The story of Rønhave
The farms in the parish
At Ulkebøl local archives, Helmer Sander-Larsen, among others, works a lot with the history of the farms in the parish, and this story is taken from there:
Rønhave is a former noble estate, first mentioned in the 14th century. For a few centuries, the manor was owned by the noble family Holck. The old South Jutland family later took over the manor Nygård near Nyborg, and from it the barony of Holckenhavn was established in 1672. Of Holckernes castle on Als, only the large rampart remains. The current main building was built in the war year of 1864 and the farm buildings date from the 1900s.
In 1590, Rønhave was purchased by Hans the Younger, Christian III's son, who as duke was granted his own small duchy with headquarters in Sønderborg. The duke became an energetic collector of property. In 1764, the descendants of Duke Hans, the Augustenburg dukes, were granted, among other things, all property in Als Sønderherred, including Rønhave and Sønderborg Ladegård. The last duke had to hand over his property to the Danish state and leave the country after the First Schleswig War, and the Danish state took over Rønhave, which it sold to the widow of printer J. C. Berling in 1855. The property was 527 acres of land. Four years later, she sold it to her son-in-law, naval captain Chr. H. Møller. On April 14, 1864, Rønhave burned down, ignited by a German shell. Before Christmas 1864, most of the farm had been rebuilt. The new barn had room for 150 dairy cows. In 1866, the farm was purchased by Otto Schwertfeger from Germany and in 1904 the farm was transferred to German domain management. After reunification, most of the land was divided into 27 state farms. The farm itself with a remaining plot became an experimental farm for plant breeding. In 2003, Rønhave was purchased by Hans Iversen, Vranglandgård.
The Holck years at Rønhave
The noble Holck family owned Rønhave from the 14th century until 1589. The large moats around the farm also confirm that this is more than just an ordinary farmhouse. According to J.P. Trap (1864), Rønhave was “in the old days a permanent castle”.
In 1315 we find the first known family member, Johan Holck of Rønhave. The subsequent Holcks are called Godske, Detlev and Bertel. In 1523, a few years before the introduction of the Reformation in the duchies, Bertel Holck (died 1535) wanted to secure the future and income for his son Henrik at home in Ulkebøl Parish. He succeeded so well that at the age of only 18, the son was promised the right to use the parish churches in Sønderborg and Ulkebøl by Pope Hadrian VI himself, in exchange for him being ordained as a priest within the next seven years! Things did not go as his father and the papacy wanted, Henrik was enrolled at the University of Wittenberg five years later, where he came into contact with the circle around Martin Luther – and after that he was lost to the Catholic Church. As a landowner back home in Denmark, however, Henrik made a significant effort for the church in his home parish, which had now been reformed. First, he donated an organ to the church, a rare piece of equipment for a village church in those days. In addition, in 1547, a fine carved pulpit, an absolutely necessary piece of furniture in the new Evangelical church. The pulpit, which no longer exists, is mentioned in a priest's report from 1755, which quotes the inscription with the names of the donor couple...Hinrik Holk to Rönhave und frow Magdalene. That Henrik Holck also donated its most valuable furnishings to the church, a fine Dutch altarpiece from the 16th century is an exciting theory, which has never been documented. By marrying Magdalene, née Reventlow, Henrik Holck became the owner of a lot of property, including on Funen and he was also appointed to something as prominent as state secretary to kings Frederick I and Christian III. When Henrik died in 1579, his wife continued to run Rønhave, and in 1589 the farm was sold to Hans Blome, a small landowner on Als, who the following year sold it to Duke Hans. The Holck family moved its activities to the kingdom. Henrik Holck's youngest son, Christian, became the ancestor of the current baronial line of the family.
