WELCOME TO SKIBE PÅ HOLMEN

- THE HISTORIC SHIPS, HOLMEN

During the Cold War, Denmark's unique position, guarding the passage between the Baltic and Atlantic made Denmark of strategic importance to NATO as well as to the Warsaw Pact. The Royal Danish Navy's main task was to guard the western part of the Baltic in close cooperation with the West German Navy, in order to prevent the Warsaw Pact from accessing the Atlantic, and thus jeopardizing the vital shipping lines between North America and Europe in the event of a war. The Danish navy made use of a broad range of measures to solve this task - notably minefields, which were the backbone of the defence of the Danish straits. To protect the minelayers and delay a Warsaw Pact invasion of Danish territory, the Danish navy made use of Frigates, fast attack boats as well as submarines.

Today three different vessels from the Cold War era is preserved at Holmen, Copenhagen the traditional home of the Danish Royal Navy. The mighty Frigate PEDER SKRAM with her 5 inch guns, her Seasparrow SAM (Surface to Air) as well as her Harpoon SSM and Torpedo System is on display. Close by rests SÆLEN the last Danish submarine, famed for her participation in the War on Iraq in 2003 as well as her history of protecting Norwegian waters during the Cold War. Also on display is P 547 SEHESTED the last fast attack boat in the Royal Danish Navy. Her high speed and manoeuvrability in combination with her low signature, her heavy armament of 8 Harpoon SSM, a 76 mm auto cannon and torpedo tubes made her and her 9 sister ships formidable opponents to any Warsaw Pact invasion fleet.

The tours

During opening hours visitors are free to walk around PEDER SKRAM and experience her many compartments and authentic environments. At SÆLEN and SEHESTED tours are available every 30 minutes. Great care has been taken in preserving SÆLEN and SEHESTED as they were on the day they left active service, authentic belongings of the crew members are maintained to give an authentic environment. The tours focus on the strategic as well as the tactical function of the two vessels, although the tour of the Submarine SÆLEN also focuses on life onboard beneath the waves.
Tours in English are available.

Opening Hours

June:
SÆLEN and SEHESTED: Weekends from 11.00 am - 5 pm.
PEDER SKRAM: All days from 11.00 am - 5 pm.

July:
All ships from 11.00 am - 5 pm.

August:
Until August 15. All ships from 11.00 am - 5 pm.
From August 15. - only PEDER SKRAM: 11.00 am - 5 pm.

Please notice that the last tour of SÆLEN will commence at 4.00 pm and the last tour of SEHESTED will commence at 4.15 pm. PEDER SKRAM closes for all visitors at 5 pm.

Admission:

PEDER SKRAM: adults: 60 dkr. children: 30 dkr.
SÆLEN: adults 40 dkr. children: 30 dkr.
SEHESTED: adults 40 dkr. children: 30 dkr.

Combined ticket (all three vessels): adult: 90 dkr. Children: 50 dkr.