Photos from a dramatic day
On the 6th and 7th December, the Viking Ship Museum had some difficult days as floodwaters threatened to break through the Viking Ship Hall's glass façade, and the rising water inundated the buildings on the Museum Island.
The Viking ships suffered no damage and the Viking Ship Hall stood firm against the waves and the extreme water level. Luckily, the damage was limited to the museum buildings and grounds.
No artefacts were affected, thanks to a formidable and early intervention on the part of the Danish Emergency Management Agency, Police, Home Guard and volunteers, conservators from the National Museum and the employees at the Viking Ship Museum.
The Viking Ship Museum was well prepared for the storm, and although there was no panic, it was an intense and very uncomfortable night as the water rose to 206 cm above normal sea level, and the force of the waves caused the windows of the Viking Ship Hall to crack.
» The pictures were taken by photographer Werner Karrasch. Click on one of the pictures to see them bigger and series.
Photos from a dramatic day
![Vandet stod højt allerede fra morgenstunden af. 6 December 12:28, 134 cm above mean sea level. The museum's craftsmen and marine archaeologists pulled on waders and diving suits and fought against the rising water.](/frontend/_processed_/c/7/csm_DSC_6725_cfbe5d591d.jpg)
![Beredskabsstyrelsen, Hjemmeværnet og Midt- og Vestsjællands Politi har sammen med Vikingeskibsmuseets personale sikret Vikingeskibsmuseet både ude- og indefra. 6 December 12:31, 136 cm above mean sea level. The water started rising early in the day high up on the Viking Ship Hall's glass facade.](/frontend/_processed_/4/e/csm_DSC_6741__2__cfd5d18abc.jpg)
![Vandstanden er her kl. 15.56 165 cm over daglig vande. Prognosen siger, at vandstanden skal stige til omkring 170 cm. 6 December 12:55, 141 cm above mean sea level. The fjord water rolled up on the large lawn that surrounds the Viking Ship Museum.](/frontend/_processed_/d/a/csm_DSC_6761_01_71e5ecfe03.jpg)
![Bølgerne slår ind over molen og græsset ved Vikingeskibshallen. 6 December 16:31, 170 cm above mean sea level. When the water level at approximately 14.30 reached 150 cm above water level, the whole Museum Island was flooded.6 December 19:58, 193 cm above mean sea level. Vikingeskibshallen was now isolated, surrounded](/frontend/_processed_/5/d/csm_DSC_6843-2_6016af934f.jpg)
![Der er ingen, der kan mindes, at vandet har stået så højt før. 6 December 20:30 at 195 cm above mean sea level. Conservators from the National Museum in the process of ensuring the ships further with plastic covers.](/frontend/_processed_/c/3/csm_DSC_6848__2__dddd75490e.jpg)
![Bølgerne rammer glasfacaden, særligt i det nordvestlige hjørne. 6 December 20:45, 195 cm above mean sea level. The windows began to give way under the pressure of the water. To prevent water splashes on the ships they were further protected.](/frontend/_processed_/b/f/csm_DSC_6849__2__493d87ee1d.jpg)
![Medierne følger begivenhederne tæt. Her TV2. 6 December 21:17, 199 cm above mean sea level. Covering almost done. At 23:30 the water reached the highest water measurement: 206 cm.](/frontend/_processed_/b/1/csm_DSC_6851__2__deb421371d.jpg)
Watch a film about the struggle against the rising water
Photographer at the Viking Ship Museum, Werner Karrasch, has made this film about the storm and the struggle against the rising water. The language of the film is Danish, but the images speak for themselves ...
» Watch the film ...
More photos from the storm
The Viking Ship Museum staff saw the dramatic events firsthand. We have compiled a small portion of the images, giving a good impression of the many hours of collaboration to ensure the the Viking ships.
» Click to see the staff's photos ...
Click on the image to see them larger ...
![Vandet stod højt allerede fra morgenstunden af. 6 December 12:28, 134 cm above mean sea level. The museum's craftsmen and marine archaeologists pulled on waders and diving suits and fought against the rising water.](/frontend/_processed_/c/7/csm_DSC_6725_aa89230f51.jpg)
![Beredskabsstyrelsen, Hjemmeværnet og Midt- og Vestsjællands Politi har sammen med Vikingeskibsmuseets personale sikret Vikingeskibsmuseet både ude- og indefra. 6 December 12:31, 136 cm above mean sea level. The water started rising early in the day high up on the Viking Ship Hall's glass facade.](/frontend/_processed_/4/e/csm_DSC_6741__2__f2635596bf.jpg)
![Vandstanden er her kl. 15.56 165 cm over daglig vande. Prognosen siger, at vandstanden skal stige til omkring 170 cm. 6 December 12:55, 141 cm above mean sea level. The fjord water rolled up on the large lawn that surrounds the Viking Ship Museum.](/frontend/_processed_/d/a/csm_DSC_6761_01_0a425ad9e6.jpg)
![Bølgerne slår ind over molen og græsset ved Vikingeskibshallen. 6 December 16:31, 170 cm above mean sea level. When the water level at approximately 14.30 reached 150 cm above water level, the whole Museum Island was flooded.6 December 19:58, 193 cm above mean sea level. Vikingeskibshallen was now isolated, surrounded](/frontend/_processed_/5/d/csm_DSC_6843-2_ab28bbe537.jpg)
![Der er ingen, der kan mindes, at vandet har stået så højt før. 6 December 20:30 at 195 cm above mean sea level. Conservators from the National Museum in the process of ensuring the ships further with plastic covers.](/frontend/_processed_/c/3/csm_DSC_6848__2__356819c301.jpg)
![Bølgerne rammer glasfacaden, særligt i det nordvestlige hjørne. 6 December 20:45, 195 cm above mean sea level. The windows began to give way under the pressure of the water. To prevent water splashes on the ships they were further protected.](/frontend/_processed_/b/f/csm_DSC_6849__2__5be2371ef0.jpg)
![Medierne følger begivenhederne tæt. Her TV2. 6 December 21:17, 199 cm above mean sea level. Covering almost done. At 23:30 the water reached the highest water measurement: 206 cm.](/frontend/_processed_/b/1/csm_DSC_6851__2__26c802c640.jpg)