Duke Hans and his kingdom
The Danish king's son Hans the Younger (1545-1622) becomes a duke with his seat at Sønderborg Castle and is granted his own duchy by the king, consisting of lands in Holsten, Angel, Als-Sundeved and Ærø. Hans never achieves the political position of power in the duchies that he dreams of, but in return he becomes a large landowner and builder of magnificent buildings such as Glücksborg Castle, Østerholm at Nørreskov and churches in Sønderborg and on Kegnæs. Duke Hans is very effective as a collector of estates, and in a short time he manages to buy out almost all the nobles in Als-Sundeved, including, as mentioned, the Holck family at Rønhave. Sønderborg's two smaller barnyards are combined into a large breeding farm for the castle. Rønhave and Sønderborg Ladegård are both in Ulkebøl Parish and are run by tenants and with the help of the area's feudal farmers. All operating units in the parish are subordinate to these two main farms. The land of the abandoned village of Skovhuses is added to Rønhave.
Nature projects at Alssund
In Rønhaves Vestermark by the water lies the dammed fjord arm, Kær Vig. On the other side of Alssund lies Sandbjerg Møllesø, which fills a valley. Seen on the map, the two valleys appear to be a continuous tunnel valley that runs across Alssund. In this landscape, Hertug Hans demonstrated his drive to act by implementing two of the earliest damming projects in Danish history. The facility on the Sundevedsiden side is enormous, and its remains are very visible today. With a seven-meter deep and 400-meter long channel, the water of Snogbækken was diverted to Møllesøen, which was cut off from the sound with a six-meter high dam, where the road still leads to Sandbjerg Castle today. On the Alssiden side, the damming of Kær Vig was probably intended as a land reclamation project, also initiated by Hertug Hans. However, the current dam dates from the late 19th century. On Henrik Offendorff's map from 1655, the cove is seen as a lake divided into two basins with the original dam facing the sound and an isthmus that, according to tradition, led a road across the lake. The Rønhave building is drawn as an angular structure with a semicircular moat to the west. The 'Map of Sciences' from the end of the 18th century shows that the dam has now been breached and that the isthmus with the road is flooded. On a later map, the cove is completely open to Alssund. Kær Vig's current dam was built later, probably sometime after Otto Schwertfeger's purchase of Rønhave in 1866. On German maps after 1900, the signature shows the new dam and the cove as a swampy area
The aforementioned road, which led over Kær Vig, was probably Rønhave's driving and riding path to the market town. The road, which was laid around Kær and Hestehave, was not open to the general population, who had to use the castle roads between the old villages and Sønderborg. These are roads that we today call Borrevej, such as Borrevej in Sundsmark or Midtborrevej in Kær. In our time, the dialectal pronunciation of borg has been exceptionally adhered to in spelling. In 1936, the museum uncovered paved parts of Rønhave's driving and riding path.
The ducal house of Sønderborg went bankrupt in 1667, and thereafter Sønderborg Castle and Ladegård as well as Rønhave estate are the property of the crown. At that time, the old main building of Rønhave is believed to have been demolished. As a royal property, Rønhave was not run as intensively as under the dukes. This suited the king's farmers well, and there was even the opportunity to buy their way out of the feudal system.
The house of Augustenborg
In the 17th century, the heirs of the Dukes of Sønderborg, the Augustenborgs, advanced. The Augustenborg estate district eventually became the largest private estate in Schleswig. Duke Chr. August 1st, who had a close relationship with the Danish royal house, was granted the properties Sønderborg Castle and Ladegård and Rønhave for life in 1746. In a major change of ownership with the crown in 1764, these properties and several other large farms in Als Søndre Herred were finally granted to the Augustenborg house by Duke Christian Fredrik 1st as perpetual property.
From the year 1781 we read in 'Pontoppidan's Danish Atlas' about the condition of Rønhave:
“Rønhave, or beautifully unrighteous, Rønhof, in Ulkebüll parish, has beautiful and well-maintained buildings and outbuildings, and is surrounded by a moat, over which the drawbridge is in power. There is no fishing here, and only a small hay crop, but the farm's lands, which are divided into 10 plots, are otherwise very fertile. The farm consists of 80 to 90 cows. On the farm grounds are beautiful oak and beech forests, as well as peace forests for new growth.”
