Kattegatcentret Aquarium (Grenaa, Denmark)

One year during spring break, we decided to take a day trip from our home in central Jutland (Jylland) to visit the Kattegatcentret Aquarium in Grenaa. Since my husband was traveling for work for much of spring break, we didn’t make any big trips outside of Denmark that year. We were very excited to see if Kattegatcentret Aquarium would live up to its impressive reputation of being a top-notch aquarium.

If you are unfamiliar with where Grenaa is located, let me help you out. Grenaa is located on the eastern-most tip of central Denmark just north of Aarhus and is home to a ferry that goes to nearby Sweden. If you didn’t know there was an aquarium here, you might have missed it, since the building blends in nicely with the others in the area.

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Considering firstly that “Kattegatcentret” doesn’t sound anything like aquarium in English, I had no idea of what it really was. Luckily for me, this was a trip planned by my Danish husband, who tends to understand these rather long and funny words. The shark symbol on the building; however, did give me a certain feeling of assurance as we approached the parking lot!

Table of Contents

Parking at Kattegatcentret

We arrived at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium later in the day, since my kids had a playdate in the morning, but it was good for us. There were a few parking spaces up front that were free. We had to pay at the machine and put the receipt in the front window of the car before we went in, but this was easy peasy, since this was normally the case at most places. We were used to these types of machines.

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Layout of the Aquarium

After walking in the front door and paying the entrance fee to the Kattegatcentret Aquarium, we walked through the barrier and were smack dab in the middle of the place. There was a really cool whale hovering over the middle of the place. The whole building wasn’t huge by any means, but it wasn’t too small either.

big fish teeth at kattegatcentret aquarium in grenaa denmark

Seeing the Sharks at Kattegatcentret

We decided to head up the stairs to the left, since it was feeding time for the sharks.

Yep!! Sharks!!

Where to Watch the Shark Show

If you weren’t lucky enough to get a spot by the “fence” at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium, you could see all the action from a television screen that was located just above the “tank”.

watching them feed the sharks at kattegatcentret aquarium in grenaa denmark

I put these things in quotation marks, because I have a feeling that there is probably a better, more professional word for them. I just don’t know what it is. 😄You could also walk halfway down the steps to where a large glass section of the tank was, which allowed a great view of the sharks swimming around. 😉

sharks at kattegatcentret aquarium in grenaa denmark

What I like about this “fence” area at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium, is that it plainly says on the floor with paint that it is for children. I guess this is helpful to all of those clueless adults out there who stand right in front of children to get a better view. I also don’t have to sound like a nagging, overly-protective mom by stepping in to ask someone to “please let my son in front of you”. We are just following aquarium protocol here, folks. Hahaha!

Tips for the Shark Show at Kattegatcentret Aquarium

Well, there were a lot of children, and my kids can be shy when they don’t need to be, which meant that one just watched the TV screen while the other sat on his dad’s shoulders. We vowed to arrive a bit earlier to the next feeding, which would be in an hour for the seals. That’ll come later in the post.

The workers spoke in Danish, but there were a few words here and there in English, and they encouraged people with questions in English to ask after the feeding. I thought it was nice for them to offer. Since we were literally next to the ferry to Sweden, I wondered if they had lots of visitors from Sweden, but all the signs at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium were in Danish, English and German. No Swedish. Just something I found interesting.

“Look, mom! It’s the bad guys from the ‘Nemo’ movie”…

We walked down another set of stairs to another large tank, which had some cool fish, stingrays and scuba divers in it.

Yep. I said, “scuba divers”.

scuba diver tank at kattegatcentret aquarium in denmark

**The World of Finding Nemo at Kattegatcentret Aquarium**

I’m not sure why they were there, but it gave the whole day at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium that kind of “Finding Nemo” feel. I mean, we had just seen sharks, which were not as large as the sharks from ‘Nemo’, but they were sharks nonetheless. Now, to add scuba divers to the list, I was determined to see just what other ‘Nemo’ friends I could find.

sharks and stingrays at kattegatcentret aquarium in grenaa denmark

Watching the Scuba Divers

As far as the scuba divers were concerned, my kids pretended to be afraid of them when they first saw them, but quickly switched to being fascinated. “How do they breathe, mom?” “What’s with all the bubbles?” The questions kept coming.

