The idea to have an Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea originated at Malbork Castle in Poland in 1990. The Association was founded at Malbork Castle in July 1991. It incorporated nine countries around the Baltic Sea. The general assembly meets annually and one member from each country is chosen to be a representative in the Board. The Board meets twice a year. Besides this, the Association has a working group preparing lectures of different topics for the meetings.

The Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea is non-political and non-profitable organisation. The aim of the Association is to promote cooperation and to increase the understanding of the cultural heritage between castles and museums around the Baltic Sea.

The aim is to establish a network for teaching and learning amongst colleagues from similar castles and museum collections.

The six pillars of the Association are research, education, restoration, management, marketing and tourism.

In 1994 the Association published the first tourist book in the region, 'Castles around the Baltic Sea'.

The President of the Association is Bengt Kylsberg from Skokloster Castle Sweden, the Vice President Mariusz Mierzwinski from Malbork castle Poland, the secretary is Anne Parikka from Häme Castle Finland, the treasurer is Kirstin Eliasen from Nyborg Castle Denmark and the members of the Board are Virgilijus Poviliunas from Traku Istorijos Muziejus Lithuania, Ina Line from Bauskas Pils Muzejs Latvia, Virge Laanaste from Narva Castle Museum Estonia, Nadiezda Malkova, State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg Russia, Vivi Jensen from Koldinghus Denmark, Juliane Moser from Eutin Castle Germany and Sergei Jakimov from Kaliningrad Russia.