Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde: A hidden gem of art, nature and history

By Linnéa Mitchell

Nestled on the picturesque island of Royal Djurgården in Stockholm, Waldemarsudde is a real cultural treasure, widely recognised as one of Sweden’s most blooming – and beloved – art museums.

Waldemarsudde is often described as an allkonstverk (a total work of art), where nature, parkland, garden, architecture, art and design come together as a unified whole – a vision shaped by its former owner, Prince Eugen (1865–1947), the youngest son of King Oscar II of Sweden. “This was a profound wish of the prince himself and something we work hard to honour,” says museum director Karin Sidén. The estate’s architecture, designed by Ferdinand Boberg, reflects this vision, blending elegance with functionality.

School visit. Photo: PEW

Prince Eugen showed an interest in art early in life. However, unlike most royals who dabbled in art as amateurs, Eugen pursued it as a serious lifelong vocation, making a name for himself as a talented landscape painter and a respected art collector. He also loved nature. “Second to art, I think flowers are my greatest joy,” he wrote in a letter in 1901, shortly after moving into the stunning seafront estate. During his many travels across Europe, he was inspired by parks and gardens, and collected flower seeds for his own garden, not least from Tunbridge Wells in England. He also purchased the many sculptures on display (often with a specific location in mind).

The book New Kreuterbüch by Leonard Fuchs, 1543. From the exhibition In Bloom – Art & Botany. Photo: Hagströmerbiblioteket, Karolinska Institutet

Much effort and preparation have therefore been put into this year’s main exhibition opening in March 2026, Det blommande – Konst & Botanik (In Bloom – Art & Botany). Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in botanical art from near and afar, explore botanical symbolism and the role of plant illustration in science. The programme also includes in-depth talks about the museum’s unique plant collection – still referred to as “the prince’s flowers” – and the sensory impact of flowers, complemented by concerts and special events. “This exhibition is at the core of our identity, and will infiltrate the entire museum for the whole spring and summer,” says Sidén.

While the majority of the museum’s annual 400,000 visitors come in summer, Waldemarsudde can be enjoyed year-round by all ages. Whether you are drawn by the art and the natural beauty of the seven-hectare park and gardens or want to have a coffee in the quaint garden café or join a painting course, this is a gem that should not be missed. Let the blooming art exhibition provide the perfect reason to visit and experience why it remains one of Stockholm’s most treasured cultural landmarks.