The aforementioned road, which led over Kær Vig, was probably Rønhave's driving and riding path to the market town. The road, which was laid around Kær and Hestehave, was not open to the general population, who had to use the castle roads between the old villages and Sønderborg. These are roads that we today call Borrevej, such as Borrevej in Sundsmark or Midtborrevej in Kær. In our time, the dialectal pronunciation of borg has been exceptionally adhered to in spelling. In 1936, the museum uncovered paved parts of Rønhave's driving and riding path.
The ducal house of Sønderborg went bankrupt in 1667, and thereafter Sønderborg Castle and Ladegård as well as Rønhave estate are the property of the crown. At that time, the old main building of Rønhave is believed to have been demolished. As a royal property, Rønhave was not run as intensively as under the dukes. This suited the king's farmers well, and there was even the opportunity to buy their way out of the feudal system.
Cooperative farming and Dutch farming
Rønhave was converted very early on to a mixed farming system, following the Holstein model. This farming system divided the pastures into mixed fields, i.e. into a number of fenced-off plots that were cultivated in rotation. Pastures and pastures were included and cultivation was made more efficient.
From 1726, Rønhave had a so-called Dutch dairy farm with 60-80 dairy cows. From the 17th century, the large farms in Holstein specialized in grain and cattle breeding. The cattle farm was often an independent farm with its own dairy and a tenant, a “Dutchman”, who was responsible for the operation. The agricultural development in Schleswig-Holstein became a model for neighboring countries.
Rønhave was run by a tenant. In 1811, Samuel Georg Chr. Meyer had leased the farm for a period of 24 years. When he died before the end of the period, Meyer's widow took over the lease herself with A. Dieck as manager. He later took over the lease and kept it after 1852, when the farm was taken over by the Danish state.
Confiscation and sale to private ownership
Rønhave was taken over by the Danish state in 1852 after the end of the “Three Years’ War” against the Schleswig-Holstein rebellion. Duke August II had to give up his Schleswig estate and flee the country. Three years later, in 1855, the state wanted to sell Rønhave by auction.
The document "Extract of the Auction Conditions for the Auction of Rønhavs Manor on Als" sets out conditions for taking over the farm and a description of buildings, land, furnishings, etc. in 1855.
The main farm's 497 acres of land and 29½ acres of land in Ulkebøldam. Seven fields of 350 acres of land and "Folekobbelmarken".
Also mentioned are: Mounds with fruit trees thereon... Herds of cows, horses, pigs, donkeys and equipment... Seed and feed grains as well as clover... Fertilizer, straw and feed...
Free-standing beech and oak trees are not included in the trade and will "be felled and sold off within 5 years." Furthermore, the scattered forests, the forest ranger's office, etc. are also irrelevant to the Buyer.
It is noted that: The Boelsmandshoveriet in natura ceases on 1 May 1855, and the consideration for this is irrelevant to the buyer. A certain amount must be paid for 95 days of ‘Kaadner-Hoveri’, if it is not withdrawn before 1 May.”
These last remarks relate to the amendment of the law of 1855, which abolished the last part of the levy for the farms under Rønhave in Ulkebøl, Nørremark and Kær. As a replacement, i.e. consideration, a 25-year installment plan was agreed.
It was Sophie Hedevig Berling, widow of printer Johan Chr. Berling, Copenhagen, who bought Rønhave at the auction in 1855. Widow Berling's son had long been engaged to the later Countess Danner, but Mrs. Berling refused to let the couple marry until she had settled her daughter well. Miss Berling happily married naval captain Chr. H. Møller, and the couple took over Rønhave after Mrs. Berling's death in 1859. But by then Countess Danner had long since married Frederik 7.
