Practical info
Welcome to Arbetets museum
Arbetets museum (The Museum of Work) is an innovative meeting place for all ages in the heart of Norrköping, Sweden. Our exhibitions portray work and everyday life, historically as well as today and tomorrow. We don’t collect objects – instead, we collect people’s stories and memories.
For all ages
The Museum of Work has something for everyone – throughout our seven floors, there are a wide variety of exhibitions for children and adults alike. If you want to visit us as a group, you need to pre-book your visit. Otherwise, you’re welcome to just drop in.
English in our exhibitions
All our exhibitions have English translations on signs or in leaflets located near their entrances. Some exhibitions also have spoken English. Ask our reception desk what’s currently available.
Opening hours
The Museum of Work is open 10–17, seven days a week, all year around.
Exceptions are Good Friday, Easter Eve, Midsummer Eve, Midsummer Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. On these days the museum is closed.
Free admission
Admission is free to the museum and all our exhibitions. We hope you’ll find something you’ll like!
Groups
Group & school visits must be booked via our online form or by contacting us via pedagogik@arbetetsmuseum.se.
How to find us
From the Norrköping Central Station you can reach us by tram, bus, car or a walk of about 15 minutes.
Creative Workshop
Our Creative Workshop is a space where kids and their grown-ups can create artworks from recycled material. Open Fridays at 13–15, Saturdays & Sundays at 11–15. Extended opening hours during school holidays. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free admission.
Restaurant & Café
Time for a snack? Have a break and rest your legs in café Espresso House on the ground floor or VY Restaurant & Skybar on the 6th floor. See the relevant website for opening hours and contact information.
Our museum building
We are located in the listed building Strykjärnet (The Flat Iron), previously a cotton mill and once described by sculptor Carl Milles as the most beautiful industrial building in Sweden.
The Flat Iron is situated at the centre of Norrköping’s scenic Industrial Landscape and is an important part of the city’s cultural heritage.
Accessibility
Please get in touch with us if you have questions about accessibility at the museum or tips on how we can improve.
Parking
We have two parking spaces for visitors with a parking permit. The parking spaces are located at Laxholmstorget, next to the museum. Each parking space has a width of 5.9 meters and the distance to our entrance is 31 meters.
Entrance
The main entrance is equipped with a ramp and automatic door openers. The slope of the ramp is 1:17. At the main entrance there is an intercom, where you can announce your arrival if the door openers are turned off.
Elevator
There is one elevator at street level and one accessed indoors, via the reception hall. The elevators take you to all floors of the museum.
Exhibitions & premises
All premises are accessible to wheelchair users, with the exception of the exhibition Alva’s Story, which is located in the stairwell.
Toilets
Accessible toilets are available on floors one, two and five (as well as floor six during the restaurant’s opening hours).
Guide dogs
Guide dogs and service dogs are welcome at the museum.
Hearing loop
Our largest conference room, Folksamsalen, is equipped with a hearing loop.
Guides
Our museum educators have extensive experience in guiding groups/people with special needs. Be sure to mention your needs when you book a guided visit.
Allergies
The restaurant and café offer options that are free of gluten, lactose, eggs and milk.
Guide and service dogs are welcome at the museum, but no other dogs or animals.
Digital accessibility
In our accessibility statement, we describe how we work with digital accessibility on our website and in other channels.
Organisation
Arbetets museum is a private foundation owned jointly by the following organisations: Landsorganisation – the Swedish Trade Union Confederation; Tjänstemännens Centralorganisation – the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees; Arbetarnas Bildningsförbund – the Worker’ Educational Association; Kooperativa Förbundet – the Swedish Cooperative Union and Sensus studieförbund – the Sensus Study Association.
The running and management costs are financed through government subsidies whilst the projects are in the main, funded by the foundation. The building is owned by the Landsorganisation and the Kooperativa Förbundet who permit Arbetets museum the use of this property.
Mission
Our mission is to document working life and bring its’ history to life through: providing a forum for debate and interpretation of the working lives and conditions of women and men. The museum shall also initiate, pursue and support research within its’ area of activities and to administer and develop those operations in accordance with the guidelines specified by the Foundation.
Arbetets museum has a special responsibility for all the Working Life Museums in Sweden. Our role is to preserve and cultivate our cultural heritage so that it lends perspective to the development of our society and the conditions under which we live. The museum shall document the progress of industrial history and work together with other museums and institutions whose area of interest also lies within this sphere. Another role of the museum is to encourage and stimulate debate within the field of work and working conditions.
Arbetets museum is also interested in developing its’ own knowledge base and in consequence has developed close contacts with universities, colleges and other museums active within our specific area of interest.
Contact us
Arbetets museum
Laxholmen 602 21
Norrköping Sweden
Phone: +46 11-23 17 00
Monday–Friday 10.00–17.00
