Næstved is an old Danish market town located on South Zealand
near the mouth of the Suså. With its 43,803 inhabitants (2020), it
is the country's 15th largest city and Zealand's fifth largest city.
Næstved is the capital of Næstved Municipality which has 82,883
inhabitants and belongs to Region Zealand. Næstved has 63,194
inhabitants incl. the satellite cities Fensmark, Fuglebjerg,
Gelsted, Glumsø, Herlufmagle, Holme-Olstrup, Mogenstrup and
Rønnebæk.
The name of the town is formed by the joints næs
(protruding land tip) and tved (clearing). Næstved is among the
country's oldest towns, and it was founded in 1135 and received
market town privileges as early as 1140. In the Middle Ages, it was
a large town and among the most important on Zealand. In the 17th
century, the town's progress stopped to improve again at the end of
the 18th century, when the state barracks, Grønnegades Barracks, was
founded. During industrialization, the population grew steadily. A
railway and a canal made possible an actual harbor with an outlet in
Karrebæk Fjord. In the first half of the 20th century, the city
grew.
As the second largest city in the region, Næstved is
today a significant trading and industrial city with a large
catchment area. It is also an educational city with various youth
educations and educational offers for children and adults.
Previously, the city was known for its guardhouses, which have now
moved to Slagelse. Næstved is a station town and a railway junction
between Nykøbing Falster and Copenhagen and has several train
connections to other Zealand towns. Likewise, many bus routes in the
immediate area are based in Næstved.
Næstved is rich in
especially medieval architecture and has several museums and annual
cultural events, including the Green Concert. There is also a large
theater and music environment. Several major tourist attractions are
in the immediate vicinity of the city: the amusement park
BonBon-Land and Gavnø Castle. The city has many sports clubs and
covers a wide range of sports, as well as sports facilities such as
Næstved Arena and Næstved Stadium.
Næstved is composed of the two words næs and tved. Tved, which means clearing or clearing, i.e. a place where the trees have been removed, which dates from the Iron Age. Næs alludes to a headland, i.e. a peninsula. The meaning of Næstved is thus probably "the clearing behind the headland", as there are several headlands in front of the entrance to the town. The town is located on three headlands, Appenæs, Ydernæs and Grimstrup Næs.
The oldest archaeological traces in Næstved can be found around
Susåen. Already in the Iron Age, people have lived where the city is
located today. Archaeological finds have been made back from the 4th and
5th centuries.
Three graves from the Late Roman Iron Age (approx.
200-400 AD) and one grave from the Viking Age were found in the area at
Næstved Markjorde east of the town center in 1901-02.
Various orders of monks such as Franciscans (around 1240), Dominicans
(1266) and Benedictines began to build monasteries in the area, making
the city a religious center in the Middle Ages. Næstved's foundation is
indicated in the year 1135, when Peder Bodilsen donated a large amount
of money and land to the Benedictine Order so that they could create
Forest Monastery, which later became Herlufsholm. By this time, however,
some form of city already existed. As early as 1140, the city was given
the status of a market town. This year, it is also rumored that the men
in Næstved owed the king leadership, i.e. military service. Around the
year 1200, Saxo Grammaticus wrote that Susåen had previously been
navigable for ships, but that at this time it was so overgrown and
overcrowded that it has become so narrow that only the fewest vessels
could sail on it.
Due to its rich lands and its strategic
location in relation to the Hanseatic cities, medieval Næstved was a
very important town in Zealand, and in the 13th century St. Mortens
Church at Riddergade. At this time, the city was the second largest in
Zealand after Roskilde. An even older church was replaced in 1250 by St.
Peders Church, and the square around this Romanesque brick and chalk
stone church was named "Skt. Peders Kirkeplads". In 1259, there was a
church dispute in the country, and a battle was fought near the city
with Prince Jarimar of Rügen's great army against the general population
led by Margrethe Spränghest. Up to a few thousand of the king's men were
killed and thrown into a mass grave. In the 1270s and 1280s, it is said
that there were councilors and a city court in Næstved, and an actual
administration of the market town had thus arisen. In the years 1271,
1280 and 1297, the city was ravaged by violent fires. In 1280 at the
latest, Næstved got its city coat of arms with Saint Peter's keys to
heaven's gate. On St. On Gereon's Day, 10 October in 1298, the Pope's
representative, legate Isarnus, lit the Danish king Erik Menved in a
band, which took place in Næstved. There were troubled times in the
area. A grave has also been found in Sandbjerget with 60 people from
around the year 1300.
In 1307, a dispute arose between the town
council and Skovkloster, who was actually the lord of the town, as there
was disagreement about who was allowed to install and remove the town's
bailiff and councillors. The dispute ended with the king ordering that
the monastery still had supreme authority. From 1300 until 1530,
Skovkloster acquired around 50 town plots in Næstved through gifts and
purchases. Around the year 1300, the town allegedly had a large and
skilled woodcarving workshop, which supplied woodcarving work to
churches in South Zealand, Lolland and Falster. In the 14th century, the
city was almost surrounded by enemies, and their headquarters were some
fortified banks south of the city called Husvolden, which, however, were
stormed and occupied by King Valdemar Atterdag in 1345. After this,
things progressed for the city, which, thanks to a lively trade with the
northern German Hanseatic cities, soon became one of Zealand's largest
trading centers. Heligåndshuset was built around the year 1400 and
functioned as a hospital and poorhouse. Both the Franciscan and
Dominican orders had monasteries in Næstved, which was special, as these
two orders were otherwise only together in the large diocesan cities.
In 1402, Margrete 1 donated Gavnø, an island southwest of the city,
to the Dominican order so that a nunnery could be built. Gavnø became a
castle in 1755. The first school in the town arose around 1406, as an
alternative to Skovkloster. It was done in a three-storey building that
later came to be known as Peder Syvs Hus. It was demolished in 1880.
In 1426 Erik of Pomerania tried to take over Næstved from
Skovkloster. This led to the abbot's supremacy being abolished. Under
Eric of Pomerania, coins were also minted in Næstved, and the street
name Møntergade near Susåen testifies to this. Although several large
cities had sprung up around Øresund, Næstved was still among the cities
that supplied the most soldiers to the crown in 1481, surpassed only by
Copenhagen and Malmø. Næstved Harbor has already been expanded with a
bulwark from around 1400, and from 1446 a structure of over 150 meters
has been found. It shows that it has been a large port with room for
many ships, which has brought a lot of trade to the city.
From
the latter half of the 15th century and around 100 years onwards,
several public buildings were erected, many of which are preserved
today. From 1400 to 1484, the stalls, which are medieval stone buildings
by Skt. Peder's Church Square. The mayor Mogens Tuesen, who was behind
the newest parts of the stalls, also built Tuesen's Baths in 1484, which
was a public bath that was donated to St. Peter's Church.
In
1493, the country's oldest preserved guild house, Kompagnihuset, was
built in Kompagnistræde. Gilde is a professional association of traders,
in Næstved town's merchants. Around the year 1450, Næstved Gamle Rådhus
was built, which was in use right up to the 19th century.
