Peter Hansens Have, Nakskov

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.