Background

Næstved Museum – Boderne

Medieval merchants’ stalls reborn as an intimate showcase of Kähler ceramics, Holmegaard glass and South Zealand craftsmanship in the heart of old Næstved.

4

Housed in a row of beautifully restored medieval stalls by Sct Peders Church, Næstved Museum – Boderne is the intimate design and craft wing of Næstved Museum. Here, you step into atmospheric vaulted rooms filled with Holmegaard glass, Kähler ceramics and local silver, tracing South Zealand’s craftsmanship from the 19th century to today. The setting blends centuries-old brickwork with colourful Scandinavian design, making this a compact yet rich stop for culture lovers in central Næstved.

A brief summary to Boderne

  • Sct Peders Kirkeplads 8, Næstved, 4700, DK
  • +4570701236
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1 to 2 hours
  • Free
  • Environment icon Indoor
  • Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
  • Tuesday 11 am-5 pm
  • Wednesday 11 am-5 pm
  • Thursday 11 am-5 pm
  • Friday 11 am-5 pm
  • Saturday 11 am-3 pm

Local tips

  • Combine Boderne with Næstved Museum’s Helligåndshuset site the same day to see both medieval architecture and the broader cultural history collections.
  • Plan around opening hours: Boderne typically opens late morning and closes mid‑afternoon on Saturdays, with no regular hours on Sunday and Monday.
  • Leave some time to stroll Sct Peders Kirkeplads and the surrounding streets; the church and old town views nicely complement the museum visit.
  • Photography of objects is generally fine without flash, but check signage in individual rooms, especially around sensitive glass displays.
  • If you have mobility needs, consult the museum or accessibility information in advance; Boderne has documented efforts to improve access in its historic buildings.
widget icon

Getting There

  • Train and short walk from Næstved Station

    From Næstved Station, Boderne lies within central Næstved and can be reached on foot in about 10–15 minutes at a relaxed pace. The route through the town centre is mostly paved and gently sloping, but some cobblestone sections around Sct Peders Kirkeplads may be uneven for wheelchairs and prams. Regional trains connect Næstved with Copenhagen and other Zealand towns several times per hour during the day, with standard off‑peak adult single fares from Copenhagen typically around 110–140 DKK depending on ticket type.

  • Local bus within Næstved

    Several local bus lines serve stops in Næstved’s historic centre within roughly a 5‑minute walk of Sct Peders Kirkeplads. Journey times from outlying residential districts to the centre are usually 10–20 minutes, depending on the route. Buses run more frequently on weekdays than at weekends and in the evenings, so check current timetables before you travel. A single adult ticket purchased on board or via local ticket apps is generally in the range of 24–30 DKK within the city zones.

  • Car or rental car in central Næstved

    Arriving by car, allow about 5–10 minutes’ drive from most parts of Næstved to the streets around Boderne, depending on traffic. The museum itself sits in the old town where streets are narrow and some areas are restricted, so plan to use public parking areas a few hundred metres away and continue on foot. Central parking is a mix of time‑limited free spaces and paid areas, commonly around 10–20 DKK per hour; always check local signage for current rules and maximum stay times.

Boderne location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Any Weather
  • Weather icon Rain / Wet Weather
  • Weather icon Cold Weather
  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures

Unlock the Best of Boderne

Buy tickets

    No tickets available

Book tours with entry

    No tours available

Book tours without entry

    No tours available

Discover more about Boderne

Medieval trading houses turned design showcase

Boderne occupies a characterful complex of former medieval stalls on Sct Peders Kirkeplads, once used as simple accommodation and trading spaces just off the church square. Behind the thick brick walls, you can still sense the building’s origins in the narrow rooms, low ceilings and heavy beams that run the length of the structure. Restored during the late 20th century, the complex now fuses old masonry and timber with discreet museum fittings, letting the architecture remain a central part of the visit. The setting feels distinctly local: church spire outside, cobblestones underfoot, and a layout that follows the footprint of the original stalls. Moving from room to room, you get an immediate feel for Næstved’s medieval street pattern and how life once clustered around the parish church and market.

Kähler ceramics across four generations

One of Boderne’s main draws is its deep dive into the story of the Herman A. Kähler ceramics factory, which helped put Næstved on Denmark’s design map. In several adjoining rooms, showcases chart the evolution of Kähler pieces over four generations, from robust earthenware to refined art pottery with lustrous glazes. Here you can study the subtle differences in form and decoration between early utilitarian wares and later artistic experiments. Signature striped vases, matte surfaces, and richly coloured glazes demonstrate how the workshop kept pace with changing tastes while maintaining a distinctly Danish character. Wall texts and object groupings highlight links between everyday home life, emerging design trends and the growing international reputation of Scandinavian ceramics.

Holmegaard glass and the art of light

Boderne also dedicates space to Holmegaard glass, another South Zealand success story. Two rooms follow production from the mid‑19th century to contemporary designs, with shelves of bowls, vases and stemware that show how glassmakers played with clarity, colour and texture. You can compare delicate blown pieces with more sculptural modern forms, noticing how changing technologies opened new possibilities. The way the objects are lit – catching edges, curves and air bubbles – underlines glass as an art of light as much as of material. Together with the ceramics collection, this section creates a compact survey of Danish applied arts rooted in the local area yet influential far beyond it.

Silver, everyday objects and local craftsmanship

Beyond the headline collections, smaller displays introduce silverware produced in the surrounding region and ceramics from across Denmark. These cases often mix local commissions with more widely known makers, situating Næstved within broader national craft traditions. The scale of the museum invites slow looking: you can pause over engraved details on a coffee pot, or compare shapes of jars and jugs built for different domestic tasks. Subtle interpretive material connects these objects to workshops, households and social rituals, making clear that design history here is also the story of everyday life on South Zealand.

A compact museum experience in the old town

Boderne’s intimate size makes it easy to explore in an hour or two without feeling rushed. The sequence of rooms naturally leads you from medieval building fabric to 19th‑ and 20th‑century craft, with occasional glimpses out to the church square grounding you in the present town. Located in one of Næstved’s most picturesque corners, the museum fits seamlessly into a wider wander through the historic centre. It works equally well as a focused visit for design enthusiasts or a gentle introduction to local heritage for casual strollers who simply step in from the square to see what lies behind the old brick façade.

Busiest months of the year

Busiest hours of the day

Popular Experiences near Boderne

Popular Hotels near Boderne

Select Currency