In
Riddergade, the half-timbered building Apostelhuset was built around the
year 1500, and the two-storey half-timbered Ridderhuset was completed
around 100 years later.
Via Susåen and Karrebæk Fjord you had
access to the sea, and Næstved was an important trading town throughout
most of the Middle Ages, where trade was mainly with the North German
cities. However, only small ships could sail on Susåen. From around the
year 1500, the trade began to decrease, as the ships became larger and
therefore had difficulty getting all the way into the city.
Karrebæksminde was instead used for unloading and loading.
The
town's Gray Friars monastery, located in the middle of the town, was
closed down in 1532, just as many other monasteries were closed
immediately before the Reformation. The monks were therefore expelled
from the city. The monastery was then donated to the city by Christian
III, and it was demolished soon after to use the building materials.
Afterwards, a new square called Axeltorv was established, where the
monastery had previously been. In 1565, Frederik II gave up large royal
possessions in Næstved in favor of Hillerød in North Zealand when, in a
change of pace, he exchanged the ownership of Skovkloster for
Hillerødsholm, which he renamed Frederiksborg.
The city's progress only really stopped in the middle of the 17th
century, when the Swedish wars raged and the population began to
decline, which also happened as a result of a cold period called the
Little Ice Age that produced poor harvests. The harbor silted up, which
further made it difficult for the city to maintain its important trading
position. In the 18th century, several half-timbered buildings were
rebuilt from two to one storey, as there was no longer a need for such
large buildings. In 1769, the town had only about 1,300 inhabitants. In
1799, Det Gamle Ridehus was built together with a number of other old
cavalry barracks buildings in Grønnegade. This dragoon barracks existed
for almost 200 years before it was closed down. Today it is the Næstved
Culture House. Around 1800, the city's merchants also began working to
improve port conditions, which slowly improved trade in the city.
In 1825, mouth-blowing glass began at the factory Holmegaards
Glasværk a little north of the city, and this glassworks became very
famous for its glass art, also on a worldwide scale.
Næstved's population began a large increase around the middle of the
1800s, and it was increasing in the late 1800s and early 1900s. At the
same time, the growth of suburbs began in the market town's two rural
districts: Skt. Mortens Landdistrikt and Skt. Peders Rural District.
The population in the city was distributed in 1890 according to
trade routes in the following groups. Both breadwinners and dependents:
845 lived from intangible business (including the military), 2,329 from
crafts and industry, 1,140 from trade and turnover, seven from shipping,
64 from agriculture, 23 from horticulture, while 843 were distributed
among other professions, 135 lived from their means, 86 "had alms," and
30 were in prison. In St. Mortens Landdistrikt was the distribution in
the same year: 29 lived from immaterial activity, 181 from agriculture,
99 from industry, 13 from trade, 11 from their means, and 5 were under
the poor system. In St. Peders Landdistrikt was the distribution: 47
lived from agriculture and 21 from industry (Maglemølle Papirfabrik).
According to a census in 1906, the population was 7,633, of which 710
supported themselves by non-material activities, 161 by agriculture,
forestry and dairying, none by fishing, 3,989 by crafts and industry,
1,583 by trade and more, 464 by transport, 268 were shopkeepers, 303
lived on public support and 155 on other or unspecified business.
In the second half of the 19th century, Næstved experienced
significant industrial development. From 1855 to 1872, the number of
industries with at least five employees increased from eight with 104
employees to 10 with 179 employees. In 1855, Næstved had 6 brandy
distilleries, 1 cloth factory, 1 iron foundry, 1 sulfur plug factory, 1
pianoforte factory and 1 steam flour and grist mill. In 1869, in Næstved
there were 4 brandy distilleries, 2 cloth factories, 2 iron foundries, 1
steam flour and grist mill, 4 breweries, 1 steam spinning mill, 1 lime
kiln, 1 tobacco factory, 2 tanneries, 1 field preparation plant, 2
printing houses (from which Nestved Avis or Præstø Amts- and
Avertissements-tidende, Nestved Tidende or Sydsjællandsk Folkeblad and
the monthly magazine Hindholm were published). Around the turn of the
century, Næstved had 1 export pig slaughterhouse (joint-stock company,
established 1896), 1 margarine factory (joint-stock company, established
1890, later converted into a dairy), 1 mineral water factory
("Fortuna"), 2 iron foundries, several tobacco factories, 1 sugar
factory, 1 clothing factory, Kähler's Ceramic Factory, Maglemølle Paper
Factory, 1 Bavarian Beer Brewery, 3 White Beer Breweries, 2
Distilleries, 3 Printing Works, 1 Coffee Distillery and others. Two
newspapers continued to be published in Næstved: Næstved Avis and
Næstved Tidende.
Contributing to the industrial progress was
that, in the same period, Næstved had improved connections with the
outside world and the catchment area: On 4 October 1870, Næstved got its
first railway connection with Vordingborg and Køge. Næstved Station was
inaugurated at the same time. On 15 May 1892 the line to Slagelse with a
side line to Skælskør was opened, and on 20 March 1900 a private line to
Præstø opened; this was extended to Mern in 1913.
In the interwar period, Næstved's population grew: in 1921 10,091, in 1925 11,077, in 1930 11,301, in 1935 12,229, in 1940 13,232 inhabitants. But at the same time there was growth in the suburbs of Lille Næstved, Ringstedgade and Ny Holsted as well as Ny Åderup and more scattered in Herlufsholm Municipality, where a number of people with work in Næstved settled.
After the Second World War, Næstved continued its population growth.
In 1945 there were 15,104 inhabitants in the market town, in 1950 17,557
inhabitants, in 1955 18,879 inhabitants, in 1960 19,617 inhabitants, in
1965 22,113 inhabitants and in 1970 35,695 inhabitants. The suburban
municipality Herlufsholm Municipality was now so developed that it was
considered as a suburb of Næstved in its entirety. In Rønnebæk
Municipality, a new suburb, Rønneparken, grew up.
The urban
development caused an urban development committee to be set up, which
drew up an urban development plan for the Næstved area, including both
the market town, the suburban municipality and several rural
municipalities.
In the 1960s, a wave of urban renewal swept over
Denmark and a number of old buildings, also in Næstved, were razed to
the ground, while new ones were built. Among these new ones was Næstved
Central Hospital, a concrete high-rise building from 1967, which with
its 14 floors became a modern landmark in the cityscape. It is also the
city's tallest building.
In the 1970s, the southern motorway was
built, which provided better transport options to and from the city.
Næstved grew and engulfed several of the surrounding villages. As in
many other cities in the country, industry is still important, but it
has regressed in relation to the new large service sector.
1980-1999: Næstved Storcenter
The shopping center Næstved Storcenter
located in the northern part of the city opened in 1989 and has since
been expanded in 2001. It was originally Dansk Supermarked, the center
was built.[80] It contains approx. 50-60 shops and a department store,
Bilka. In 1990 and 1991, Næstved Megacenter opened in two stages with
large warehouses.
