Occupation Museum, Aarhus

The Occupation Museum documents the city’s experience under German rule during World War II. Located in the Latin Quarter within the former city hall and police station built in 1856–57, the building itself holds historical weight. During the later part of the war, it served as Gestapo headquarters for Jutland after Allied bombings damaged their previous base at Aarhus University. The museum was first established in 1982 and moved into this location the following year.

The exhibits focus on key wartime events in Aarhus, including the Aarhus Air Raid, the 1944 explosion at the port, and the role of local informant Grethe Bartram. The museum also covers the wider resistance movement and the ethical choices civilians faced under occupation. The setting adds impact-original interrogation cells and torture rooms are preserved and displayed using period furnishings and equipment, offering an unfiltered view into life during the occupation years.

Artifacts from 1940 to 1945, such as uniforms, propaganda materials, weapons, mines, and identification papers, are on display throughout the museum. These items provide detailed insight into the daily realities and tensions of the time. In 2010, the Occupation Museum became part of the broader Bymuseet network and contributed to the Aarhus Story exhibition at The Old Town with the segment "Occupied 1940–1945".

After a major renovation between 2018 and 2020, the museum reopened with a renewed focus on visitor engagement and ethical reflection. It is now managed by volunteers and operates solely through ticket revenue and private donations.