From psychiatric hospital to cultural gathering point
Anneberg Kulturpark was originally built in 1915 as a psychiatric hospital in beautiful Nykøbing Sjælland. Today, the historic buildings and scenic surroundings form the setting for everything from art exhibitions, markets, festivals and tours to culinary experiences.
Anneberg Kulturpark's diverse offerings range widely from Michelin-starred restaurants to open-faced sandwiches, from psychiatric museums to galleries, from art workshops to beer production, from ice cream tasting to seaweed safaris and much more. A cultural park with experiences for locals, summer homeowners, tourists and companies, but also a place where education programs are inspired and spend time on development and immersion.
Psychiatric hospital worthy of preservation
Over a period of 100 years, the hospital functioned as an almost self-sufficient city, which was also Nykøbing's largest workplace. The park therefore contains an architectural cultural history with buildings, ornamental gardens, an orchard and vegetable and herb cultivation.
Buildings and parks have experienced 100 years of psychiatric history, moving from the lunatic asylums and prisons of the 19th century to a paradigm shift where mental illness was perceived as a disease of the mind, which could be cured with peace and quiet, beauty for the eye – and something meaningful to stand up for.
The former hospital has its own museum, which, with a living exhibition, tells the story of the lives of the patients and the employees at the hospital.
Anneberg Kulturpark wants to reconstruct the former ornamental garden, as it is one of the few remaining ornamental gardens in Denmark.
The Danish Agency for Palaces and Culture has granted permission for the proposed realization of the garden according to the original drawings, as it "will have a unifying effect on the entire site, which is why it will overall help to strengthen the unifying underlying conservation values." This will strengthen Anneberg Kulturpark's attraction value as a cultural-historical gem and publicly accessible excursion destination, as well as provide new unique settings for local festivals, cultural events, etc.
There are also plans to recreate part of the old orchard with intercrops of vegetables, as a piece of living cultural history - and this makes good sense at a time when we have realized that self-sufficiency is one of the things that can positively affect the CO2 balance sheet.
Gitte Klausen - my mission with the park
In 2019, Gitte Klausen opened Anneberg Kulturpark. Her dream was to create a vibrant cultural center where the historic buildings are preserved and both cultural and gastronomic offerings can flourish. A place where creative people, innovative entrepreneurs and volunteer enthusiasts have their everyday lives with production, workshops and business - and where they can collectively offer a wealth of experiences and inspiration to Anneberg Kulturpark's guests.