In 1992, the amusement park BonBon-Land opened
in Holme-Olstrup, approx. 7 kilometers east of Næstved. In 1997, the
carpenter Jens Andersen created seven monk figures from elm trees, which
were named Monks and are located on Munkebakken in Næstved near a
lookout tower. The monk figures were inspired by the aforementioned
monastic orders from the city's Middle Ages.
2000 and onwards
In 2001, Susåen was released in the city and the area around the stream
was renovated. In 2012, Nordisk Film opened Biografer Næstved close by.
During the Structural Reform in 2007, the then Næstved Municipality was
merged with Fuglebjerg Municipality, Fladså Municipality, Holmegaard
Municipality and Suså Municipality to form the current new Næstved
Municipality.
In September and October 2016, the city experienced
a series of shootings. According to the authorities, it was a conflict
between the rock groups Satudarah and Bandidos which was the cause. To
curb the shootings, the police established a visitation zone in the
city, and at the beginning of 2017 the government adopted a gang package
to further curb the problems, and there had been no further shootings
after October the year before.
In connection with the relocation
of government workplaces in 2015, 375 positions in the Danish
Immigration Service were moved to Næstved. In this connection, major
construction work was started in Næstved town centre. The construction
of a brand new Immigration Agency in the car park at Næstved Station was
initiated. To provide new space for car parking at the station, a car
park will be built. A bridge over the railway, called the Ramp, had to
be replaced and a new one started to be built next to it. At the same
time, a new building began to be built for VUC Storstrøm's department in
the city, which was built into Munkebakken. Towards 2026, around 6
billion will be invested in urban development in the form of new
residential and business areas.
During the relocation of
government workplaces in 2018, a further 15 workplaces were moved from
the Danish Immigration Service and parts of the Tax Agency with a total
of 174 workplaces. SKAT had already bought premises in the city in
September of the previous year.
Starting around 2015, several
more internationally recognized artists have decorated house gables with
large paintings. The artists come i.a. Germany, Brazil, Switzerland,
Germany, Holland and Italy. In 2016, deputy mayor Claus Michael
Pedersen, under the stage name CMP One, received the Trelleborg
Foundation's cultural award for his work in beautifying the city.
Næstved is located at the mouth of Susåen in Karrebæk Fjord. The
river runs through a hilly area with, among other things, hills such as
Fårebakken and Munkebakken, where from the observation tower at the top
of the hill there is a view of the whole of Næstved. The town is located
as the capital of South Jælland about 28 km north of Vordingborg, 34 km
southeast of Slagelse and 25 km south of Ringsted. It is approximately
82 km to the center of Copenhagen. The highest places in the city are
all parts of Mogenstrup Ås with Munkebakken at approx. 40 m.a.s.l., and
the part called Åsen, which is cut through by Østre Ringvej at 47.5
m.a.s.l.
The city is surrounded by several ring roads. Inside is
Indre Ringvej, which encircles the historic centre. In the middle is
Østre Ringvej and at the outermost is Ring 2, which consists of the
three parts Ring North, Ring East and Ring South, which together enclose
the entire city. The addition of ring roads has happened as the city has
grown.
Districts
Næstved is divided into Næstved Bymidte or
centre, Markkvarteret east of the city centre, Næstved Nord, Lille
Næstved and Næstved Syd.
The city center is the part of the city
that lies within the Indre Ringvej. It is the oldest part of the city.
Some of the buildings there can be traced all the way back to the city's
founding in the Middle Ages, and several streets also go all the way
back to the city's early history. Here is the largest concentration of
retail trade, several churches, theaters, museums and other
entertainment and service-related buildings. Mogenstrup Ås creates a
green wedge into this area of the city.
The Markkvarter consists
of both housing, businesses and green areas, and it was laid out as a
workers' quarter from around 1900. The green areas are made up of a
large allotment garden area called Ellebækken, the training ground at
Næstved Barracks, Fruens Plantage and Kalbyrisskoven. To the west,
closest to Næstved Centre, are the oldest houses, dating from the 1920s
and 1930s. However, there are also several younger houses from the 1960s
and 1970s.
North of Næstved Kanal and west of Susåen in the
western part of the city lies the former village of Lille Næstved, which
grew together with the rest of Næstved. The area has both industry,
detached house areas and dense housing with both public, private and
owner-occupied apartments from the 50s and 60s. In the Digterkvarteret
is a concentration of detached houses from the 1950s and early 1960s.
However, the majority of the detached house areas have houses from the
1970s and 1980s. Farthest to the west is the newest block of flats with
houses from the 1990s and 2000s.
Næstved Nord is one of the
newest parts of the city. In 1988, Næstved Storcenter was established in
this area, where there were only fields. Today it consists of new
housing, a school, a care center and an institution. The area also
includes New Holsted, which connects Næstved town with the former
village of Holsted. On the other side of Ring Nord lies Vridsløse. To
ensure green areas in this district, several areas around Vridsløse have
been set aside for forest. Since the southern part of Fensmark has also
been developed, these two cities are approaching each other
Næstved Syd borders the canal in the north, Karrebæk Fjord in the west
and Rønnebækken to the southeast. Ydernæs was originally part of the
area, but when the canal was completed in the 1930s, it became an
island. In this area there are several smaller harbors and berths, which
are both along the canal and the old outlet of Susåen in the district of
Appenæs southwest of Vordingborgvej. A large part of the homes are
located in Sct. Jørgens Park, which is social housing that was built in
stages from 1964 to 1979. It contains 820 homes. There are also a number
of detached houses from the 1970s.
Næstved is surrounded by several forests. To the south is Fruens
Plantage, to the west on the way out of Slagelsevej is the monastery
forest, named after the forest monastery. Just west of Næstved Hospital
is Rådmandshaven, which is primarily a deciduous forest. The
southernmost part goes all the way into the city, and it follows Susåen
on the western bank and stretches up to Herlufsholm to the north.
Rådmandshaven covers 57 ha. On a ridge in the middle of the forest there
is a collection of conifers, which were planted between 1891 and 1960.
The forest has a great diversity of species, and there are several very
old trees and alder swamps. It has been protected since 1947.
Rådmandshaven has one of Denmark's finest stocks of common hedge. Most
of the municipality's forests and parks are maintained by Næstved Park &
Vej.
The river Suså comes from the north and runs through
Næstved. After a canal was dug between Karrebæksminde and Næstved, which
was completed in 1937, the stream had an outlet in Næstved Harbour. A
smaller stream called Ellebækken runs from the northeast through the
city and flows into Susåen. In 2017, it went violently over its banks,
which particularly went beyond the eastern part of the city. A new lake
has therefore been constructed at Stenlængegårdsvej, to relieve the
stream and ensure that it does not overflow during periods of heavy
rain. The Fladsåen runs to the east of the city and ends at Ydernæs, and
the Rønnebækken runs even further to the southeast and ends at Gavnø.
