How a Copenhagen museum director became the nation's go-to expert on historical murders and criminal cases
Frederik Strand leads the Police Museum in Copenhagen while authoring bestselling true crime books and appearing regularly on Danish podcasts and documentaries. As Denmark's foremost expert on historical murder cases, Strand has helped fuel a nationwide true crime boom that's drawing younger audiences to museums across the country.
Quick Facts
Frederik Strand holds a rare position in Denmark's cultural landscape: as director of Politimuseet (the Police Museum) in Copenhagen, he combines institutional authority with the popular appeal of a true crime celebrity. A police historian, author, and lecturer, Strand has become the country's most recognizable voice on historical criminal cases—a status that reflects both his scholarly credentials and the explosive growth of true crime interest among Danish audiences.
Strand's expertise spans true crime, criminal journalism, and historical murder investigations. He regularly appears on "Danske Drabssager" (Danish Murder Cases), one of Denmark's most popular true crime podcasts, where he provides context and analysis on some of the country's most notorious cases. His reach extends to television as well: he was featured in the DR documentary series "Danske mord" (Danish Murders), bringing historical investigations to a broader national audience. His podcast appearances include discussions on the Spotify series "De Forbudte Billeder" (The Forbidden Images), where he explores lesser-known chapters of Danish criminal history.
Strand has authored several true crime books that have resonated with Danish readers. His most prominent title, "Jagten på morderne stopper aldrig—Genåbnede danske kriminalsager" (The Hunt for the Murderers Never Stops—Reopened Danish Criminal Cases), achieved an average rating of 3.58 on Goodreads across 309 ratings and 20 reviews, indicating solid reader engagement. His other works include "De forbudte" (The Forbidden [Images]), which investigates lesser-known criminal history, and "Med de bare næver" (With Bare Fists), published in 2023, which examines historical murders committed without weapons.
Beyond individual cases, Strand has observed and commented on the broader cultural shift driving increased interest in true crime. In an interview with Berlingske, he noted that the true crime wave has measurably increased younger visitors to Danish museums—a trend that suggests the genre's appeal extends far beyond podcast listeners and television viewers into institutional spaces traditionally associated with older demographics. This observation positions Strand at the intersection of popular culture and academic preservation, helping institutions adapt to changing audience interests while maintaining scholarly rigor.
