Næstved Municipality: Art, Nature and Trails

At Holmegaard Værk, traditional Danish craftsmanship and innovative design come together in the historic buildings of a glassworks. The site is also home to the largest collection of glass samples in the Nordic countries. Visitors can watch glass artists making glass at hot furnaces. As demonstrations and access arrangements may change, check them before your trip. Craftsmanship and design are just as much at the heart of the experience as the site’s unique history.

Discover Art and History

In the centre of Næstved, the Næstved Museum is housed in Helligåndshuset. This listed building is a medieval almshouse dating from the 15th century and the only surviving Helligåndshus in Denmark. Changing exhibitions and special events at the museum bring the municipality’s history to life. The building and museum therefore offer two different starting points for a visit: the history of the house and the wider history of the municipality.

Næstved Kunstby brings art throughout the city: its collection includes graffiti and gable paintings by international artists and is rooted in a graffiti tradition spanning more than 30 years. Rønnebæksholm, Næstved’s art gallery, offers a different artistic focus. It hosts creative activities for children and other events. The grounds include Herregårdshaven and a musical nature base, where visitors can experiment with sounds and melodies.

Grønnegades Kaserne Kulturcenter also combines historic architecture with cultural offerings. It is located in a former dragoon and hussar barracks and has its own stages, a regional theatre and a children’s culture centre. Concerts, exhibitions and talks are held there. Næstved Automobile Museum offers a different historical perspective: it features a reconstruction of Præstø’s main street as it might have looked in the 1950s.

Trails, Water and Nature

The Susåen flows through the municipality; canoeing is possible on the stretch between Vetterslev and Næstved. Permit requirements and access rules may change, so check them before setting out. For cyclists, a wide, two-lane cycle path runs for 10 kilometres between Karrebæksminde and Næstved, along Karrebæk Fjord and the canal. On Enø, near Karrebæksminde, you can walk or cycle in the countryside and along the bathing beach.

For a shorter route, try the 1.2-kilometre path in the sculpture park along Næstved’s harbour promenade. It is open to everyone year-round and lets you experience the sculptures on foot or by bicycle. The cycle path along the harbour promenade is part of National Cycle Route 8, the Baltic Sea Route; the footpath there forms part of the long-distance hiking trail Sjællandsleden. By comparison, the route between Karrebæksminde and Næstved is considerably longer, at 10 kilometres.

Fodsporet starts at Herlufsholm Idrætscenter in Næstved. The 2.5-metre-wide, paved trail passes through varied landscapes in southwestern Zealand and can be used by cyclists, runners, dog walkers and inline skaters. Herlufsholm Forest offers another way to experience the area on foot: a walk takes you around a small section of the Susåen. The forest is protected as a so-called untouched forest. Around Næstved, the Green Ring provides easy access to distinctive woodland and natural areas close to workplaces and homes.

In the grounds of Gavnø Castle, seasonal flowers and bulbs come into full bloom. For active fun with climbing elements, there is the family adventure park Gavnø Go Fly, with six courses at different heights and levels of difficulty. Course availability and age requirements may change, so check before your trip. BonBon-Land offers family rides such as Bæver Rafting, Vandrotten and Søløven; the availability of individual rides may also vary during the season.

Getting Here and Finding Your Way

There are four railway stations in the municipality, all served by regional trains. Næstved Station is centrally located in the city; DSB regional trains connect it to destinations across Denmark. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can weigh up your priorities: rail connections and cultural attractions, or trails, nature and activities by the water. This makes it easy to plan your trip around the experiences that matter to you.

Turistperronen is Næstved’s staffed tourist information centre. It provides information about attractions and interesting places in Næstved and the surrounding area, as well as in South and East Zealand and on Møn. Facilities include shelter from the weather, a toilet, step-free access, free mobile phone charging and free Wi-Fi. The market days in Næstved’s old market town offer another facet of a visit: freshly baked bread, local vegetables, homemade delicacies and coffee, as well as arts and crafts and flowers.

Discover more destinations: Næstved, Menstrup, Glumsø, Gelsted, Sandved, Fuglebjerg Municipality, Karrebæksminde, Tappernøje, Holmegaard, Holme Olstrup.

Back to the main travel overview: Zealand.