Rønhave as a theater of war
After Rønhave was sold at auction in 1855, Hermann von Rosen was appointed manager. Von Rosen's brother, Major S.L.C. von Rosen fell in with Major General du Plat at Dybbøl. Du Plat has left behind interesting notes, among other things, about the accommodation of the Danish army forces at Rønhave in February 1864. At the same time, we get an impression of the large population of the farm. In February 1864, 100 men were accommodated on the farm, and a telegraph station was established here.
Du Plat writes on 10.2.64: The family, as well as the dairymaid, the housemaid and the girls were moved together in the house, so that there was room for the officers. A skilled dairymaid looked after the dairy and 150 dairy cows. The housemaid, cook, maid, nanny, six dairymaids and sixteen male servants were on board…
On April 10, harrowing begins on the farm's field with eleven teams of horses, but a German shell jumps right behind the horses, and sowing is postponed for 10 days. On April 13, all employees flee from Rønhave, and the 150 cows are put in with neighbors and acquaintances. The next day, Rønhave is on fire. Large clouds of smoke rise after a German shell has ignited the barn. After a few hours, the beautiful, newly built farm has burned down to the ground, only the brewery remains.
Prussian time
After the war, Naval Captain Chr. Møller quickly started rebuilding, and the craftsmen moved in as early as July 1864. Before Christmas, the new main building was moved into, which was built on the old foundation walls and therefore bears a lot of resemblance to the old building. Fallen Danish soldiers, who were found in several places on the farm's fields, were buried behind Rønhave's forest in a common grave, which was fenced off with strong oak posts. The farm's manager, Hermann von Rosen, left Rønhave, probably in 1864 and much against his will, and settled in Skåne.
In 1866, Captain Møller sells Rønhave to Otto Schwertfeger.
In the years 1896-1916, the German state bought a number of North Schleswig farms and established “state domains”, i.e. large farms, often run by immigrant German tenants. The 36 domain farms established in North Schleswig were part of the strengthening of Germanness at the new northern border of the kingdom.
Rønhave, which became the most expensive of all the farms, was purchased in 1904 by the Prussian domain administration. After the death of the owner, Otto Schwertfeger in 1898, the widow, Lisette, née Feddersen, sold Rønhave to the domain administration in 1904. The couple's son, Otto Theodor Schwertfeger, was hired as the farm's domain tenant. New breeding buildings were built in 1909.
Reunification and homestead colony
After the reunification, the debate arose about the future use of the former German domain farms. The peasant movement arose in Denmark around 1900, and in the 1920s, extensive subdivisions of large estates' land into so-called state peasant farms followed. Upon reunification, the Danish state took over three manors on Als: Augustenborg, Kegnæsgård and Rønhave, and the state peasant colonies became particularly dominant on the island.
The Danish state takes over Rønhave in 1920. The subdivision of Rønhave's manor fields begins in March 1925. The "Rønhave colony" is established in 1925-26 with 27 smallholdings, each of which is given approximately six hectares of land. Rønhave estate is thus reduced from 450 to approximately 85 hectares. 23 hectares are made available for the State Plant Breeding Experiment. In 1924, Jørgen Lorentzen is hired as manager of the now Danish domain farm - from 1925 to 1949 as a tenant. Tenant Schwertfeger, who wanted to continue in his position, had had his contract extended for the period 1922-40 in 1919. The Danish domain administration does not accept this, and the case goes to the Supreme Court. Schwertfeger loses the case and even has to pay 40,000 kr. upon his resignation. to the Danish state for poor care of land and buildings.
The manor landscape on Kær Halvø now disappears, except for the outermost field on Arnkilsøre, which had been pasture for the large herd of dairy cattle. The area was protected in 1924 and laid out as a common pasture and as a shooting range for the military.
Experimental station
The Fruit Breeding Committee stated in 1925 that a planned observation plantation should not be located in Brøndbyvester near Copenhagen, but at Rønhave. The Rønhave Experimental Station was established in 1933.
