Editing Nakskov

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name          = Nakskov
| other_name             =
| native_name            =
| nickname               =
| settlement_type        = Town
| motto                  =
| image_skyline          = Nakskov - vue mod Søndergade.JPG
| imagesize              =
| image_caption          = Nakskov town centre
| image_flag             =
| flag_size              =
| image_seal             = Nakskovs segl.jpg
| image_shield           = Coat of arms of Nakskov.svg
| seal_size              =
| image_map              =
| mapsize                =
| map_caption            =
| pushpin_map            = Denmark Lolland#Denmark Region Zealand#Denmark
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_mapsize        =
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location on [[Lolland]]
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = [[Denmark]]
| subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of Denmark|Region]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Region Zealand|Zealand (''Sjælland'')]]| subdivision_type2      = [[Municipalities of Denmark|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Lolland Municipality|Lolland]]
| government_footnotes   =
| government_type        =
| leader_title           =
| leader_name            =
| established_title      =
| established_date       =
| unit_pref              = Imperial
| area_footnotes         =
| area_urban_km2         = 8.71
| area_land_km2          =
| population_as_of       = 2024
| population_footnotes   =
| population_note        =
| population_urban       = 12,445
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_blank1_title      = Gender <ref>[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY1?lang=en BY1: Population 1. January by urban areas, age and sex] The Mobile Statbank from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref>
| population_blank1      = 6053 males and 6392 females
| population_demonym     = Nakskovit
| timezone1              = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1            = +1
| timezone1_DST          = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST        = +2
| coordinates            = {{coord|54|50|00|N|11|09|00|E|region:DK|display=inline}}
| elevation_footnotes    =
| elevation_m            =
| elevation_ft           =
| postal_code_type       =
| postal_code            =
| area_code              =
| website                =
| footnotes              =
}}

'''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.<ref>[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY3?lang=en BY3: Population 1. January by urban areas, areas and population density] The Mobile Statbank from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref> It is located in [[Lolland municipality]] in [[Region Sjælland]].

Nakskov is situated on the western coast of the island of Lolland, one of the agriculturally richest of the [[Denmark|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 [[Nature reserve|wildlife reserve]], known for its bird life.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Forside|url=http://www.nakskovfjord.dk/|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Nakskov Fjord|language=da}}</ref> Nakskov is one of the most environmentally conscious and cleanest towns of Denmark{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}. Technological and environmental enterprises have replaced the earlier heavy industries, and in recent years, local government has restored the town.

==History==
{{stack|[[File:MedievalNakskov.JPG|thumb|Copper plate illustration of the town of Nakskov, Denmark, probably 17th century, seen from the south across the strait separating the inner and outer portions of the fjord.]]}}
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 [[Eric V of Denmark|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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-06-28|title=Portræt af Frederik den IX's Bro|url=http://www.highways.dk/danmark/broer/nykobingbro.php|access-date=2021-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628045046/http://www.highways.dk/danmark/broer/nykobingbro.php|archive-date=28 June 2006}}</ref> The connection to Sjælland and [[Copenhagen]] over the [[Storstrøm Bridge|Storstrømsbroen bridge]] in 1937<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-01-21|title=Portræt af Storstrømsbroen|url=http://www.highways.dk/danmark/broer/storstromsbro.php|access-date=2021-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070121200911/http://www.highways.dk/danmark/broer/storstromsbro.php|archive-date=21 January 2007}}</ref> 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.

==Economy==
{{stack|[[File:Nordic-sugar-Nakskov-1.JPG|thumb|Entrance of the sugar factory in Nakskov.]]}}
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]].<ref>[http://www.nordicsugar.dk/om-nordic-sugar/vores-organisation/vores-fabrikker-og-kontorer/nakskov/ Nordic "Sugar Nakskov"], NordicSugar. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 29 July 2013.</ref>

==Nakskov municipality==
Until 1 January 2007, "Nakskov" was also the name of a municipality ([[Danish language|Danish]], ''[[Municipalities of Denmark|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 (Denmark)|Socialist People's Party]] (''Socialistisk Folkeparti'') [[Politics of Denmark|political party]]. Nakskov municipality ceased to exist as the result of [[Municipalities of Denmark#Municipal Reform 2007|''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).