Natura 2000 area no. 169 The sea and coast between Karrebæk Fjord
and Knudshoved Odde lies just outside Næstved to the southwest and
covers, among other things, Karrebæk Fjord and Gavnø. The area is a bird
protection area, an EU habitat area and a ramsar site, and it has been
protected since 1998. It covers 18,871 ha.
Motoring and walking
Næstved is crossed by several main roads,
primary route 22, primary route 54 and primary route 14. Route 54, the
main road Næstved-Rønnede, is the main thoroughfare for E47/E55
(Sydmotorvejen). It is Denmark's busiest main road with up to 15,000
cars a day. Næstved Municipality wants Rønnedevejen (primary route 54)
upgraded to a motorway (Næstvedmotorvejen) or motor traffic road. The
same applies to Slagelsevej (primary route 22) between Næstved and
Slagelse, where 8,000 - 14,000 cars drive 24 hours a day, which they
want upgraded to a to a motorway (Sjællandske Tværmotorvej) or motorway
(Den Sjællandske Tværforbindes).
On 22 October 2009, the
government set aside money for a feasibility study of route 54's
possible upgrade as part of the implementation of an agreement on Green
Transport Policy on 2 December 2009. On 24 June 2014, the government and
the opposition agreed on a green traffic agreement. This agreement
includes an EIA statement of approx. DKK 15 million and a reservation of
DKK 350 million for the first stage of the motorway between Rønnede and
Boserup. A motorway on the stretch could be completed in 2021. On 19
April 2017, the government and the opposition decided to go ahead with
alignment A of a motorway between Næstved and Rønnede. In addition, the
government will take approx. 56 million from the already allocated 336
million, which they will use to take over the properties that will be
affected by the alignment, so that the current owners will not be tied
to homes that they cannot sell. The approx. 336 million is not enough to
start the first stage, as the motorway will cost approx. 1.6 billion. It
is approx. 100 million for each km of the approx. 15 km long stretch, so
construction has been put on hold until financing has been found.
Næstved Municipality has created an eastern and southern ring road
around the city from the distribution ring west of Næstved at Næstved
Omfartsvej (Ring Nord) to Vordingborgvej, the first stage of the eastern
ring road (Ring Øst) opened to traffic on 20 December 2012. In the
agreement from 2009 it was also agreed to build a 7 km northern bypass
around Næstved. On 24 November 2015, the Road Directorate opened the
first stage of Ring Nord between the distribution ring at Køgevej and
Ringstedgade. The road is approx. 4 km long and must help to get traffic
away from Køgevej by Bilka, where there is very heavy traffic. The last
stage between Ringstedgade and Vestre Ringvej opened on 30 October 2016,
after the bypass road opened to traffic, trucks and cars that have no
business in Næstved will be able to drive around. The (southern ring
road) opened to traffic on 27 October 2017. With the opening of this
section, Næstved has a complete ring road around the city. Route 22 runs
from Kalundborg via Slagelse to Næstved, and then opens into a western
bypass around Næstved and to Vordingborg. The route ends in
Sydmotorvejen at primary route 59, which goes to Stege on Møn. Route 14
runs from Østre Ringvej in Næstved via Ringsted to Roskilde, where it
meets the Holbæk motorway at southern Roskilde.
The city center
has several pedestrian streets that connect the city square.
Ringstedgade runs from north to south and at Hjultorv it turns into
Kindhestegade. From here there is access to Axeltorv, Kirkestræde and
Torvestræde, which are also car-free zones. Nygade, which runs from
Ramsherred to Grønnegade, as well as Møllegade, which is part of the
former connection from Vinhusgade to the old water mill Maglemølle, are
the only streets in the city that have retained their cobblestone
pavement.
The heart association has two so-called "heart paths"
in the city; one at Ydernæs at 6.5 km, and one at Herlufsholm forest at
4.2 km.
All regional trains between Copenhagen and Nykøbing Falster or Rødby
stop at Næstved Station. In addition, InterCityExpress from Copenhagen
to Berlin and EuroCity to Hamburg also stop in Næstved. The station is
the terminus of Lille Syd, which runs from Næstved via Køge to Roskilde.
The Slagelse-Næstved track used to exist, but it is closed today.
The majority of bus routes in the area stop at the city's station,
and several either start or end at Næstved Station. R-Net has several
lines that go to and from Næstved, which include runs buses to Slagelse,
Præstø and Fakse Ladeplads.
480R Næstved - Slagelse st. – Bilka –
Sørbymagle – Fuglebjerg Terminal – Kyse – Vallensved – Næstved st.
507 Gørlev - Sæby - Ruds Vedby - Dianalund - Tersløse Kirke - Munkebjerg
- Brommer - Sorø - Glumsø - Skelby - Næstved Station
601A Kuhlaus Vej
- Næstved Storcenter - Erantisvej - Næstved Station - Ramsherred -
Præstvej - Gallemarsvej - Sct. Jørgens Park - Dyssegårdsvej
602
Nygårdsvej - Gymnasium - Næstved Station - Hospital - Bækgårdsvej -
Elverhøjvej - Glasværksvej - Vibevej
603 Kasernen - Jagtvej - Næstved
Station - Sandageren - Stenbæksholm - Karrebæk Church - Langelinie -
Enøby
604 Udsigtsbakken - Skråvej - Gallemarksvej - Næstved Town Hall
- Næstved Station - Hvedevænget - Kalbyrisvej
605 Næstved Station -
Præstøvej - Sct. Jørgens Park - Birkebjergcenteret - Sandageren -
Spiræavej - Marskgården - Karen Blixens Vej -Digergården - Rådmandshaven
- Kvægtorvet - Næstved Station
608 Næstved Station - Præstøvej - Sct.
Jørgens Park - Skallegårdsvej - Industrivangen - Dyssegårdcenteret -
Svendborgvej - Sct- Jørgens Park - Odinsvej - Præstøvej - Næstved
Station
609 Kvægtorvet - Næstved Station - Ramsherred - Rampen -
Kildemarkscenteret - Sneppevej - Næstved Town Hall - Næstved Station -
Kvægtorvet
611 Bøgesø - Størlinge - Everdrup - Korskildeskolen -
Tappernøje - Snerese - Askov - Bøgesø - Brandelev - Næstelsø - Rønnebæk
- Næstved Station
620R Næstved st. – Mogenstrup – Bårse – Præstø (-
Præstø School)
630R Næstved st. – Holme-Olstrup – Toksværd – Vester
Egede – Rønnede – Kongsted – Fakse Bystation – Fakse Syd st. – Fax
Charging station
640 Næstved - Appenæs - Vester Egesborg -
Vordingborg[144]
670 Skælskør Station - Tjæreby - Lundby -
Kirkeskovskolen - Rude (Østervej) - Bisserup Strand - Skafterup -
Skælskør Landevej - Mensturp Kro - Stenbæksholm - Næstved Station
680
Næstved Station - Sygehuset - Gelsted - Herlufmagle - Ravnstrup - Glumsø
Station - Buske - Sandby - Vetterslev Høm Byvej - Ringsted Station
681 Næstved Station - A-Broen - Næstved Storcenter - Hosted School -
Vink-Ringstedgade - Næstved Free School - Ganges Bro - Holsted School -
Næstved Storcenter - Næstved Station
682 - Digervejens School - Saltø
Skovvænge - Bistrupgade - Klinteby - Karrebækstrup - Karrebæk School -
Ladbyvej - Lille Næstved School - Digtervejens School
Næstved Harbor is located close to the city center at the mouth of
Susåen. There is a 24-hour service and several quays, the longest of
which is 500 m. The water depth is 6 metres, and ships of up to 119 m
can be handled. There are several facilities such as cranes for
unloading and loading as well as conveyor belts etc. Around 50,000
tonnes of wood are handled per year. It is the largest harbor in South
Zealand.