This was about the time one of the scuba divers turned to watch us out the window. Weird! Who was the one on display? Talk about feeling like you’re in a fish tank. Moving on…

scuba diver at kattegatcentret aquarium in denmark

Petting Area at Kattegatcentret Aquarium

Now, I know “petting area” is really not the right term, but isn’t it just accurate?

We walked up a few more steps (Again with the steps?!!) to a small tank that had foot rails all along it. This was to allow children to stand a bit taller to reach the water. Here at the Kattegatcentret, they could “pet” the stingrays.

I couldn’t believe how huge they were and how they just swam so much out of the water to allow us to touch them. Apparently, I don’t know much about stingrays, but I was impressed. (Side note: We found the science teacher from “Finding Nemo”.)

petting a stingray at kattegatcentret aquarium denmark

Finding the Tunnel Under the Shark Tank

Around the corner at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium, we stumbled upon a walkway that went under the large, shark tank!! This was cool to have sharks swimming all around. I’d much rather take this tunnel than jump in the tank with scuba gear. 😨Yikes! With this tunnel, we were back “finding Nemo” and riding our own version of the Eastern Australian Current. If only we could find some friendly turtles on the way!!!

I love little additions to aquariums like this. I thought that the Kattegatcentret Aquarium was very kid-friendly and very well-planned. So many aquariums are like museums, where the kids are just supposed to walk around and look at small tanks like art on walls. That is boring! This place stepped it up by adding the tunnel, which I was happy about, and I know that my kids also really enjoyed.

We lingered a bit longer here to watch the sharks. I love to see the looks of wonder in my children’s eyes. If only we as adults could see more things the way children do. All is new and interesting. They take the time truly to look at what is around them, and they live in the moment. They are my constant reminders to slow down. Some days, they give me gray hairs, but other days, they help me know what it is like to be young again.

Areas that could have been from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Not only were there fun things to see and do, but the overall set-up of Kattegatcentret Aquarium was also quite interesting. Some fish tanks were large and could be viewed from multiple locations with an added viewing area in the back. I liked having some variety of how to view the fish.

Some sections looked liked they might have been part fishing boat, while others looked like an “under the sea” scene with fake rocks, starfish, and even a rather large octopus on the wall. Of course, everything was just for show, but the details and ideas they chose for these tanks and various area displays really helped Kattegatcentret Aquarium set itself apart from other aquariums.

When I think of some of the other aquariums I have been in from various countries, I rarely think of the display. I felt that this would be a fun place to visit multiple times, because of the way it attracted both parents and children to want to explore more.

Using Technology at Kattegatcentret Aquarium

Along with fun displays, there are many different types of technology you could play with at Kattegatcentret Aquarium.

1) Interactive Map of the Ocean

One of which was an interactive screen that was at a height perfect for children. It was also a nice place to sit and rest while looking at the fish. My boys were intrigued at how they could manipulate the screen just by moving a circle around “the ocean”.

2) Smaller Interactive Screens

Another really fun way of using technology at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium was with small, interactive tablets. These were located on the floor of the aquarium, near where we viewed the shark feeding show. We were able to click on different parts of the ocean to learn more about the different fish that lived in specific areas of the ocean.

We could also select English, Danish or German, which was a hit in my book. My kids, like many, are fascinated by computer screens of any kind and were immediately drawn to them. They thought that they were “cool”.

3) Kayak Simulators at Kattegatcentret Aquarium

Just after the computer tablets was an area with two kayak simulators. This was a huge surprise, because we didn’t anticipate to find anything active like this at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium. My sons and I had a good time pretending that we were out on the open water, sailing along in our kayaks. It was a good bit of exercise to say the least. I was happy for a bit of cardio, but I had no idea that I could be so active at this aquarium in Denmark’s Djursland.

4) Move Your Body
Near by the kayaks were two other ways to move your body. I really liked how Kattegatcentret Aquarium connected technology with action. My children were very interested in every attraction, and they were getting quite a bit of exercise in the process.

This section had a simulator in which you used your body as the fish to try and get its food. You either had to jump up to get something that was on the water’s surface or you had to bend down to get something that crawled on the ocean floor. I wore the wrong kind of shoes for this place (as you can see from my kayak picture above) so decided to skip the jumping ones.

What a shame! Next time, I am definitely wearing my sneakers.

