Nakskov

Nakskov
Town

Nakskov town centre

Seal
Nakskov

Location on Lolland

Coordinates: 54°50′00″N 11°09′00″E / 54.83333°N 11.15000°E / 54.83333; 11.15000
Country Denmark
Region Zealand (Sjælland)
Municipality Lolland
Population (2015)
 • Total 12,665
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)

Nakskov is a town in south Denmark. It is in Lolland municipality in Region Sjælland on the western coast of the island of Lolland. The town has a population of 12,665 (1 January 2015).[1] To the west is Nakskov Fjord, an inlet from the Langeland Belt (Langelandsbælt) that runs between the islands of Lolland and Langeland. Nakskov Fjord is a wildlife reserve, known for its bird life .

History

Nakskov Church

Nakskov is in the inner part of the Western inlet of Lolland, one of the agriculturally richest of the Danish islands. The area was settled during the neolithic period and has been continuously inhabited since. The town received trade privileges in 1266, during the reign of king Erik V Glipping. Once the export center of western Lolland, Nakskov thrived on trade, commerce and industry. This changed gradually as overland traffic was enabled by a railway to the neighboring island of Falster in 1875,. The connection to Sjælland and Copenhagen over the Storstrømsbroen bridge in 1937 shifted goods from the port of Nakskov. Traditionally a center of manufacturing and industry, Nakskov has turned to commerce and trade, after the industrial boom in shipbuilding ended when Denmark joined the EEC and subsidies were dismantled.

Nakskov is one of the most environmentally conscious and cleanest towns of Denmark. Technological and environmental enterprises replace heavy industries. In recent years, local government has restored the town.

Transport

Nakskov is connected to Nykøbing Falster and the rail network by the Lollandsbanen line.

Boats run from Nakskov to the islands of Nakskov Fjord (Slotø, Vejlø, Enehøje, and Albuen. A ferry connects the Nakskov over the Langeland Belt to Spodsbjerg on the island of Langeland. Bus run within the town and to neighbouring areas. Bike routes follow the dykes encompassing of Lolland.

Economy

Denmark's largest sugar factory is in Nakskov. It processes about 12,000 tons of sugar beet per day and belongs to the German group Nordzucker.[2]

Nakskov municipality

Until January 1, 2007, "Nakskov" was also the name of a municipality (Danish, kommune) covering an area of 33 km², and with a total population of 14,745 (2006). Nowadays Nakskov is integrated into, and encompassed by, Lolland municipality. The last mayor of Nakskov was Flemming Bonne Hansen, a member of the Socialist People's Party (Socialistisk Folkeparti) political party. Nakskov municipality ceased to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with Holeby, Højreby, Maribo, Ravnsborg, Rudbjerg and Rødby municipalities to form the new Lolland municipality. This new municipality consists of an area of 892 km² and a total population of 48,634 (2007).

Attractions

Nakskov Church, dating to the early 13th century, has carved works from the Baroque period including the pulpit (1630) by Jørgen Ringnis and the altarpiece (1656) by Anders Mortensen.[3]

Large parts of the wetlands around Nakskov were drained in the 19th century. The dyke along the southern shore of the fjord allows walking or biking to Langø. The Danish sugar museum (sukkermuseum) is in Nakskov.

Notable people born in Nakskov

See also

References

  1. ↑ "BEF44: Population 1st January, by urban areas" database from Statistics Denmark
  2. ↑ Nordic "Sugar Nakskov", NordicSugar. (Danish) Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  3. ↑ Kirsten Weber-Andersen, Otto Norn, Aage Roussell, Gertrud Købke Knudsen, "Nakskov Kirke", Danmarks kirker: Maribo amt, Volume 8, 1951, Nationalmuseet, pages 89-126. (Danish) Retrieved 14 July 2013.
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