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Peter Hansens Have, Nakskov

An expansive private botanical garden on Vestlolland, where lakes, woodland paths and a vast plant collection create a tranquil green escape near Nakskov.

4.5

Tucked away on Vestlolland near Nakskov, Peter Hansens Have is a 55,000 m² private botanical garden showcasing one of Northern Europe’s largest privately owned plant collections. Winding paths lead past ponds, mature trees, rhododendron groves and themed beds that reflect a lifetime of horticultural passion. The atmosphere is calm and contemplative, with birdsong, gentle water features and plenty of corners to sit, notice seasonal changes and simply enjoy the richness of plants in a thoughtfully composed landscape.

A brief summary to Peter Hansens Have

  • Vesternæsvej 56, Nakskov, 4900, DK
  • +4554948583
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours
  • Budget
  • Environment icon Outdoor
  • Mobile reception: 3 out of 5
  • Tuesday 10 am-6 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-6 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-6 pm
  • Friday 10 am-6 pm
  • Saturday 10 am-6 pm
  • Sunday 10 am-6 pm

Local tips

  • Bring cash for the entrance fee, as electronic payment is not always available at the garden gate.
  • Wear comfortable, water-resistant footwear; many paths are gravel or grass and can be damp after rain.
  • Plan extra time in late spring or early summer, when rhododendrons and many flowering shrubs are typically at their most colourful.
  • Pack a light snack or picnic and use the seating near the ponds to enjoy the quiet surroundings between walks.
  • Have a light jacket or windbreaker handy; the coastal climate on Lolland can change quickly even on bright days.
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Getting There

  • Car from Nakskov town centre

    Driving from central Nakskov to Peter Hansens Have typically takes about 10–15 minutes. The route uses standard local roads and is straightforward for most drivers. There is usually free parking near the entrance, but spaces can feel limited on busy sunny weekends, so arriving earlier in the day helps. Fuel is the main cost; for such a short trip it remains only a few euros’ worth in total.

  • Bicycle from Nakskov

    Cycling from Nakskov to the garden generally takes around 25–35 minutes at an easy pace, using local roads typical for rural Denmark. The terrain is mostly flat, making it accessible for casual cyclists and older children, but you should be comfortable sharing the road with cars in places. There is no extra cost beyond any bicycle rental, which locally often runs around 80–150 DKK per day depending on the provider.

  • Taxi from Nakskov

    Local taxis from Nakskov to Peter Hansens Have usually cover the distance in 10–15 minutes. This is a convenient option if you are not driving or cycling, particularly for families or visitors with limited mobility. Fares for such a short rural trip are typically in the range of 120–200 DKK one way, depending on time of day and exact pickup point, and it is advisable to confirm the price with the driver before departure.

Peter Hansens Have location weather suitability

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Discover more about Peter Hansens Have

A private garden grown into a living collection

Peter Hansens Have began as a personal passion project and has evolved into what is often described as Vestlolland’s botanical garden, spreading across some 55,000 square metres on the outskirts of Nakskov. Over decades, the owner has gathered an unusually broad range of trees, shrubs and perennials, experimenting with how rare species and familiar garden plants can thrive in this mild corner of Denmark. Rather than feeling like a formal institution, the garden retains the character of an extended home plot, carefully tended but still intimate and human in scale. What makes the place distinctive is not only the size but the depth of the plant collection. Beds and borders are layered with species from different climate zones, while mature trees create a canopy that shelters more delicate specimens beneath. As you move through the site, you are effectively walking through a living plant library, where foliage textures, bark patterns and seasonal blooms continually change the scene.

Water, woodland and winding paths

The layout of Peter Hansens Have invites slow exploration. Curving gravel paths thread their way between mixed borders and lawns, guiding you towards small lakes and ponds that mirror the sky and overhanging branches. These stretches of water break the garden into distinct rooms, each with its own mood, from open, sunlit lawns to more shadowy, secluded corners near the banks. One of the highlights is a rhododendron woodland, where dense shrubs under tall trees transform in late spring into a tapestry of colour. Elsewhere, small bridges, pavilions and benches are positioned to frame particular views, encouraging you to pause and notice how light falls across a bed of grasses or how a group of conifers contrasts with flowering shrubs nearby. Even on breezier days, the garden feels sheltered, with hedges and tree belts softening the wind and creating quiet pockets.

Seasonal rhythms and sensory details

Although many people associate botanical gardens with peak summer bloom, Peter Hansens Have has a distinct rhythm across the year. In spring, early bulbs and flowering trees signal the end of winter, with splashes of fresh green and blossom reflected in the ponds. Summer tends to be the most lush period, when herbaceous borders, roses and water plants are at their fullest, and long days allow unhurried strolls into the late afternoon. Autumn brings a different kind of spectacle, as deciduous trees and shrubs turn shades of amber, crimson and gold, often mirrored on still water surfaces. Even outside the main growing season, the structure of the garden remains engaging: evergreens, conifers and the sculptural silhouettes of bare branches give the landscape form, while the sound of water, the crunch of gravel and the occasional call of birds maintain a sense of life.

Quiet corners for contemplation and learning

Beyond its visual appeal, the garden works as a gentle introduction to botany and garden design. Plantings are arranged to showcase differences in leaf shape, height and colour, and you can trace how certain species have been grouped for contrast or harmony. Many visitors simply treat the garden as a peaceful green escape, but those with a keen interest in horticulture will find plenty to study, from how shade-tolerant plants are layered under trees to how damp margins are used for moisture-loving species. Scattered seating and a pavilion by the water invite you to sit for longer, turning a walk into a quiet break. With relatively level paths and a compact overall layout compared to large public parks, it is easy to adjust a visit to your own pace, whether you are content with a short loop or keen to investigate every side path.

Visiting practicalities and atmosphere

Peter Hansens Have operates with set opening hours across the season, typically during the day, so visits tend to be calm and unhurried. The atmosphere is more like stepping into a very large private garden than entering a formal attraction: you notice the care in neatly maintained beds, mown lawns and well-kept structures, but also the slightly personal touch in plant choices and combinations. There is usually basic visitor infrastructure such as restrooms and simple seating, but the focus here is firmly on the plants and the landscape rather than on extensive facilities. It is worth bringing suitable footwear for gravel and grass paths that may be damp after rain, as well as extra layers for the often breezy coastal weather on Lolland. Allow enough time to let the garden slow you down; this is a place where details reward patience, and where a single circuit often leads to a second, slower one.

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