In 1935 the breeding farm burned down, with the exception of the barn from 1909. The stables and barns in the north and east were rebuilt. The yellow stone buildings are reminiscent of the old trempella barns. In 1949, the tenant Lorentzen died. Rønhave was taken over by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1950, and the plant breeding experiments were placed under Blangstedgård near Odense. In 1967, Rønhave was separated from Blangstedgård and given status as an experimental farm with grain cultivation and crop rotation as specialties and with superintendent Hans M. Jepsen as superintendent. The cattle herd was introduced in 1968. The main building was rebuilt in 1968-69 and furnished with a manager's residence, offices, archives, employee apartment, lunch room, etc. During the Blangsted period, various fruit trees were planted for testing experiments, but since there was a need for increased area for experiments with agricultural plants, the last fruit trees were felled in the late 1970s.
The results of the experimental planting are published in the Danish Plant Breeding Experiment's own journals and are used both scientifically and according to the needs of the advisory service. Throughout the 1980s, the Danish Plant Breeding Experiment faced increasing demands for savings, efficiency, privatization and internationalization. The result was the introduction of a new management structure in 1990, after which the institution was led by a board of directors and management with various sub-functions. Savings requirements led the experimental station to finally close in 2003.
Rønhave today
The buildings and the 60 hectares of land were sold in 2003 to Hans Iversen, Vranglandgård, who began a renovation of the buildings and park. In 2004, local forces set up the Rønhave Museum in the granary of the 1909 barn. The museum shows exhibitions about Rønhave, the experimental station, agriculture, school, etc.
In 2011, the old men's quarters and offices in Rønhave's farmhouse will be converted into eight mini-holiday apartments with their own kitchenette and bathroom and the option of having breakfast.
In 2013, a lifestyle store was set up in a room in the farm buildings and in 2014, production premises and a store were set up. This is now rented out to a butcher shop, which has become very popular among locals.
In 2022 Susanne buys Rønhave from her parents, Tombølgaard, as well as the Vranglanggaard farm, where she was born, where Susanne is the 14th generation. All the buildings are in use for various purposes, which is Susanne's great passion. We have a duty to make it an asset for both ourselves and the local area. The associated fields are in operation and the forests, ponds and fences have a rich wildlife, which is protected and makes it an experience to travel the paths on foot.
In 2023, Glamping will become a reality at Rønhave and the small field behind the farm buildings will be put into operation.
In 2024, 8-10 people will work with holiday apartments, glamping, a guesthouse, a lifestyle store and events.
Rønhave's large park, which is bordered by the moat, has many old and rare trees. The park has been used for meetings throughout history. The Liberal Party has held a constitutional meeting in the park for many years, and they still do so with Hans Iversen's blessing. The moat, which was probably built in the 16th century, is a registered, protected ancient monument. In 1989, the Danish Forest and Nature Agency granted permission to clean up the graves. In the following two years, the moat was cleaned up and the sewage system renovated, so that surface water is directed to the moat, while the wastewater goes to the municipality's treatment plant. Five carp, obtained from the castle manager at Gråsten Castle, were put in the water, and today it is teeming with carp. A family of swans has had ducklings in the moat and herons are also regular guests.
Back in time...
Rønhave dates back to 1315. Over time, both kings and dukes have owned the farm. The main building, as it stands today, was rebuilt in 1865 after it was burned down in the war of 1864.
On June 29, 1864, the German soldiers came across Alssund in the dead of night. This part of the war took place in large parts of what was then Rønhave's fields and forests.
When Southern Jutland again became part of Denmark in 1920, Rønhave came back under the Danish state.
The stories are hung up all around the farmhouse, take a look inside and get the rest of the story.

Welcome to an old farm, with beautiful surroundings, a long history and where we give space to nature and tranquility....
Rønhave
Hestehave 20
6400 Sønderborg
Denmark
CVR: 35107452
CONTACT
Telephone: +45 61 319 419
Monday - Friday: 9-17
Saturday: 9-13
Sunday: 9-11
E-mail: ronhave@ronhave.eu
