Major changes are on the horizon for Geomuseum Faxe, the Stevnsfort Cold War Museum, and Kulturmuseum Øst. Renovations and improvements to the surrounding areas are intended to help bring history to life for visitors of all ages within the museums’ authentic and historic settings.
The vision is clear: Geomuseum Faxe, the Stevnsfort Cold War Museum, and Kulturmuseum Øst will open their doors and invite future visitors much deeper into history through well-designed settings, experiences, and activities.
– We have an incredibly wide range of stories to tell here in Stevns and Faxe. Stevnsfort offers a glimpse into pivotal moments in Danish and European history, and the fort’s corridors are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fossils in the limestone around Geomuseum Faxe tell the story of global evolution, and Kulturmuseum Øst has a collection of local treasures just waiting to be brought to light. We need to realize all this potential so that we can continue to be relevant to museum visitors of all ages, says Kasper Renström Østervig, director of Østsjællands Museum.
Ambitious development projects grounded in strong values
The development projects for the destinations take different forms, but they share a set of values that prioritize quality experiences and a sense of community. These distinctive locations are not meant to be experienced through screens, but by allowing visitors to get up close and personal with military history, equipment, limestone, fossils, expert knowledge, stories, and local historical artifacts.
At the Stevnsfort Cold War Museum, the original missile workshop is being converted into a new visitor center, and the grounds are being restored to their former austere military landscape design, creating space for more activities and learning areas in the vicinity. The design incorporates biodiversity by planting grasses that support wildlife and are allowed to grow tall.
Geomuseum Faxe will open up physically toward the limestone quarry and invite visitors inside to enjoy activity stations and creative play. The first floor will become more of a communal space, and the museum as a whole will be better equipped to provide a setting for a day exploring limestone, fossils, and the geology of Stevnsk than it is today.
Kulturmuseum Øst is housed in the old town hall buildings and serves as a local cultural center, featuring exhibitions of local treasures and glass walls that offer a direct view of the work involved in cataloging and preserving them. At the same time, there is a strong focus on finding partners to help create a versatile cultural center for residents of Stevns and Faxe.
The development projects also share a common thread of a focus on sustainability. Thus, no new construction is taking place, and one priority, for example, is to find furniture made from recycled materials.
– The development of museums involves many considerations, as they must speak to both the local community and the bigger picture. Realizing this vision will help elevate East Zealand as an attractive, unified destination for tourism. When museums are relevant to a broader audience, they attract more visitors to the local area and to other cultural institutions, with which we would very much like to collaborate on new experiences, says Kasper Renström Østervig.
The development projects have political support
The development of Geomuseum Faxe and Stevnsfort is expected to proceed in parallel, and the goal is to open the two locations with a new look in 2026. The East Zealand Museum has prepared grant applications to raise funds for the projects, and the mayors of both Stevns and Faxe municipalities—who are both members of the museum’s board of directors—are in support:
– I’m pleased to see such high ambitions for enhancing the visitor experience at Geomuseum Faxe. Innovation and new ideas are essential to maintaining a contemporary experience for both residents and tourists, so I’m very pleased that we on the board of the East Zealand Museum have been presented with new ideas that hold great potential. It makes perfect sense to use Geomuseum Faxe’s facilities in a new way, and I look forward to following the project,” says Ole Vive, mayor of Faxe Municipality.
– “The plans to preserve and develop Stevnsfort are very positive. They can benefit the entire municipality and help cement Stevns’ reputation as a destination offering high-quality experiences,” says Henning Urban Dam, mayor of Stevns Municipality.
Several cultural institutions and stakeholders are involved in the development of Kulturmuseum Øst to ensure that the potential of a new cultural center is realized to the fullest extent possible and that it is broadly relevant to the public.
Citizens Need to Get Involved
The vision is clear and waiting to become a reality, and now the work begins to raise funds to move forward with the development. And, of course, the residents need to get involved. In 2025, the East Zealand Museum expects to hold a public dialogue meeting at Geomuseum Faxe to hear residents’ thoughts and ideas about potential uses for the building during the winter months.
The development projects at the three museums:
- The Faxe Geomuseum will open up toward the limestone quarry and feature activity stations for children and families. On the first floor, visitors can rest their feet and enjoy the magnificent view of the Faxe Limestone Quarry, surrounded by stories about the limestone—which, for example, has found its way all the way to the Marble Church. They can do so over a cup of coffee—or a glass of white beer, just as the limestone workers used to enjoy. In the winter, the first floor can be used for business meetings or gatherings of local organizations—making Geomuseum Faxe a relevant local partner throughout the year.
- The grounds of the Stevnsfort Cold War Museumwill be restored to their former austere military style, and space will be incorporated for activities, education, and dining in the authentic surroundings.
- The Øst Cultural Museum will display local artifacts in an open storage area, and glass walls will allow visitors to observe the museum’s work of cataloging and preserving these items. The former town hall building in Faxe will be reimagined as a local cultural center, and the goal is to collaborate with several local cultural organizations to create a unified experience for residents.
Press contact:
Director of the East Zealand Museum, Kasper Renström Østervig, phone: 20 51 77 20