At the end of 2017, a project was initiated to move the
commercial port to Ydernæs. Already in 2016, Næstved Havn had taken over
26 ha at Ydernæs. In 1935-37, a canal was dug to improve access to the
harbour.
Canal cruises to Gavnø Castle depart from the harbor in
the summer.
There are several marinas along the Næstved Canal
from Næstved towards Karrebæksminde. Inside the canal itself there is a
harbor at Kanalvej, on the eastern tip of Ydernæs is Næstved
Sejlsportsklub's harbor and Pouls Vig, at Dyves Bro is another small
harbor, at the campsite De Hvide Svaner a little further out in the
canal there is also a boat bridge and finally there are several places
with space for yachts both on the inside and outside of Karrebæksminde.
Aviation
South-east of the city is Næstved Flyveplads, also
called Stenbæksholm Flyveplads. It is an unmanned grass pitch of 423 m
without facilities. There are no scheduled services from the airport.
Copenhagen Airport, the largest in Scandinavia, is about an hour's
drive from Næstved.
Part of the city's supply companies are located in Ydernæs Business
Area. AffaldPlus operates the city's recycling site, which is divided
into two addresses for general waste and garden waste. The company
operates recycling sites throughout Næstved Municipality as well as
several of the surrounding municipalities, and a total of around 170,000
tonnes of waste is handled per year. In total, in 2016, it had 180
permanent employees. In Næstved there is a biogas plant that produces
biofuel for use in the energy supply. The material for the biogas comes
from garden and park waste.
A very large part of the city has
district heating, but especially in the northern end many homes have
natural gas. Næstved Varmeværk A.m.b.A was founded in 1965 and supplies
heat to a large part of the city. A large part of this takes place from
Næstved Affaldsenergi.
NK-Forsyning A/S was established in 2004
and is owned by Næstved Municipality. The company manages water supply,
waste water management, is responsible for road lights and traffic
signals and the electricity grid. NK-Vand supplies water to the majority
of the city and a large part of the rest of the municipality, while
Lille Næstved Vandværk supplies to Lille Næstved Vandværk. The latter
supplies nearly 2,500 households and other properties. NKE-Elnet
supplies power to around 17,000 residential and business customers in
Næstved and the surrounding area. On Ydernæs is the Næstved sewage
treatment plant, which was rebuilt in 2011, where an Active Return
Sludge Process plant was added, which increased the capacity. From
2012-2022, the municipality, in collaboration with NK-Spildevand, plans
to mandate sewer connection for around 2,300 properties, as well as to
close several smaller treatment plants in the municipality, whereby
around 137,000 m3 of extra waste water will be sent to the Næstved
central sewage treatment plant annually. The facility has a catchment
area of 3,334 ha. The discharge takes place in Nedre Suså (the canal)
and on to Karrebæk Fjord.
Hospital services, police, fire and
rescue
Midt- and Sydsjællands Fire & Rescue is a joint municipal
collaboration owned by Næstved, Vordingborg and Faxe municipalities,
which covers these municipalities. It was established on 1 April 2015.
The head office has an address at the fire station in Næstved, where a
24-hour call center is operated, which receives calls from the entire
area. There are a total of nine stations distributed in the largest
cities in the three municipalities. The city has several medical
centers.
Næstved police is part of Sydsjælland and
Lolland-Falster Police and has an office on Parkvej in the southern part
of the city. The court in Næstved is located in the old buildings of the
guard house barracks at the eastern end of the town by Ring Øst. The
judicial district covers the municipalities of Næstved, Faxe, Sorø and
Slagelse. There is also a biting place at Slagelse Town Hall. The town
hall from 1857 is today used as a prison.
Næstved Hospital is
located a little south-west of the station. The hospital has, among
other things, anaesthesia, intensive care unit, physiotherapy and
occupational therapy, gynaecology including childbirth, medical
department, neurological department, pathology, psychiatry, X-ray, a
department for teeth, mouth and jaws, urology department, a department
for eye diseases and a children's and youth department.
In the
northern part of the city is Næstved Dyrehospital, which specializes in
cats and dogs, and carries out everything from vaccines, castrations and
examinations to major operations. Næstved Dyreklinik is a small animal
clinic and treats virtually all kinds of pets. It was founded in 1983.
Around 3,800 companies have their headquarters in Næstved. This
includes everything from sole traders to large companies with several
100 employees. The city holds around 28,000 jobs. Approximately 15,500
people commute out of the city.
The ceramics manufacturer Kähler
Keramik was founded in 1839 by Joachim Christian Herman Kähler in a
small potter's workshop in the city. The son, Herman Kähler, expanded
the factory and made its products famous. In 1975 it was taken over by
Næstved Municipality, and later it was bought by Holmegaard Glasværk. In
2008, the company was declared bankrupt, but Frantz Longhi bought the
rights and has managed to make the products popular again, so that
Kähler ceramics are produced for the entire Nordic region. It is owned
by the Ardagh Group. In 2017, the company had 320 employees and was thus
the largest private employer in the entire municipality. In 1955 Astrid
Tjalk[f] and her husband Tage O. Nielsen established the ceramics
workshop Fyrbo Keramik in Næstved. It then moved to Hornbæk in North
Zealand.
Næstved Løve Apotek is one of the country's oldest
pharmacies and was established in 1640. Between 1948 and 1976 Næstved
Møbelfabrik existed, where i.a. Owners Ejner Larsen and Aksel Bender
Madsen produced Danish design. After the municipality took over the
factory premises in the late 1990s, they have been converted into a
school.
DP Danmark A/S was founded under the name Dansk
Papirforsyning A/S in 1940. The company manufactured various paper
products and was one of the largest employers in the city.
Næstved has had several banks. Industribanken was founded in 1866 as A/S
Industri- og Sparekassen for Næstved Kjøbstad and the same area in
Næstved Kjøbstad. In 1871, part of the founders broke away and
established the Discount Bank. In 1969, Industribanken was bought by
Copenhagen's Handelsbank. The discount bank was acquired by Sydbank in
2013. In 1901, Max Bank was founded in the city under the name
Handværker- og Retailhandlerbanken for Næstved og Omegn A/S. In October
2011, the bank collapsed, and it was subsequently taken over by
Sparekassen Sjælland.
