The museum was built around the old Tirpitz bunker from World War II, which to this day remains a sad but historical sign of one of the greatest wars. The bunker structure, consisting of two huge bunkers, was intended to be built as part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall, but was never completed because the war ended before the planned completion. Therefore, they stood as silted up monuments in the harsh nature of the Danish North Sea coast until it was decided to use them as a museum.
It has long been possible to visit the historic and interesting Tirpitz bunkers, which are unique testaments to the horrors brought about by the Second World War.
However, in 2017 they were rebuilt by world-renowned Danish architecture firm BIG, the Bjarke Ingels Group, integrating the history of the bunker and the nature around it into the new design. Therefore, the new museum is made of concrete and iron, like the original bunker, and glass made from heated sand, like that in the dune landscape around the museum. The museum is built into the dunes and has an underground corridor connecting the museum to the southern bunker, which is also used for exhibitions. Sea rye is planted on the sloping roof, so that the museum fits perfectly into the surroundings of West Jutland. Since its reconstruction, the museum has been considered a shining jewel that is worth a visit both architecturally and in terms of content!
As part of the renovation, there are 4 large exhibition rooms, all of which are designed to be exciting and interactive. There are no long, boring posters in the museum, but rather a headset for each visitor to explore the museum and choose which exhibits they would like to learn more about. There are both permanent exhibitions and changing special exhibitions, all of which tell stories about the bunker or life on the North Sea coast.