Guided tour of KRUDT- When the smallest mistake could have serious consequences

A workplace shaped by gunpowder and risk

Black powder was produced in Frederiksværk for more than 200 years. The work involved considerable risk, and over the years the gunpowder works experienced serious accidents that claimed lives and caused extensive damage to the production facilities.

During the tour, the guide recounts some of the accidents that struck the works and tells the stories of the people who spent their working lives among gunpowder, machinery and production buildings. The risk could increase when new machinery was introduced or when buildings and equipment became worn.

Safety rules at the gunpowder works

How do you make a workplace as safe as possible when the production process itself carries a risk of explosions?

Safety rules at the gunpowder works became increasingly strict over time. Workers’ clothing and footwear formed part of these precautions, and the tour explores the distinctive reed shoes as well as the special rules governing behaviour at the works.

The surroundings also played an important role. Earthworks and tall trees helped limit the consequences of an explosion, protecting other parts of the site as well as the town of Frederiksværk.

The people behind the gunpowder production

The tour goes behind the production process to focus on the people who worked at the gunpowder works and the precautions designed to protect them in a working environment where even a small mistake could have serious consequences.

After the guided tour, visitors can explore KRUDT independently. The visit can also continue at the Arsenal, where more of Frederiksværk’s industrial history can be discovered.

Practical information

• Monday 12 October, 1.00–2.00 pm
• Location: KRUDT, Krudtværksalleen 1, 3300 Frederiksværk
• Price: DKK 120 excluding booking fee, including museum admission