The international American company Emerson
Electric's marine division, which produces and sells equipment to
control and monitor tanks on board ships, has its headquarters in
Næstved, where it employs around 140 employees. Several of the city's
large companies are based in Ydernæs Business Area, which was
established as an association in 2016. At that time, there were around
750 workplaces in Ydernæs. One of these companies is Novenco (Nordisk
Ventilator Co A/S), which was founded in 1947. Today, the company is
divided into two separate companies – Novenco Building & Industry A/S
and Novenco Marine & Offshore A/S, where the former is located with
production facilities at Ydernæs in Næstved. The marine company is
located in Køge. The company manufactures heating, ventilation,
air-conditioning and cooling solutions.
A large part of the
industry in the city is gathered around Næstved Harbor on the west side
of the canal and a smaller area just south of the canal. The port itself
creates around 750 jobs and it has a production value of around DKK 850
million.
In 2013, the association Næstved Erhverv was founded to
look after the interests of companies and entrepreneurs. The board
includes, among others, the city's mayor Carsten Rasmussen and city
council member Helge Adam Møller.
Sjællandske Medier has a branch in Næstved. They were formed when
Næstved Tidende and Sjællands Tidende were merged. The two local
newspapers Næstved-Bladet and Ugebladet Næstved are published by this
company. From 2006 to 2013, Sjællandske Medier also ran the local
channel 24 Sjællandske, which broadcast local news in larger cities on
Zealand such as Næstved. The channel was closed at the end of 2013, when
the provider Stofa removed it from its TV package.
DR P4 Zealand
has a regional office in Næstved, from where it is sent to the whole of
Region Zealand. The channel covers over ½ million citizens. Lokalradion
Radio SLR was founded on 5 January 1987 and is owned by Sjællandske
Medier. It broadcasts throughout the Zealand region and has studios in
both Næstved and Slagelse. In Næstved, it broadcasts on 106.5 FM. In
2015, the channel had around 107,000 listeners per week. Zealand media
also ran Radio RTN for a short transition, after they took it over in
2003. The economy could not turn around, and it was closed the following
year. It had been in existence since 1990.
Næstved Lokal Radio
has had a broadcasting license since 1 April 1989 and is run by a local
association. The channel broadcasts on FM 87.6 MHz, and the transmitter
is mounted on Sjølundstårnet at the top of Mogenstrup Ås.
Retail
trade
Retail trade mainly takes place in and around the pedestrian
streets and squares. The pedestrian streets include Ringstedgade,
Kirkestræde and Torvegade as well as the area around Axeltorv, where
there are several shops, and Hjultorv. On this square, a square day is
held every Wednesday and Saturday. On Kvægtorv is, among other things, a
big Kvickly. There are also several shops on Jernbanegade, which runs
from Næstved Station to Riddergade.
In 1989, Næstved Storcenter
opened at Køgevej in the northern part of the city. It was expanded in
2001 and today the center contains around 65 shops and cafes. Næstved
Megacenter with large warehouses was established next to it in 1990. In
the area of the large center and the megacentre, there are several
department stores such as JYSK, several timber stores such as Bauhaus,
Bygma and Harald Nyborg, several car dealers and similar businesses. The
online auction house Lauritz.com has one of its warehouses in this area.
In the southern end of the city in the residential area Sct. Jørgens
Park is home to Parkens Butikscenter, which is the city's oldest
shopping centre. The center is located right next to a larger
residential area, Sct. Jørgens Park, and it contains 30 shops as well as
a medical and dental clinic. Along Østre Ringvej is also an area with
several supermarkets, a Silvan and several smaller shops and small
businesses as well as a bowling centre. In 2006, Næstved was named the
third best trading town in Denmark. Sjælland Sport & Event runs both
Næstved Boldklub and the basketball team Team FOG Næstved. In addition,
the company is also responsible for Næstved Festuge.
Tourism
Næstved contains several hotels that are set up in old and listed
buildings. These count Hotel Vinhuset has been a hotel since 1778 and
today has 56 rooms. It is located next to the church square by St.
Peter's Church. It is built in the Rosenborg style and can be traced
back to the Middle Ages. Hotel Kirstine is housed in a white
half-timbered building south of Riddergade and was established in 1745.
On the way out of the city to the southwest on Præstøvej was
Danhostel Næstved, which is part of the nationwide chain Danhostel,
which runs hostels in most of the country. The hostel had been in
existence since 1976 but closed on 30 November 2017.
There are
three campsites around the town. North of is Nåby Camping Æblehaven next
to Susåen, as the last campsite before Næstved for canoeing. On the way
to the south immediately before Karrebæk is De Hvide Svaner, which,
among other things, has mini golf and a water park. Finally, there is
Enø Camping on Enø with 257 spaces. Especially Enø and Karrebæksminde
are popular in the summer due to one of the country's best and most
child-friendly beaches, which attracts many tourists.
Næstved is the headquarters of Næstved Municipality. In the
Structural Reform in 2007, the old Næstved Municipality was combined
with Fuglebjerg, Fladså, Holmegaård and Suså Municipality. The new
constituency is called Næstvedkredsen, and it is located in Zealand's
Storkreds.
Both before and after the municipal reform, the
municipality has traditionally been social democratic, and the current
current mayor, Carsten Rasmussen, is thus also from this party.
In Næstved there are a large number of educational institutions,
schools and the like:
Higher education
Roskilde University
(RUC) has an office in Næstved. Erhvervserkademi Sjælland (EASJ) offers
a number of short comprehensive courses in Næstved.
Absalon
University of Applied Sciences' health education programs, where it is
possible to train as a nurse, bioanalyst, occupational therapist and
physiotherapist as well as a bachelor's degree in administration.
Youth education
Close to the health education courses, there is
the VUC Storstrøm department in the city, where you can obtain both a
full HF exam and individual HF subjects.
The boarding school
Herlufsholm is the best-known educational institution in Næstved. It was
established in 1565 by Herluf Trolle and his wife Birgitte Gøye. In
2017, it had just over 600 students and 84 employees.
Næstved
Gymnasium offers STX and HF and has approx. 1,400 students among
Denmark's largest high schools. The grammar school was founded in 1943
and was the first higher education since Næstved Latin School closed in
1739. The Latin School had already been founded in 1135 by Peder
Bodilsen.
Zealand Business College (ZBC) is a combined business
school and technical school that has a branch in Næstved as well as in
Ringsted, Vordingborg, Slagelse and Roskilde. It was created by a merger
of former business schools in the two cities, Næstved and Vordingborg,
as well as the business school in Ringsted; later vocational schools in
Slagelse and Roskilde joined the merger. ZBC Næstved offers hhx and more
courses in management and administration. The EUD and EUX programs in
Haslev are also affiliated with the department in Næstved.
EUC
Zealand has branches in Troelstrup and Køge, but the main address is in
Næstved, where the educational institution has three different
locations. Many tradesman courses are offered such as electrician,
bricklayer, carpenter, mechanic and hairdresser as well as other courses
such as driver of various vehicles. EUC also operates HTX in a building
from 2008 on Jagtvej.
