National Museum of Photography, Photography museum in Black Diamond building, Copenhagen, Denmark
The National Museum of Photography sits in the basement of the Black Diamond and displays more than 50,000 photographic works spanning different periods and styles. The exhibition spaces show images from the earliest days of the medium through to today, including Danish and international pieces.
The museum was founded in 1996 as part of the Royal Library, becoming a key place for preserving photographic history in Denmark. The collection spans from photography's invention in the 19th century to modern work, tracking how the medium evolved across generations.
The collection brings together photographers from around the world and across time, showing how the medium developed in different places. Visitors see how various approaches to photography shaped what we understand about the world through images.
The museum is centrally located in Copenhagen and easy to reach, with its spot in the Black Diamond building connecting it to other cultural institutions. Allow time to explore the large collection, as exhibitions change regularly and offer new perspectives on photography.
The museum holds a special collection of photographs from the earliest years of the medium, including rare and original works by pioneers of photography. These early images show experimental techniques and ways of seeing that laid the groundwork for what photography became.
Location: Copenhagen Municipality
Inception: 1996
Website: http://kb.dk/en/dia/fotomuseum
GPS coordinates: 55.67337,12.58269
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:44
Copenhagen brings together centuries of history with recent construction in a walkable city by the water. Nyhavn lines the harbor with narrow houses painted in strong colors, where wooden ships dock beside outdoor cafes. The Little Mermaid sits on a rock at the edge of the sound, a bronze figure that has drawn visitors since the early 20th century. Christiansborg Palace rises near the old city center, while Amalienborg forms a royal residence around an octagonal plaza. The Opera House stands across the harbor with a flat, cantilevered roof, and The Black Diamond adds a modern glass facade to the Royal Library. Further out, The Blue Planet aquarium curves along the coast in Ørestad, and the VM Houses show angular residential design in the same district. Parks and gardens spread across the city, offering green space and different moods. The Botanical Garden collects plants from around the world under glass domes and in open beds. Superkilen Park stretches through the Nørrebro neighborhood with colored surfaces and objects gathered from many countries. King's Garden surrounds Rosenborg Castle with tree-lined paths and lawns where people sit in warm weather. Assistens Cemetery lies quiet among the streets, used both as a burial ground and a place to walk. Tivoli Gardens mixes rides, stages, and flower beds in the center of the city. Strøget runs as a long pedestrian street through the old town. Freetown Christiania remains a self-governed neighborhood with painted buildings and its own rules. Dragør preserves old fishing cottages and cobblestones just outside the capital.
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