largest aquarium holds 400,000 litres of water and is one of Europe’s largest aquariums for living corals. The exhibition enables you to learn more about the importance of the ocean as an ecosystem and in the new Ocean Lab venture you will take your awareness of the ocean to a new level by becoming a marine scientist for a day and taking part in the exciting coral research being carried out in the Aquarium.
Development Manager: Björn Källström

Floor 2

SEA OF STORIES
A new permanent exhibition in which you meet people from the ocean over the past 400 years. We recount dramatic events at sea and in foreign ports with the aid of more than 300 objects from the museum’s collections (most of which have never been exhibited before), personal stories, pictures and archive film. Here you will find Andrée’s polar boat from the North Pole, the adventurer Signe Berlin’s unique archive films, Vilhelm Moberg’s letters to the museum and much more.
Exhibition producer: Jessica Rågholm

SHIPYARD MEMORIES
A temporary photographic exhibition in which you get to meet people and memories from Gothenburg’s large, renowned shipbuilding industries through an extensive suite of newly-taken portraits, art photography, interviews and sound recordings.
External curators: Lena Öritsland, photographer, and Maria Bard, journalist

Floor 3

KNATTEGATT
The very youngest visitors (aged 0-3) can discover the sea with all their senses in a calm, gentle environment reminiscent of an underwater world. The exhibition has been designed by students on the Child Culture Design programme at HDK.
Exhibition producers: Maria Aunell and Maja Björk Lindahl

BIG BLUE
A new permanent exhibition in which children (aged 4–10) and their adults can experience and explore the sea through learning play. Five imaginative, visually appealing environments invite you to cooperate, play and discover. Next to the exhibition there is a Studio with a reading corner and a new canteen area where you can consume your own food and drink.
Exhibition producers: Maria Aunell and Maja Björk Lindahl


VESSELS IN FOCUS
Get geeky about ships, fine craftsmanship and amazing facts. The exhibition consists of 30 model vessels including everything from a simple log boat to gigantic supertankers.
Exhibition producer: Maja Björk Lindahl