Primary schools, post-secondary schools,
etc.
There are 17 ordinary primary schools in the municipality; the 7
are located in Næstved itself. In addition, there is the private school
Vor Frue Skole, which is Catholic, and a secondary school. The closest
secondary schools are Svenstrup Efterskole a little south of the city
and Hindholm Efterskole close to Fuglebjerg, about halfway towards
Slagelse. The latter is located in the former Hindholm Seminary's
buildings and was started in 2008. The school went bankrupt in 2012 due
to too few students. The school was resurrected in 2013 as the first
Muslim post-secondary school in the country.
Other schools and
educational offers
The School of Music and Culture offers lessons in
a wide range of instruments, singing and acting as well as drama.
Næstved Evening School has various creative courses such as music, art,
flower decoration, exercise classes and IT. The school also offers
lectures and bus tours. The school has existed since 1908 as a municipal
offer, but since 1991 has been privately run following an amendment to
the Leisure Time Act. There is a language school and integration center
on the barracks' old grounds. Folkeuniversitetet also has an address in
the city and offers changing lectures.
The city is a cultural center for a large part of Zealand with
several museums, theatres, cinemas, several sports clubs and leisure
activities.
Attractions and sights
The city has several
different museums and annual cultural events.
Museums
Næstved
Museum is set up in the Helligsåndshuset, which dates from the Middle
Ages, there is an exhibition with a number of archaeological finds from,
among other things, Viking Age found at Vester Egesborg. Until the end
of 2018, the museum also had a department in Boderne, where Danish
ceramics were exhibited, especially from Kähler Keramik and Holmegaard
Glasværk. These collections are packed together and taken to Holmegaard
Værk.
In 2012, Næstved Automobilmuseum opened, which is a
privately run car museum with, among other things, vintage cars and
motorcycles. It is run by an auto wrecker who has saved many of the cars
from being scrapped, and is the country's largest private car museum.
ZOOPARK is a zoo founded in 2007. Dyreparken is the only place in
Denmark that has white Bengal tigers.
Since 1996, the
Medical-Historical Museum has been housed in Præstø County Hospital's
old building at Næstved Hospital. The museum has a collection of health
science effects in the form of instruments, apparatus, etc. The museum
is run by volunteers and has around 1000 visitors a year.
Outside
Næstved, there is Gavnø Castle with a park and a collection of fire
engines, and has over 100,000 visitors annually. About 7 km east of the
city is the amusement park BonBon-Land, which is visited by 350,000 to
400,000 guests every year. Immediately south-east of the city is
Rønnebæksholm, which can be traced back to 1321. The current main
building is from the 18th century, but it has been rebuilt several
times. The manor house was bought by Næstved Municipality in 1998 and is
today used as an art gallery with works by changing artists.
Music, theater and cinema
Næstved Teater is the town's theater
association, which plays their purchased shows at Grønnegades Kaserne
Kulturcenter, Grønnegades Kaserne.
The musical academy Sceptor
was founded in 1998 and puts on a performance every year and has, among
other things, Atlantis game. Næstved Amatørscene is an amateur theater
that was founded in 1946 and which stages 3-4 performances annually.
Together with the theater association Næstved Teater Og Revyklub, also
called Næstor, they stand for Næstved Revyen every year. The association
was founded in 1950, and the revue was founded and played for the first
time in 1989.
The town has two cinemas. Nordisk Film Cinemas
Næstved is down to the harbour. The cinema opened in 2012 and has six
halls with a total of 854 seats. Bio Næstved was founded in Jernbanegade
in 1906. The cinema moved in 1940 to its current location on Kattebjerg
in the center right by Skt. Morten's Church. As the first cinema in
Scandinavia, the Dolby Atmos sound system was installed in 2012. There
are five halls with a total of 379 seats, of which the largest has 165.
Næstved has several annual festivals and cultural events.
In
August there is the Suså Festival for modern music, which has been held
since 1993. The concerts take place over three days at Grønnegades
Barracks, and the performers come from home and abroad. Every year the
Muskelsvindsfonden holds its music festival Grøn Koncert in July all
over the country, with Næstved being one of the places that receives
regular visitors. The concert has taken place in several places in the
city; first in Rådmandshaven just west of the center and then on
Ydernæs, but since 1999 it has taken place in the Holsted Nord district.
Næstved Festuge was held once a year at the end of August, where, among
other things, classical music, jazz and opera were played in addition to
the more common pop and rock. However, after a deficit in 2011, the
event has been put on hold, as the competition from other music events
in both Næstved and festival weeks in other cities is too great.
On market days at Axeltorv there are often performances on Saturdays. A
street festival is also held on Axeltorv during the school autumn
holidays, where there is street basketball, street football, stomp and
street dance for young people between 12 and 25. In the month of May,
the children's culture festival Næssi is held every year with music,
dance, sculpture art and other cultural offers for children. It is the
largest children's festival in Denmark.
There have been several
medieval markets in the month of May, organized by Næstved Museum and
Næstved Turisme. At the event, you have, among other things, had a
knight tournament, falcons, historic city walks and stalls with food and
old crafts. Among the actors have been the Danish music group Virelai, a
group from the Medieval Center at Nykøbing Falster and the renowned
Danish food historian Bi Skaarup helped in 2013 to cook food from the
Middle Ages that the audience could taste. In 2021, a medieval market
was held again, when Næstved's Pillars was carried out for the first
time. The festival is funded for five years, and part of the concept is
that there is free entry.
In February 2023, the final of Dansk
Melodi Grand Prix 2023 was held in Arena Næstved, with Tina Müller and
Heino Hansen as hosts.
Næstved is rich in old buildings and has, among other things,
numerous examples of Gothic architecture from the Middle Ages: the
city's two churches, St. Mortens Church and St. Peter's Church are the
largest, but in addition there are also Boderne, Denmark's oldest and
longest terraced building from the Middle Ages, Helligåndshuset, which
is the only preserved actual Holy Spirit House in Denmark ,
Kompagnihuset, which is the Nordic region's only preserved guild house
from the Middle Ages and Næstved old town hall, which is the country's
only preserved town hall from the Middle Ages. In addition, there are
several old buildings with roots dating back to the Middle Ages or the
Renaissance, such as Apostelhuset and Ridderhuset, both half-timbered
houses. The riding house at the Gønnegadekasarne - the state barracks -
also in half-timbered construction, was built in 1799. Hotel Vinhuset
was built in the latter half of the 19th century in Rosenborg style, but
in the basement there is brickwork that dates back to the Middle Ages.
In 2015, the National Association for Building and Landscape Culture
gave 76 market towns stars from one to five for how well preserved their
historic parts were, and Næstved got two stars, i.a. because from the
end of the 1950s until the 1970s many buildings had been demolished.
At the top of Mogenstrup Å stands Sjølundstårnet, which was the
city's water tower from 1938 to 1979. The building is 26 meters high
with a 600 m3 tank, designed by a local architect Johannes Tidemand-Dal.
