When you visit Staldgården, most of the attention naturally goes to the exhibition about the German occupation and the Gestapo headquarters in Kolding during World War II, but the museum also includes several other exhibitions that are worth setting aside time for.
MADE IN KOLDING focuses on the city’s business history and the companies that originated here. It is a successful mix of classic industrial history and more modern entrepreneurship, so the exhibition still feels interesting even if you would not normally consider yourself particularly interested in business history. I especially liked that the exhibition does not only look back at the past, but also highlights the city’s more recent development. Just Eat is included as part of the exhibition, and founder Jesper Buch appears in a video talking about how the company started and how everything began.
The silver collection featuring Holger Kyster is something completely different, but just as fascinating. Holger Kyster had his workshop in Kolding during the first half of the 20th century and worked closely with some of the biggest Danish designers and artists of the time, including Thorvald Bindesbøll and Svend Hammershøi. The exhibition not only showcases beautiful silverwork, but also offers a glimpse into a period when craftsmanship, design, and artistry were deeply connected.
What makes the exhibition especially interesting is the story about Kyster himself. You quickly get the impression of someone ambitious and uncompromising, with very clear ideas about quality and good design. The stories about the creative environment around him and his collaborations with other artists of the time make the exhibition feel like much more than a collection of silver pieces displayed in glass cases. It also becomes a portrait of an era, a certain aesthetic, and a particular approach to design.
If you visit Staldgården, make sure to leave time for the other exhibitions as well. Everything is included in the same ticket, and the combination of war history, design, and business history makes Staldgården a much more varied museum experience that offers a really interesting insight into Kolding’s past, present, and future.
Visit Museum Kolding – Staldgården website
My blog about The Heart of Jutland – Billund – Fredericia – Kolding – Vejle
Curious about this part of Denmark? Visit The Heart of Jutland’s website
or check out their instagram @theheartofjutland
