ABOUT NÄSTVED MUSEUM

At Næstved Museum, history comes alive for the whole family. Here you can follow the development of the medieval town from the Ice Age to the present day and experience cultural and historical stories that are directly linked to the unique history of the Næstved region.

Meet the Vikings from Vester Egesborg, explore the executioner's room among skeletons, axes and chains and feel the rush of history in the Helligåndshuset - a listed medieval care institution from the 15th century that still tells its own stories.

Regardless of age, the museum invites immersion and fascination, where stories of the past are brought to life.

THE HOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Many medieval market towns had houses of the Holy Spirit. They functioned as a combination of a hospital and a nursing home for the poor. Volunteer caregivers under the direction of a priest looked after foundlings, orphans, the sick and the elderly.

In the Middle Ages, the houses of the Holy Spirit were independent ecclesiastical institutions under the bishop of the individual diocese. Some houses of the Holy Spirit were converted into monasteries of the Holy Spirit, subordinate to the Order of the Holy Spirit in Rome. The order was founded in southern France in 1198 as a hospital order with the purpose of caring for the poor. The order was dissolved in 1847.

The Holy Spirit House in Næstved is known from around 1390. The beautiful building that houses the Næstved Museum, however, dates from the 1400s-1500s. It is believed that the building was originally a row of stalls. (rental property) which was rebuilt in the early 16th century in connection with plans to convert the building into a Holy Spirit Monastery. The plans were abandoned, and therefore the Holy Spirit House in Næstved is the only preserved Holy Spirit House in Denmark.

During the Reformation, the operation of the Holy Spirit House was taken over by the city in 1532 and functioned as a hospital for the poor until 1883. From 1827-1883 it was also a workhouse. In the period 1853-1903 it also functioned as a military hospital for the Dragoon Regiment. After that it was used as a residence and depot. It was restored in 1927 and arranged as a museum. The Holy Spirit House is owned by Næstved Municipality.

ORGANIZATION, RESEARCH, COLLECTIONS, ETC.

Museum organization

Næstved Museum is part of Museum Southeast Denmark.

Here you will find an overview of Museum Sydøstdanmark's management and departments, as well as the names and contact information of relevant employees. Read more .
Research

Næstved Museum conducts research into topics within archaeology and modern times and works towards ensuring that the topics we research are also societal issues, and therefore we emphasize relevance to today's society. This can be done, among other things, by selecting topics that can shed light on connections between larger areas and over time.

The research must contribute with significant research within the field. Significant research here means projects with a clear problem on a well-founded theoretical and methodological basis, which generate new knowledge or present new approaches to the area.

Our research must always meet both national and international standards. In practice, this means that we comply with the general concept of research and the requirements set for research in the Museum Act. Therefore, all our research at Næstved Museum is based on three key concepts: Originality, transparency and validity.

  • Originality means that we develop new knowledge, insight and realization .
  • Transparency means that we use relevant methods and contextualize in relevant theory formations.
  • Validity means that we account for the work's relationship to relevant areas of knowledge.

The goal is for research at Næstved Museum to participate in both national and international contexts. Therefore, we emphasize collaboration with other museums and research institutions at home and abroad.

The research at Næstved Museum is continuously communicated here on the website, in our and other exhibitions, in publications and at lectures - both at a popular and scientific level. The research must ensure a high quality in the center's exhibitions, activities and other communication.
Collections

Since 1917, Næstved Museum has diligently collected objects and excavated from the past. Among other things, large demolition or construction projects in Næstved have given rise to archaeological investigations.

In the House of the Holy Spirit There is ample opportunity to take a closer look at some of the interesting finds and objects with fun stories that show how people have lived from the Ice Age to the present in Næstved. Among other things, the hats that women wore 100 years ago, a mass grave, treasure finds and ceramics, and finds from the Vikings at Vester Egesborg and from medieval Næstved.

On December 31, 2018, the stalls where the exhibition of Holmegaard glass and Kähler ceramics was displayed closed. The items from the stalls have been packed up and taken to Holmegaard Værk .

If you would like to know more, have any doubts or have other questions, please feel free to contact us. You can contact us by email museerne@museerne.dk or call us on +45 7070 1236.