The North Sea Oceanarium

Nordsøen Oceanarium – the Aquarium in Hirtshals

Northern Europe’s largest aquarium in Hirtshals has been offering exciting adventures beneath the sea surface for 41 years. Throughout the year, there are fun activities for the whole family, both indoors and outdoors!

6 million liters of water… and much more...

The aquarium in Hirtshals has expanded several times over the years and now covers 10,000 m² of indoor and 6,000 m² of outdoor exhibitions, featuring large and small aquariums with more than 7,000 fish and other marine animals – offering a full day of experiences in the fascinating underwater world.

Visitors can explore the ocean floor, climb on a sperm whale at the playground, catch crabs with their bare hands, and feel the forces of nature. The gigantic Oceanarium, containing 4.5 million liters of seawater, was inaugurated in 1998 and continues to fascinate guests with a wide range of marine life, including ocean sunfish, shoaling fish, sharks, rays, and tuna. You can touch a real starfish, come face to face with a seal in the enormous outdoor seal enclosure, and search for the "gold of the North Sea" in the sand. Great SEA experiences await – both indoors and outdoors!

The 7 Destinations

The North Sea is one of the most fish-rich seas in the world. Visit seven selected destinations and discover life beneath the surface.

The Hunters of the North Sea

Explore an exhibition about the ocean’s food chain – from the smallest organisms to the largest predators – and understand how even small imbalances can have major consequences for animals and humans. Outside and in the underwater tunnel, you can watch curious seals swimming swiftly and gracefully. You can also experience their feeding and training sessions, which take place twice daily.

A digital experience awaits in the Big Ocean Window: Try being a small mackerel while tuna and orcas hunt for food around you. Can you escape without being eaten?

Out in the Open Air

Let your children roam free in the outdoor play areas. Feel the wind and weather aboard the ship ShipO’Hoy, challenge your family to a crab-catching contest, or visit the Whale Researcher’s Cabin, where you can study the skeletons of the ocean’s giants – and much more. The playgrounds invite children of all ages to move and play.

Protecting the North Sea

As Northern Europe’s largest aquarium, we carry a great responsibility – and we take it seriously. We study and research life in the North Sea, engage in nature conservation, and collaborate with other aquariums, scientists, businesses, and the fishing industry. We are members of DAZA and EAZA, organizations that work to inspire greater interest in and respect for nature. We share our knowledge and enthusiasm for North Sea life with our visitors.

Local Nature Conservation

Along the coast between Hirtshals and Løkken, the population of the European lobster has significantly declined in recent years. In collaboration with DTU Aqua and local fishermen, Nordsøen Oceanarium has developed a breeding program for European lobsters. By the end of 2024, we had released around 23,000 young lobsters into the wild – and the project continues to help restore a healthy lobster population in our local waters.

Dining and Souvenirs

Our restaurants serve delicious, healthy, and simple seafood dishes made with local ingredients and freshly caught fish from Hirtshals.

Our shop is filled with exciting souvenirs, so the whole family can take home a memory of a fantastic day.