Already at the age of 20, the industrialist J.C. Hempel (1894-1986) established J.C. Hempels Skibsfarvefabrik which through the next decades became world famous for its excellent ship paint. Today the Hempel Group is a recognized and leading supplier of paint for protection of steel, fibre glass, wood and concrete, indoors as well as outdoors.
J.C. Hempel was strongly engaged in education, yachting and culture and his passion for ancient glass.
In 1945 J.C. Hempel purchased the manor Annebjerg Hovedgaard with a view of Nykøbing Bay and the Isefjord. Here, in the early 1960’es, he conceived the idea of a glass museum to be built on the hill across from the manor house. It was J.C. Hempel’s dream that the place would become a proper house of culture, and here he was ahead of his time.
On July 14 1964 he transferred his entire glass collection to the Hempel Culture Foundation who was to manage the building activities and the operation of the museum which they are still doing.
During the last few years, the museum has been renovated and modernized so that today it stands as a contemporary museum. The purpose is to give the entire family a good experience. There must be something to look at, something to learn and something to surprise, but there should also be room for relaxation, walks and pleasure. Hempel Glass Museum possesses the largest private collection of European glass from the period 1500-1900 in Northern Europe.
