Medicinsk-historisk Museum
Small medical history museum at Næstved Hospital with instruments, a doctor's office from around 1950, a specialist library and a medicinal herb garden – free admission.
About the museum
The Medicinsk-historisk Museum goes back to a collection founded at the hospital in Næstved about 60 years ago. Its aim is to document and show the development of healthcare – by collecting, cataloguing, preserving and exhibiting instruments, apparatus and books. The museum is run by volunteers, mostly former doctors of the hospital, who also lead the guided tours.
For three decades the museum was housed in the so-called Cellebygningen from around 1840. In 2025 it was able to expand into the renovated former Præstø Amts Sygehus of 1817, the "little yellow house" on Ringstedgade, which once housed Næstved's first hospital. Five new rooms were fitted out with exhibitions; after being closed for several months, the museum reopened in May 2025.
The collection includes, among other things, a consulting room from a country doctor's practice around 1950 as well as historic instruments such as ophthalmoscopes, ear specula and anesthesia masks. A specialist library of just under 5,000 titles reaches back to a herbal book from 1577 and includes patient records from the old county hospital from 1833 onward. In the courtyard behind the museum, a medicinal herb garden was laid out in 2011, presenting healing plants and their uses.
Highlights
- Consulting room of a country doctor's practice around 1950
- Historic surgical and diagnostic instruments
- Specialist library with a herbal book from 1577 and patient records from 1833
- Medicinal herb garden in the inner courtyard
- Free guided tours by former doctors
Permanent exhibitions
- Lægepraksis ca. 1950 – The furnished consulting room of a country doctor's practice conveys everyday medical life around the middle of the 20th century.
- Medicinsk urtehave – The herb garden in the courtyard, laid out in 2011, shows healing plants with explanations of how they were used in the past.
- Founded
- 1996
- Director
- Peter Schmidt
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Children & teens | –Free admission |
|---|---|
| Groups | –Admission and tour are also free for groups. |
Admission and tours of the museum, library and herb garden are free.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is accessible to wheelchair users; the library is not.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Næstved Station · 10-min walk
Several bus lines go to Næstved Sygehus, from where it is only a short walk. About a 10-minute walk from Næstved station.
By car
Free parking
Næstved Hospital parking lots, free of charge but with varying time limits (follow the signs).
The museum is on the grounds of Næstved Sygehus, facing Ringstedgade, in the former Præstø Amts Sygehus ("Det lille gule hus").
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
Food and drinks may not be consumed in the museum; the hospital cafeteria at the main entrance is about 60 m away (open 8:00–20:00). Postcards and museum publications are available on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | All visitors are offered a free tour of the collection, library and herb garden, led by former doctors. Books from the library can be borrowed. |
