In the village of Østerholm, near Nørreskoven on the island of Als, you can see the foundations of Østerholm Slot. Once an impressive pleasure palace and hunting residence, it was one of four castles on the island. Today, only its foundations remain.

From manor house to pleasure palace and hunting residence

In 1555, Thomas Sture built the manor house Ny Helwithgård, complete with its own chapel. Church services were conducted by clergy from Nordborg until 1584, when responsibility passed to Egen Kirke.

In 1584, Duke Hans the Younger acquired the estate and renamed it Østerholm. He transformed the manor house into a pleasure palace and hunting residence, featuring two diagonally positioned towers topped with copper-clad onion domes and a French-inspired staircase tower.

Duke Hans the Younger's first wife, Princess Elisabeth, died at Østerholm on 11 February 1586. She was buried in the newly established burial chapel at Sønderborg Slot.

Østerholm as a residence for widowed duchesses

Østerholm later became a residence for widowed duchesses. Duchess Eleonora moved there following the death of Duke Frederik in 1658 and remained at Østerholm until her death in 1680.

Duchess Elisabeth Charlotte was the last widow to live at the palace. She moved in after Duke August died in 1699 and remained there until her death in 1723.

The palace's decline and demolition

In 1723, Østerholm Slot passed into the ownership of King Frederik IV. The king had no use for the palace, and it gradually fell into disrepair.

Ten years later, a building commission concluded that the palace was in such poor condition that it could not be saved. It was therefore demolished down to its foundations, and the building materials were reused in the construction of several properties, including Nygård, Hjortholm on Kegnæs and Solbjerggård.

Visit Østerholm Slotsruin

The ruins are located on Voldstedvej, near Nørreskoven on the island of Als. The site is open to the public, and an information board provides details about its history.

Last updated on 19 October 2026.