Næsseslottet: a stroll through the garden of global fortune
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Denmark’s landscape is dotted with elegant country estates, each with stories etched into their grounds and architecture.
On this historical walking tour, you’ll discover Næsseslottet’s romantic garden – an 18th-century masterpiece designed to stir emotion through its winding paths, strategic viewpoints, and thoughtfully placed monuments. Beyond the garden’s aesthetic charms lies a complex history of wealth, amassed through global trade networks, including the dark chapters of colonial exploitation.
The tour starts at Jægerhuset, a cozy thatched-roof house originally built as a forest restaurant in the late 1890s. You’ll follow forest trails with glimpses of Denmark’s deepest lake, Furesø, while exploring the “English-style” garden created by wealthy merchant Frédéric de Coninck.
Along the way, you’ll discover how de Coninck’s immense fortune came from shipping, colonial goods, and, unfortunately, the transatlantic slave trade. You’ll see the impressive yellow manor house and hear stories of lavish parties where miniature versions of trading ships sailed on the lake for guests’ amusement. The tour ends back at Jægerhuset, where you can reflect on how this seemingly serene landscape connects to global history and Denmark’s colonial past.
During this 45-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:
- Visit the Trade Column erected in 1784, topped with a globe symbolizing de Coninck’s global trading empire
- Examine the Friendship Monument, a testimony to the close relationship between de Coninck and his garden architect J.F.H. Drevon
- Admire the classical lines of Næsseslottet manor, designed in Louis XVI style by architect Joseph Guione
- Learn about Denmark’s “Florissant period” when neutral status during European wars created unprecedented trading opportunities
- Discover the site where Chinese-inspired pavilions and curved bridges once created an exotic retreat
- Explore how this romantic landscape reflects both Enlightenment ideals and the darker realities of colonial exploitation
- Experience the same views that have inspired artists and poets for centuries
- Walk through terrain shaped by the Ice Age, with hills and hollows formed by ancient glaciers
Take a journey through both landscape and history as you explore this carefully designed garden where beauty and global commerce converge.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
HistoryMatters
I'm Anders, a historian and author based in Denmark, with a passion for uncovering the stories hidden in everyday places. My work often blends traditional research with personal reflections, bringing history to life in ways that are both accessible and thought-provoking. Whether it's a centuries-old castle or a quiet street with a forgotten past, I believe every place has a story worth telling — and I’m here to share it with you.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 7
The 18th century and the flourishing period
It was a time when Denmark experienced something rare: economic prosperity. Historians today call it the Florissant period. Florissant means “flouris... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Restaurant Jægerhuset
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Venskabsmonumentet-Amicitiæ Ergo
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationDronninggårds Alle 125, 2840 Holte, Denmark
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Total distance3km
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Final locationDronninggårds Alle 126, 2840 Holte, Denmark
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Distance back to start location55.41m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour begins in front of the restaurant Jægerhuset, at the edge of the large parking lot by Furesøen. If you’re driving, you can enter Jægerhuset, Dronninggårds Allé 126, 2840 Holte into your GPS — there’s plenty of free parking available.
If you’re coming by public transport, take the S-train to Holte Station. From there, it’s about a 20-minute walk along Dronninggårds Allé towards the lake. When you arrive, you’ll see the white timbered building of Jægerhuset facing the water — that’s the starting point of your tour.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
Before or after your walk, you can enjoy a meal or a drink at Restaurant Jægerhuset, right at the starting point. It’s a historic inn with beautiful views over Furesøen and a cosy atmosphere inside.
Halfway along the route, you’ll pass the park grounds of Næsseslottet itself — take time to wander down to the lake shore or sit on one of the benches overlooking the water. It’s a peaceful spot to pause and enjoy the scenery.
If you’d like to explore further, Holte Havn and Furesøbad are both nearby and make great stops for coffee, ice cream, or a swim in summer.
Best time of day
You can enjoy this tour all year round, but the experience is especially beautiful from April to October, when the park and lake are at their most vibrant. Early mornings or late afternoons are ideal if you prefer a quieter atmosphere.
In winter, the paths can be icy or muddy, so wear good shoes and take care near the water’s edge. The route is safe and open to the public at all times, but daylight hours will give you the best views of Næsseslottet and the surrounding landscape.
Precautions
No precautions.
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