The North Sea Oceanarium is the biggest aquarium in North Europe. The idea of building an aquarium in Hirtshals was produced by local politicians and businessmen in the 1970´ties. The idea developed further by proposing to establish a fisheries research center with a public aquarium. The North Sea Museum, which ended up by becoming an integrated aquarium and museum for contemporary fishery, was opened in 1984. The big extension with the oceanarium containing 4.5 million litres of water was opened in 1998. In December 2003 the new wing was destroyed by a violent fire. The rebuilding took 18 months, and in that period only the old building and the outdoor area was open to the public.