The other activity at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium that required you to move your body was a simulator that had you use your body as a boat on the water. This one had two screens, so you could do the activity side-by-side with another person.

5) Interactive Shark

There was also a very large shark, which had censors all over its body. When we touched different parts of the shark, those areas would light up, and an image came on the screen with information about that area of the shark’s body.

Unfortunately for my little ones, they couldn’t read what the information said. This is definitely something for parents to do with their children at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium in order for them to get something out of it. My boys were interested in hearing about the shark, once they chilled out a bit and had some patience to hear what ol’ mom had to say about Mr. Shark.

6) Fish Face Interactive Experience

One of the attractions in the interactive area of the Kattegatcentret Aquarium where I had to most fun was the Fish Face experience. This was in a room with the two computer screens that allowed you to take a picture of yourself and turn it into one of the different sharks that it had in its system. Pixar it wasn’t, but it was kind of fun.

I wanted to go for a scary fish with my stellar facial expressions, but, of course, it turned out to be a Pinterest fail! Lesson learned. Crop your mouth when you are making a fish face. You’ll have better luck; I’m sure of it.

fish face interactive experience at kattegatcentret aquarium in grenaa, Denmark

7) Off to the Races

The last, and perhaps best, part of the interactive attractions at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium was the section that might have been missed had my husband not done some exploring of his own when I was on the kayak simulator. This section was a large, running strip directly behind the area with all the shark stuff. It had lines on the floor, so the runner would know where to go. When the timer ran out, we were supposed to run to the end of the line as fast as we could.

Afterwards, the computer screen at the very top of the end of the path told us how fast we ran. It would also say which sea animal we were most likely a good match for in a race. I’m not sure if you need to be a certain height, because it seemed to work best with my 6’4″ husband than it did with either of my two sons.

interactive running experience at kattegatcentret aquarium in grenaa denmark

Danger, Danger!

One area that was a bit hidden from plain-eye sight was the Kattegatcentret Aquarium’s area for Dangerous Fish. These fish were known for not playing nice with others, so they were in smaller, separate tanks in somewhat of a dark area. You had to walk down some steps and in a small room with tanks within the walls.

dangerous fish at kattegatcentret aquarium in denmark

There weren’t many “dangerous” fish, but I have to say that some of them were quite impressive. I think I’d want to touch them had I seen them in the ocean, but I guess having a pretty appearance is to help them lure in their prey. Yikes!

poisonous puffer fish at kattegatcentret aquarium in grenaa denmark

Indoor Play Area at Kattegatcentret Aquarium

Surrounding the “dangerous fish” room at Kattegatcentret Aquarium were two different play areas. On the right was a play kitchen where children could pretend to make their own food.

Then, on the other side was a large enough Lego pit for about 10 kids to sit around and make things out of Lego.

indoor play area LEGO pit at Kattegatcentret Aquarium Denmark

Next to the Lego pit, we saw a small boat for a baby/toddler to pretend to drive. It was cute.

indoor play area boat at Kattegatcentret Aquarium in Denmark

Snack Area / Restaurant

There were some small tables with a few chairs at each for families to sit and enjoy a coffee or ice cream or other small treat bought at the snack stand. I even saw some families eating some food that they had brought from home, so evidently, it wasn’t frowned upon to bring your own food.

Kattegatcentret also sold their own food up next to the technology area in the small eatery.

We were there in between meals, so we didn’t need to take a break, but my husband and I did sit for a bit so the boys could play with the Lego blocks. It isn’t that they don’t have a million little Lego blocks at home, but we weren’t in a rush, remember!? 😉

The Seal-Feeding Show

We were determined to get a good viewing spot to watch the trainers as they fed the seals, so we headed out on the back porch of the Kattegatcentret Aquarium early.

It is interesting that we had to go outside to see something. I don’t think I’ve done that before. In the US, they tend to make rooms either hot or cold to make the animals more comfortable, but Denmark apparently has the perfect type of climate for seals, so they could just be outside.

Kattegatcentret Aquarium had three seals, which my sons and I decided were a mom and her two boys, but we didn’t know that for a fact. I had to admit that many times when I heard Danish I would just tune it out instead of trying to understand what they were saying. I don’t know why I did that. My brain just took the wheel and drove me to a place where I didn’t hear anything. Hahaha! That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Point is, I should have been able to understand more about the seals and their relationship to each other had I paid attention. 🙉🙈🙊Anyway…the seals were pretty talented. They did some tricks for us and showed us how smart they were with knowing their names and stuff. I really liked the seal “show”.

