Hope & Despair - Destination Trekantområdet

The development project "Hope & Despair" aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration with German and Danish partners, focusing on World War II. It also seeks to develop and present five experience packages, which will include accommodation, culinary experiences, visits to local businesses, and tours of several participating museums.

The project’s goal is not only to create and promote experience packages but also to enhance storytelling and communication between World War II memorial sites in the border region by connecting attractions through unified experience design and narrative.

Until now, museums across the Danish-German border have only collaborated sporadically. This is the first time that Danish-German cultural and historical attractions and tourism organizations are working together to share the story of World War II and its horrors. Geographically, the seven museums are located within a reasonable distance of each other in Southern Denmark and Northern Germany, linked by a common historical focus.

Together, these seven locations have the potential to attract more visitors while exploring an untapped potential in the historical connections across the border. The museums' expertise will build historical links while integrating cultural differences. The project is ambitious and challenging, but the combination of partners makes it unique and allows for a collective effort.

Destination Trekantområdet will contribute by supporting marketing and press efforts in the German, Dutch, and Danish markets, while also working to attract tour operators to the region, with the goal of promoting and selling the experience packages.

The development project launched in March 2023, with a total duration of three years. It is funded by Interreg 6A Deutschland-Danmark, a program aimed at promoting development in the Danish-German region.

The leading partner of the project is Design School Kolding, with other Danish partners including Museum Kolding, Frøslev Camp Museum, the National Museum of Denmark, Billund Municipality Museums, Destination Trekantområdet, and Destination Sønderjylland.