Freienwillen Manor

The noble estate Freienwillen (formerly Langhbalgaard or Danish Langballegård) in Langballig is one of the oldest estates in Nordangeln (district Schleswig-Flensburg in Schleswig-Holstein).

Lange Nissen (* 1385 in Terkelstoft; † unknown) received this farm free from Duke Adolph VIII on March 1, 1433, for loyal services, and was allowed to bear a noble coat of arms and shield. The owner could manage and dispose of it at will. At that time, the estate was still in the Duchy of Schleswig (until 1864) and in the Amt Grundhof. Freienwillen once belonged to the nearby moated castle Glücksburg, which is still commemorated by a plaque in the chapel there today.

Freienwillen was the former seat of the noble families von Ahlefeldt and Rantzau.

List of owners since 1540:

• 1540–1590: Schack and Claus von Ahlefeld
• 1590–1638: Geerd and Christian Rantzau
• 1638–1646: Peter Brandt
• 1646–1647: Duke Philip von Glücksburg
• 1647–1671: his daughter Hedwig
• 1671–1676: Duke Christian
• 1676–1728: Carsten Lüders, whose son, the agricultural reformer Philipp Ernst Lüders, was born there,
• 1728–1738: Christian August Lüders
• 1738–1808: Christian Lüders
• 1808–1902: Vollertsen family
• 1902–1931: Wilhelm Hansen
• 1931–1964: Johannes Hansen
• 1964–1998: Wilhelm Hansen
• since 1998: Sven Johannes Hansen

Freienwillen was reduced in size (parceled out) and sold multiple times over the centuries. For over 100 years, however, the estate has now been owned by the Hansen family and is currently successfully operated as an agricultural business in its fourth generation.

The manor house, in contrast to the farm buildings, is still preserved.