Today it is used as a lookout tower. The name was decided after a
competition. Sjølund is a poetic name for Zealand.
North-east of
the city is Herlufsholm boarding school, which is the oldest boarding
school in Denmark. It was founded in 1565 and contains several medieval
buildings.
There are several forests around Næstved. Inside the city itself,
Munkebakken is one of the larger parks. It is located on an elevation
just west of the station. The highest point is 48 m above sea level and
it covers 2 ha. At the top is a lookout tower from which you can see
most of the city. On Munkebakken there used to be an avenue of elm
trees; they went out in 1998 when they were affected by measles. The
stumps were initially carved, by the artist Jens Andersen, then the
imagined monks. The stumps slowly rotted, and in 2008 bronze sculptures
in the same form as the original figures were erected instead. There are
seven on the hill, one in front of Saint Peter's Church and one at the
House of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the avenue, a large stone has
been erected in memory of Peder Bodilsen, who gave money for the
foundation of the later Herlufsholm. Below the southern end of the hill
stands Fladså-troll (Troll), created by the sculptor Arne Bang in 1944.
Bang is also behind the sculpture Frihedskæmperen on the south side of
the hill, which is set up as a memorial stone for the 10th anniversary
of the liberation.
South of Præstøvej down to Gallemarksvej lies
Næstved Gamle Kirkegård, which was built in 1821 as a replacement for
the medieval cemeteries around the churches of St. Peter and St. Morten.
On the opposite side of Præstøvej is the Roman Catholic Church of Our
Lady.[296] Between Susåen and the houses in Købmagergade is a green area
where, among other things, the ruins of Tuesens Badstue are found. East
of Slagkildevej there is also a park.
Næstved has three squares:
Axeltorvet, which is the town's main square, where there is a lot of
retail, Kvægtorvet, where the Culture Center is located, and Hjultorvet.
On Axeltorv is the sculpture Slattenpatten by Bjørn Nørgaard and erected
in 2010 on the occasion of the city's 875th anniversary. There used to
be an obelisk. The obelisk was erected in 1870 in memory of Frederik VII
and the June Constitution, but was moved in 1957 and now stands on the
corner of Krumport and Teatergade just south of Munkebakken. Behind Løve
Apotek is an apothecary garden with medicinal herbs and a small green
area with benches.
Hjultorv has existed since the 15th century,
and the name refers to the fact that in the past goods were driven to
the square on carts. In 1935, a statue was erected in memory of Peder
Bodilsen on the occasion of the city's 800th anniversary. It is made of
bronze by Mathilius Schack Elo, and with a height of 43 cm it is
Denmark's smallest equestrian statue. The sculpture stands on a brick
plinth with a fountain at the foot.
Where Grønnegade adjoins the
Ringstedgade pedestrian street, there is a fountain. Just west of
Næstved Hospital is Rådmandshaven, which is a forest. The southernmost
part borders a grassy area, which is also called Rådmandshaven, and
where concerts, a medieval market and several other cultural events have
been held. The grassland extends all the way to Susåen to the west.
In front of Saint Mortens Church, the bronze sculpture Calf is
displayed. It was bought by Næstved Municipality in 1968, and it was
made by Gudrun Lauesen, who is known for having made a large number of
sculptures of, among others, sheep, calves and goats. It was originally
set up to the east of the church, as it was from this side that the
cattle were originally led into the city. In 2003 it was moved to its
current location.
As part of Næstved Kunstby, around 15 house
gables in the city have been painted with different motifs. The artists
are graffiti painters from all over the world. Among the motifs are
Robin Hood at Rådmandshaven, painted by a German artist, and Dan Turèll
in Østergade, painted by the Danish artist HuskMitNavn.
Næstved Hallerne is a sports complex that also houses Næstved
Stadium. In November 2015, Næstved Arena opened in connection with the
halls. The arena has room for 3,000 seated and 4,500 standing
spectators, and this makes it the largest multi-purpose hall in Zealand
outside of Copenhagen. Næstved Arena opened on 17 November 2015, where
it was inaugurated with a basketball match between Team FOG Næstved and
the defending champions Horsens IC in the Basketball League. The city
has two swimming pools: Næstved Svømmehal, the city's first from 1969,
designed by Birger Nordsted-Jørgensen, and Herlufsholm Svømmehal.
Næstved Bowling Center is located on Erantisvej.
Just south of
the city on the way to Karrebæksminde is Næstved Golf Club, which, among
other things, has an 18-hole course. In Mogenstrup, about 9 km southeast
of the city, is Sydsjællands Golfklub, which also has an 18-hole course.
The Women's Handball World Cup was held in Denmark from 5 to 20
December 2015, and the four host cities were Frederikshavn, Herning,
Kolding and Næstved. The games in group B were played in Næstved Arena.
The group consisted of the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, China, Cuba and
Angola, the first four of which progressed to the 1/8 finals. The final
of the Women's Handball League in the 2016/17 season, where Nykøbing
Falster Handball Club won the Danish championship for the first time in
a match against Copenhagen Handball, was held in Næstved Arena.
Since 2014, a cycle race called the Medieløbet has been held with a
start and finish in Næstved.
The fifth and final stage of
PostNord Danmark Rundt 2016 went from Karrebæksminde and through Næstved
to end in Frederiksberg via a route of 175 km. The winner of the stage
was the German cyclist Phil Bauhaus from Bora-Argon 18. On 3 August
2018, the third stage of this year's edition of the same cycle race will
be started from Axeltorv in the middle of the city, from where the route
goes to Møns Klint to end in Vordingborg after 174.5 km.
The city has a large number of sports and sports associations,
including Herlufsholm Gymnastics Association, Næstved/Herlufholm
Handball, Næstved Bicycle Club, Næstved Fencing Club, Næstved Sports
Association, Næstved Kayak and Canoe Club, Næstved Rowing Club, Næstved
Sailing Club, Næstved Vikings, Næstved Basketball, HG Weightlifting &
Powerlifting, HG Floorball, table tennis club Kvik Næstved, Næstved
sports riding club and Næstved Inline Klub.
In 1972, Næstved
Boldklub achieved a bronze medal in the fight for the Danish
championship, a success that was repeated in 1975. The club was close to
gold medals in 1980, but on the last day of the match had to see the
Danish championship slip away, when Hans "Baronen" Aabech equalized in
the last minute of the game to 1- 1 for Copenhagen Football Club in
front of more than 20,000 spectators at Næstved Stadium. This made KB
the Danish champion, and Næstved had to settle for silver. After another
silver medal in 1988, things have since gone back smoothly for the club,
which has been down to the third-best tier for two rounds. In the past
10 years, Næstved Boldklub has played in the 1st and 2nd divisions.
The basketball club Team FOG Næstved was founded in 1962, and since
November 2015 they have played their home games in Næstved Arena. The
club has won bronze in the Basketball League three times in the seasons
2011-12, 2014-15 and 2015-16.