The Malm Whale at the Gothenburg Natural History Museum is the only stuffed blue whale in the world, and visitors can step inside its belly on special occasions. Roughly a century ago, a young Swedish couple were caught in the whale's interior, leading officials to shut its jaw. The museum's director at the time remarked: "We must be content with the fact that it was two citizens of our own city that enjoyed this privilege."
A Unique Museum Experience
The whale, measuring 16 metres long, is opened only on special occasions, such as election days, because the Swedish word for vote (val) is the same as the word for whale (val). On days like Christmas, Santa hands out presents from inside the belly. The organs have been removed and stored in ethanol in the museum's cellar, replaced by wooden benches and drapery.
Blue whales are the largest animals ever to have lived, as noted by Sir David Attenborough in Blue Planet. Their population has recovered from 5,000 to 25,000 after commercial hunting reduced it from a pre-whaling peak of 300,000.
History of the Whale
In October 1865, fisherman brothers Olof and Carl Larsson discovered the whale beached off the Swedish west coast. After it was killed, the body was transported to Gothenburg, where naturalist Augustus Malm purchased it. Malm declared "I will stuff everything" and oversaw the preservation process, which involved curing the skin with arsenic and mercuric chloride and mounting it on a wooden frame with 30,000 zinc and copper pins.
The whale remains the museum's prized exhibit, competing only with a stuffed elephant. Visitors to Gothenburg can also explore the Haga neighbourhood, known for its shops and Café Husaren's giant cinnamon buns, or the city's Art Museum.
Practical Travel Tips
Gothenburg is accessible via direct flights from the UK, with return fares often around £30. Accommodation options include family homes like the one in Ugglum, which costs about £200 per night and is an Airbnb Guest Favourite.
