Water colour by architect Bendt Nielsen.
The exhibition is based around three themes: geology (creation of the landscape), natural history and cultural history. Visitors are able to learn how the flora and fauna in the Lake District of central Jutland have adapted to life in and around the fresh water.
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Geology
During the final melting of the Glacial period’s enormous glaciers about 12,000 to 15,000 years ago, immense quantities of clay, sand, gravel and stones were deposited here. This material had been scraped off Scandinavia’s rock massifs by the immense pressure of the ice and then transported south and southwest. The melt water ran off in the direction of the North Atlantic and continually altered the landscape until the ice finally disappeared 12,000 years ago.
With the growth of vegetation, the Lake District of Central Jutland got what is its present character. Traces from the Ice Age can still be seen everywhere under the light cover of vegetation. Hills and mounts, valleys, plateaus, reservoirs, lakes and hollows are all a result of the onrushing strength of the melt water. An energy and power that is difficult to imagine today as the river Gudenå meanders slowly on its way.
In the museum’s exhibition there is a stone which has had its surface sandblasted by the freezing storms at the foot of the glacier. It is also worthwhile looking at the boulders that form the foundation of the building. Each and everyone can be traced back to some region in Norway, Sweden and Finland. They are the silent witnesses to the formation of the landscape.
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Nature
Life in fresh water 
Water is essential to all life on the planet.
The Freshwater Museum shows aspects of the diversity of animal and plant-life that is to be found in fresh water and the waterways. It explains how the various species have adapted to life in and around fresh water.
The aquariums 
One aquarium has predatory fish such as pike, zanders (pike-perch) and eels. The other contains peaceful fish such as burbots, bream and roach.
Many of the fish are nocturnal and guests who visit when the museum is open in the evenings can see this for themselves.
The cultural history of the fresh water 
In the Lake District of Central Jutland, there is a symbiotic relationship between nature and culture. This has caused many alterations in the landscape.
The water-level has been changing since the Viking age. The monks in the monasteries in the Lake District of Central Jutland built the first water-mills using Gudenå’s water-power. Examples of the dammed-up water can be seen at Vilholt Mølle, Klostermølle, Fuldbro Mølle, Vosgårde and Rye Mølle.
In 1921 Tange Power-station, which was situated on a new dam, began producing electricity. Until that time the river had been an important water-way, in particular for traffic from Silkeborg to Randers Fjord.
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The Freshwater Museum exhibits different fishing methods through the ages. Among others is an exhibition devoted to ice fishing, where the story of "kolpe" fishing is told.
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The exhibition also contains stories about water mills and the local production of rush shoes.
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Interplay and opposition
Man interferes with and changes the natural cycle of the water and its constituent substances. This is caused by water catchments, drainage, damming and the straightening of watercourses as well as the discharge of pollutants from households and from industry. The regulated lakes and rivers are recipients for treated sewage, but there remain problems with, for example, the accumulation of phosphates. This accumulation is due to the discharge of poorly treated sewage from before 1980. It was then that the County Councils began carrying out stricter controls according to quality rules laid down for discharges from treatment plants to watercourses and lakes. It is expected to take up to 25 years before the accumulation of phosphates is dispersed.
Topical field studies proves improvements as more frequent traces of otters and observations of osprey indicates better living conditions.
Se also The boat collection
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