Holmegaard Mose (Holmegaard Moor)

A rare raised bog in the heart of Zealand

Holmegaard Mose stretches across low-lying terrain north of Næstved, forming the largest raised bog on the island of Zealand and one of Denmark’s most distinctive wetland landscapes. Once covering around 500 hectares, the bog complex today consists of several linked areas, including the high bog core, surrounding fens and patches of birch and pine woodland. Underfoot, thick carpets of sphagnum moss hold water like a sponge, creating a floating, gently undulating surface dotted with small pools and heather. The area is protected as part of the European Natura 2000 network, recognised for its rare habitat types such as active raised bog, degraded bog capable of regeneration and alkaline fens. Restoration projects have focused on blocking old drainage ditches and removing trees so water levels could rise again, allowing the bog to recover. As a result, Holmegaard Mose is now one of the best places in eastern Denmark to experience genuine high bog nature up close.

From peat cutting to nature restoration

For more than a century, Holmegaard Mose was intensively exploited for peat, which was cut, dried and used as fuel for local heating and, most famously, for the Holmegaard glassworks. Long straight peat cuttings and small canals still shape parts of the landscape, silent reminders of a time when the bog was a working industrial resource. Rail tracks once carried peat out of the mire; today only subtle traces remain, hidden under vegetation. In recent decades, the focus has shifted from extraction to conservation. Large-scale restoration has re-wetted about 70 hectares of bog, slowing tree encroachment and encouraging sphagnum to recolonise. To make the recovering nature more accessible, simple infrastructure such as a low viewing tower, waymarked paths and information points has been added at selected edges of the bog. The result is a landscape where cultural history and raw nature sit side by side, with human traces gradually being reclaimed by moss and water.

Stone Age hunters and the world’s oldest bows

Long before peat cutters and glassworkers, Holmegaard Mose was home to Stone Age hunter-gatherers who camped along the waterlogged margins some 9,000 years ago. Waterlogged conditions in the bog preserved organic materials that would normally decay, including wooden artefacts. Among the most remarkable finds are a series of elm bows from the Mesolithic period, considered among the oldest and best-preserved bows in Europe. These so‑called Holmegaard bows, now held in national collections, offer a rare glimpse into early hunting technology, with their broad, flat limbs and carefully shaped profiles still clearly visible. Other archaeological discoveries include bone tools, flint implements and remains of camp sites, revealing how people once exploited the rich wetlands for game, fish and plants. Walking here today, it is easy to imagine the shoreline shifting over millennia as the bog slowly grew, enveloping traces of human life within its accumulating peat.

Walking the trails and watching wildlife

Visitors usually experience Holmegaard Mose via modest trails leading in from the surrounding farmland and forest. Boardwalks and narrow paths guide you across wetter sections, while drier ridges and old peat tracks provide easier footing. The walking is generally easy and mostly flat, though surfaces can be muddy or slippery after rain, and some stretches feel pleasantly remote once you leave the edge of the trees behind. The bog supports a mosaic of habitats, from open sphagnum lawns and cotton grass tufts to fringe birch scrub and richer fen areas where orchids and other specialised plants thrive. Birdlife is another highlight, with chances to spot breeding waders, reed-dwelling species and raptors hunting over the open bog. Insects, including dragonflies and butterflies, are abundant in summer, and with patience you may hear the calls of cranes or glimpse deer moving quietly at the forest margins.

Atmosphere, seasons and practical notes

The mood at Holmegaard Mose changes markedly with the seasons. On clear summer days the bog can feel bright and expansive, with wide skies reflected in dark pools and the hum of insects all around. In autumn, colours deepen as birch leaves turn gold against the muted greens and browns of the moss. Winter brings frost and thin ice that accentuates the subtle relief of the hummocks, while misty days lend the landscape an almost otherworldly character. Facilities at the site are intentionally limited to preserve the sense of wildness. There is a small parking area near Fensmark Skov that fills quickly, a few information boards and simple picnic-style seating at some access points. Paths are largely unpaved, so sturdy footwear is essential, and sticking to marked routes protects both the fragile bog surface and your own safety. Many visitors combine a walk here with time at the nearby Holmegaard Værk museum, linking the restored landscape to the glassworks history it once fuelled.

Why Holmegaard Mose matters today

Beyond its quiet beauty, Holmegaard Mose plays a significant role in contemporary conservation. Raised bogs are among Europe’s most threatened habitats, and their peat layers store large amounts of carbon accumulated over thousands of years. By re‑wetting and protecting the area, managers are not only safeguarding rare plants and animals but also helping to keep this carbon locked away, turning the bog into a natural climate ally. For travelers, Holmegaard Mose offers a chance to experience this rare habitat without travelling to more remote parts of the country. It is a place for unhurried walks, careful observation and a sense of stepping sideways in time, from Stone Age hunters through industrial peat cutting to modern restoration. The combination of natural richness, deep time and light-touch visitor infrastructure makes it a quietly memorable stop in southern Zealand.