Nykøbing Falster

Nykøbing Falster (Danish pronunciation: [ˈnyˌkʰøˀpe̝ŋ ˈfælˀstɐ]; originally named Nykøbing) is a southern Danish city, seat of the Guldborgsund kommune. It belongs to Region Sjælland. The city lies on Falster, connected by the 295-meter-long Frederick IX Bridge over the Guldborgsund (Guldborg Strait) waterway to the island of Lolland. The town has a population of 16,940 (1 January 2020).[1] Including the satellite town Sundby on the Lolland side, with a population of 3,038 the total population is 19,978.

Not to be confused with Nykøbing Mors or Nykøbing Sjælland.

Nykøbing Falster
Nykøbing Falster waterfront
Seal
Coat of arms
Nykøbing Falster
Location in Denmark
Nykøbing Falster
Nykøbing Falster (Denmark)
Nykøbing Falster
Nykøbing Falster (European Union)
Coordinates: 54.76542°N 11.87549°E / 54.76542; 11.87549
CountryDenmark
RegionZealand (Sjælland)
MunicipalityGuldborgsund
Government
 • MayorJohn Brædder
Area
 • Total903.42 km2 (348.81 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total19,978 (City and Sundby)
Time zoneUTC+1 (Central Europe Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2
Coat of arms in 1655

Overview

Nykøbing Falster is the largest city on the islands of Lolland and Falster, and is often called "Nykøbing F." to distinguish it from at least two other cities in Denmark with the name of Nykøbing. Nykøbing Falster is the seat of state and regional authorities. In addition to those two namesakes, a city in Sweden is called Nyköping, which means exactly the same in the closely related language.

There is a 0.5 kilometer long commercial district, walking street (gågade) on the Falster side of the city with a wide selection of shops. At the end of the street is a large plaza where special events are arranged. These include popular late-night events, which are held several times a year. It has a large central library in the center of town.

The town receives many visitors during the summer, especially from Germany.

History

Early history
The Klosterkirken, Nykøbing Falster

Nykøbing Falster was founded around a 12th-century medieval castle. At the end of the 12th century, fortifications were set up on a peninsula on Guldborgsund for protection against the Wends, and these were later converted into Nykøbing Castle. The town of Nykøbing Falster grew up around these fortifications. After the Reformation, the castle was the residence of widowed Danish queens. As several queens of German descent resided here, many Germans came to the town.[2]

Situated on a headland, the castle was protected from all sides. In its early days, the castle belonged to the royal house. Medieval documents issued in this region reveal that the royal court regularly visited the castle. This is the castle where Christopher II died (1332) and where Christian V was married (1667). Christian, Prince Elect of Denmark resided here. The castle was chartered in 1539. REF

The castle and the entire crown land on Falster were put up for sale in 1763 to help improve the poor state of government finances. The castle was sold for demolition, and only the modest ruin of one of the towers, Fars Hat (Father’s Hat in Danish) is in existence today.

Recent history

From 1970 to 2006, Nykøbing was the administrative seat of the former county of Storstrøm as well as the Nykøbing Falster municipality.

On 1 January 2007, the former Nykøbing Falster municipality merged with Nysted, Nørre Alslev, Sakskøbing, Stubbekøbing, and Sydfalster municipalities to form Guldborgsund municipality. This municipal reform, Kommunalreformen, created a municipality with an area of 907 square kilometres (350 sq mi) and a total population of 63,533 (2005) and will belong to the new Region Sjælland ("Zealand Region"). The former Nykøbing Falster municipality covered an area of 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi) with a total population of 25,483 (2005).

Main sights
The old abbey church (Klosterkirken).
Aerial view of Nykøbing Falster (April 2010)

The city has a few noteworthy buildings, including a wooden house from 1580 and Czarens Hus ("The Tsar's House"), named in memory of Tsar Peter the Great of Russia, who stayed there in 1716. The most noteworthy attraction is the city's old water tower, Nykøbing Vandtårn, which was built in 1909 and remains an icon of the city and the surrounding areas. Today, the water tower houses a small cultural center holding art exhibitions and cultural events.

Other attractions include:

Transportation

Nykøbing Falster has a railway station operated by Danish State Railways. It is the terminus for regular local passenger-train services from Copenhagen via Ringsted and Køge. International trains operating between Copenhagen and Hamburg (via the train ferry between Rødby and Puttgarden) also call at the station. The Lollandsbanen also operates a rail service to Nakskov.

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Denmark

Twin towns – Sister cities

Nykøbing Falster is twinned with:

Notable residents
Ludvig Grundtvig

Sport
Sara Petersen, 2015

See also

References
  1. BY3: Population 1 January, by urban areas The Mobile Statbank from Statistics Denmark
  2. Reference on www.planetware.com
  3. "Guldborgsund Zoo", Zoos.dk. (in Danish) Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  4. "Miasta Partnerskie Lublina" [Lublin - Partnership Cities]. [Urząd Miasta Lublin] [City of Lublin] (in Polish). Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
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