Sometimes, I felt bad for the animals who were trapped in those little tanks, but I guess they might not know any better. These seals were having a great time in their area at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium, so I felt warm and fuzzy inside to watch them swim and do tricks.

Outdoor Play Area at Kattegatcentret Aquarium

On the deck of the back of the Kattegatcentret Aquarium, there were some fun sea creatures made out of metal that acted as a playground of sorts for both young and old alike. The boys had a great time crawling into a number of the different statues.

giant sea creature playground at kattegatcentret aquarium in Grenaa, Denmark

The one that was the most impressive was the giant octopus. (Side note: Wasn’t there an octopus in the sequel to “Finding Nemo”?)

giant octopus playground at kattegatcentret aquarium in grenaa, Denmark

I got a bit too close to one of the fish and nearly lost my foot, while one of my boys was trying to wrestle a giant crab! We were a fearless bunch!

giant crab at kattegatcentret aquarium in grenaa, denmark

Water Play Area for a Warm Day at Kattegatcentret Aquarium

One last thing that I noticed about the outdoor play area of the Kattegatcentret Aquarium was a large water system. Unfortunately, it was much too cold for it to be operational, but I could imagine how much fun it would be for the kids to play in the water on a warm summer’s day.

We’ve been to many places with such a water system, and they never cease to impress the kiddos. I mean, who doesn’t love to play in the water, right?

Overall Impressions

After taking our time at the Kattegatcentret, we were a bit surprised to find that it only took two hours out of our day. It is great to find a place that isn’t too far away and that wouldn’t take up the entire day to see and experience. We had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves.

The kids weren’t too whiny, and we all were amazed by the animals and displays we saw. Not to mention, we were very entertained by all the extras. I would recommend to anyone that they should visit this aquarium! It is a short trip from Aarhus, Denmark and fun for the whole family. No matter the weather, you’ll have a good time here. We did!

Other ‘Nemo’ Friends at the Kattegatcentret Aquarium

Super Large Dude with the Tiny, Mickey Mouse Voice

Peach

Gil and Bloat

Another one of Mr. Ray, the science teacher, and Dory

Getting In Touch With Kattegatcentret Aquarium

If you would like to get in touch with the Kattegatcentret Aquarium in Grenaa, here is their information.

Website: https://www.kattegatcentret.dk/en/

Address: Færgevej 4, 8500 Grenaa, Denmark

Telephone: +45 86 32 52 00

Email: kc@kattegatcentret.dk

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9 Comments

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Melinda
June 13, 2019 at 5:59 am Reply
That’s got to be one of the coolest aquariums I’ve ever seen! So interactive and fun for kids and for parents. We have those lionfish in the waters around us. They’re definitely beautiful, but so creepy! Whenever I see them, I get away as fast as I can.
Erin Gustafson | Oregon Girl Around the World
June 12, 2019 at 11:51 am Reply
We love a good aquarium – have seen a ton around the world, but haven’t been to this one! It reminds me a bit of the Oregon Coast Aquarium where we’re from. Have you been to Den Blå Planet yet? Also a really good one when you get to this side of Denmark! Cheers.
- Kelly
  June 12, 2019 at 8:37 pm Reply
  Thanks, Erin. We haven’t seen much over in your area of Denmark. We have so much to see and do in Jutland to keep us busy for a while! 🙂 I’d love to go there, though. One day!
Julie
June 10, 2019 at 9:38 pm Reply
Wow – this aquarium looks phenomenal! I love the outdoor play area.
- Kelly
  June 10, 2019 at 9:42 pm Reply
  We really got lucky with this find. We need to go back in warmer weather to try out the water playground. 🙂 Thanks for checking out my post! You should have a look at my post on Wow Park (the secret tree house park) if you thought that this playground was cool! 😉
Teresa | Happymomhacks
June 10, 2019 at 8:45 pm Reply
This looks like a great aquarium. I love that you can walk through a tunnel and have sharks swim over you. My kids would love it!
- Kelly
  June 10, 2019 at 9:42 pm Reply
  There was truly something neat at every turn! Thanks for reading!