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Town in Zealand, Denmark From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nakskov is a market town on the island of Lolland in south Denmark. The town has a population of 12,445 (1 January 2024) and is the largest town on the island of Lolland.[2] It is located in Lolland municipality in Region Sjælland.
Nakskov | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Nakskov town centre | |
 Seal  Coat of arms | |
| Coordinates: 54°50′00″N 11°09′00″E | |
| Country | Denmark |
| Region | Zealand (Sjælland) |
| Municipality | Lolland |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 3.36 sq mi (8.71 km2) |
| Population (2024) | |
| • Urban | 12,445 |
| • Urban density | 3,700/sq mi (1,400/km2) |
| • Gender [1] | 6,053 males and 6,392 females |
| Demonym | Nakskovit |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Nakskov is situated on the western coast of the island of Lolland, one of the agriculturally richest of the Danish islands. It lies adjacent to the inner part of the 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.[3] Nakskov is one of the most environmentally conscious and cleanest towns of Denmark. Technological and environmental enterprises have replaced the earlier heavy industries, and in recent years, local government has restored the town.
The area of the current town of Nakskov 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.[4] The connection to Sjælland and Copenhagen over the Storstrømsbroen bridge in 1937[5] shifted goods from the port of Nakskov. Over time, several industries and factories opened in the town, amongst them the sugar factory in 1882, and the shipyard in 1916.
Although traditionally a center of manufacturing and industry, when Denmark joined the EEC in 1973 and the subsidies were dismantled, it caused the industrial boom in shipbuilding to end. Subsequently, Nakskov turned to commerce and trade, and technological and environmental enterprises replaced the earlier heavy industries.
Denmark's largest sugar factory is located in Nakskov. It processes about 12,000 tons of sugar beet per day and belongs to the German group Nordzucker.[6]
Until 1 January 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).
Nakskov is served by Nakskov railway station which is connected to Nykøbing Falster and the rest of the Danish rail network by the Lollandsbanen railway line. Busses run within the town and to neighbouring towns, villages and areas. Bike routes follow the levees encompassing the island of Lolland.
Boats run from Nakskov to the islands of the Nakskov Fjord (Slotø, Vejlø, Enehøje, and Albuen). At Tårs, a short distance to the northwest of Nakskov, a car ferry across the Langeland Belt connects Nakskov to Spodsbjerg on the island of Langeland. Danish national road 9 between Odense on Funen and Nykøbing Falster on Falster passes by Nakskov.
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.[7]
Large parts of the wetlands around Nakskov were drained in the 19th century. The levee along the southern shore of the fjord allows to travel by foot or on a bicycle to Langø. Another attraction of Nakskov is the Danish sugar museum (sukkermuseum). The town also used to display an ex-Soviet submarine designated S-359 or U-359.[8]
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