Bornholmertårnet – The Bornholm Tower and Cold War Museum

From secret listening post to museum

The history of the site is closely linked to Bornholm's Cold War role. The island, situated in the Baltic Sea between Poland, Sweden and Germany, was an ideal observation point for NATO. Intelligence activities on Bornholm began as early as 1948, and in 1961 the Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste (Danish Defence Intelligence Service) moved into the Northern Lighthouse, adding two extra floors.

In 1986, a large white tower fitted with antennas and a radar on top was built – the tower we know today as Bornholmertårnet. From here, troop movements were monitored and radio communications intercepted – including transmissions between tanks during the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Intelligence operations continued until 2012, when the station was shut down. In the spring of 2015, the former spy headquarters was opened to the public for the first time in history.

Cold War and World War II exhibitions

In the former server room, documentaries about the Cold War and the history of the listening post are screened. Across 1,300 m² of exhibition space, a rich collection of photographs, radio equipment, machines and devices from both wars has been assembled.

Particularly moving is the section devoted to the Soviet bombing of Rønne and Nexø in May 1945 – after the German surrender. The exhibitions combine texts, films and archival photographs, providing an insight into the unique fate of Bornholm, the only part of Denmark to be occupied by the Soviet Union.

Top-secret rooms

Visitors can see the authentic, top-secret rooms where agents of the Danish Intelligence Service intercepted information from Eastern Bloc countries. The preserved equipment, radios and listening stations show what daily work looked like at one of NATO's most important intelligence outposts in the Baltic.

Outside the building, you can see the large refrigeration plant once used to cool the computer servers and the furnace for destroying classified documents – relics of an era when every piece of information could determine the fate of the world.

The view from the tower

A ride in the elevator or a climb up more than 400 steps leads to the top of the 70-metre tower, where a breathtaking panoramic view stretches over Dueodde, eastern Bornholm and the open sea. It is the highest vantage point on the island – and according to local opinion, the most beautiful view Bornholm has to offer.

More about Dueodde Beach

Bornholmertårnet – an exhibition dedicated to the Cold War history on Bornholm

Spy Hunt – a game for the whole family

Both adults and children can take part in the Spy Hunt field game. The hunt takes participants through the entire complex – up and down the 70-metre tower, through all the exhibitions, into the charming old lighthouse from 1879 and across the outdoor areas. The game is not only great fun but also educational – it brings world history and its impact on Bornholm and Denmark to life. It is available in versions for different age groups, so everyone can join in.