Næsbyholm is a manor house and estate located east of Tybjerg Lake, between Sorø and Glumsø, in Næstved Municipality, some southwest of Copenhagen, Denmark. Since 1610, Næsbyholm and Bavelse have had the same owners. The three-winged Dutch Renaissance-style main building was reconstructed after fires in 1932 and 1947, incorporating elements from 1585. It is now used as a venue for weddings, conferences and other events. The scenic park was laid out in the 18th century. The Næsbyholm-Bavelse estate covers of land (2012), of which approximately half is forest.
History
Early history
In the Middle Ages, Næsbyholm was an ordinary farm owned by Anders Olufsen. It was granted status of a manor at some point during the reign of Margrethe I (1353–1412) after Olufsen had acquired more land in the area from the Diocese of Roskilde in exchange of property elsewhere. In the 15th and early 16th century, the owners of Næsbyholm were in conflict with the Crown several times. In 1509, King John confiscated a stake in the estate, which was soon thereafter sold to Torben Oxe. He unsuccessfully tried to gain full ownership of the estate. His deceit was disclosed but he was never punished. His contemporary, Poul Helgesen, wrote about Oxe that he was "a man of many vices, violent and oppressive to others, and would have been a no better tyrant than Christian II, had he been as powerful as he is gruesome and godless".
1513–1651: Rosenkrantz and Brahe families
In 1513, Næsbyholm was instead acquired by Otte Holgersen Rosenkrantz. On his death in 1525, Næsbyholm passed to his son Otto Ottesen Rosenkranz. During the Count's Feud, in 1534–1536, Næsbyholm was plundered by the townspeople of Skælskør and may have been left uninhabited for a while.
When Otte Ottesen Rosenkrantz died from plague in Lübeck in 1557, Næsbyholm passed to his daughter Birgitte Ottesdatter Rosenkrantz.
In 1575, she married Steen Ottesen Brahe, a diplomat and advisor both to Frederik II and Christian IV. In 1581, Brahe also purchased Bregentved. Brahe had been rewarded with a number of royal fiefs. Steen Brahe constructed a new main building in 1585 and also increased the size of the estate through the acquisition of more land. Hiwever, Birgitte Rosenkrantz Brahe died in labour shortly after the new main building had been completed and her husband then moved away from the estate but nonetheless kept it until his death. Brahe's second wife brought Barritskov and Bradskov in Jutland into the marriage. He also inherited Tersløsegaard on Zealand, Hvedholm on Funen and Engelsholm in Jutland.
Steen Brahe's many estates were after his death divided between his heirs. Bæsbyholm and Tersløsegård went to his son Otte Steensen Brahe. His eldest brother Jørgen Steensen Brahe was given Hvedholm, Erik Steensen Brahe received Bregentved (but instantly sold it), and the daughter Birgitte Steensdatter Brahe received Barritskov og Basnæs. Otte Steensen Brahe increased the size of the Næsbyholm estate even further. He died on the estate in 1761. Neither of his two daughters survived him and his estates were therefore passed to his only grandson, Otto Christopher Ulfeldt, but he died at just 17 years old a few years later.
1663–1709: Bielke family
In 1763, Næsbyholm, Bavelse and Tarsløsegaard were all purchased by Admiral of the Realm Henrik Bielke. Also in 1663, Frederick III granted a property north of Copenhagen to Bjelke and it was later named Edelgave after his wife Edel Ulfeldt.
Bilke retired from the Navy in 1679. He died in 1683 and was buried in Næsby Church. Næsbyholm passed to his eldest son, Christian Frederik Bielke, who was then only 13 years old. He joined the army a few years later, was promoted through the ranks, and ended up spending much of his time in foreign service abroad. He was severely wounded on 11 September 1708 during the Conquest of Tournai and died from his injuries three days later.