==Transport==
{{stack|[[File:Nakskov st.JPG|thumb|[[Nakskov railway station]]]]}}
Nakskov is served by [[Nakskov railway station]] which is connected to {{rws|Nykøbing Falster}} and the rest of the [[Rail transport in Denmark|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 [[Roll-on/roll-off|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.

==Attractions==
{{stack|[[File:Nakskov - udsigt til kirketårnet.jpg|thumb|[[Nakskov Church]]]]}}
[[Nakskov Church]], dating to the early 13th century, has carved works from the [[Baroque|Baroque period]] including the pulpit (1630) by [[Jørgen Ringnis]] and the altarpiece (1656) by [[Anders Mortensen]].<ref name=natmus>[http://danmarkskirker.natmus.dk/uploads/tx_tcchurchsearch/Maribo_0089-0126.pdf Kirsten Weber-Andersen, Otto Norn, Aage Roussell, Gertrud Købke Knudsen, "Nakskov Kirke"], ''Danmarks kirker: Maribo amt, Volume 8'', 1951, Nationalmuseet, pages 89-126. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 14 July 2013.</ref> 

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 [[Soviet submarine U-359|U-359]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Breinstrup|first=Thomas|date=2011-04-14|title=Nakskov sender Gorbatjovs u-båd til skrotning|url=https://www.berlingske.dk/content/item/733148|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Berlingske.dk|language=da}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
[[File:Johannes Wilhjelm 1937.jpg|thumb|upright|Johannes Wilhjelm, 1937]]
[[File:Helle Helle Literaturhaus München.jpg|thumb|upright|Helle Helle, 2012]]
* [[Jørgen Ringnis]] (birth date unknown, died 1652 in Nakskov) a Danish woodcarver of altarpieces and pulpits
* [[Martin Severin From]] (1828–1895) soldier, civil servant and Danish chess master
* [[Hans Niels Andersen]] (1852–1937) a shipping magnate, businessman, founded the [[East Asiatic Company]]
* [[Ludovica Levy]] (1856–1922) a Danish actress, theatre director and theatre critic
* [[Johan Jensen (mathematician)|Johan Jensen]] (1859–1925) a Danish mathematician and engineer
* [[August Enna]] (1859–1939) a Danish composer, known mainly for his operas
* [[Johannes Wilhjelm]] (1868–1938) a Danish painter of bright, colourful landscapes 
* [[Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen]] (1878–1964) a Danish engineer and industrialist
* [[Victor Cornelins]] (1898–1985) a Danish school teacher, musician, and public speaker.
* [[Paul Hagen]] (1920–2003 in Nakskov) a Danish film and television actor <ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0353434/   IMDb Database] retrieved 11 June 2020 </ref>
* [[Per Mollerup]] (born 1942) a Danish designer, academic, and author
* [[Ole Kiehn]] (born 1958) a Danish-Swedish neuroscientist and academic
* [[Stefan Wenzel]] (born 1962) a German politician for the Alliance '90/The Greens
* [[Helle Helle]] (born 1965) a widely translated Danish short story writer and novelist
* [[Lisbeth Zornig Andersen]] (born 1968) a Danish economist, activist and author 
* [[Blak (rapper)|Blak]] (born 1989) a Danish rapper and songwriter; stage name of ''Henrik Blak''
=== Sport ===
* [[Mette Jacobsen]] (born 1973) a Danish freestyle and butterfly swimmer, competed in five consecutive Summer Olympics from 1988
* [[Lee Rochester Sørensen]] (born 1994) a Danish-Jamaican footballer.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="120">
File:NakskovCirka1657.JPG|Nakskov and surrounding area (up = south) as depicted by the Swedish king's cartographer during the siege of Nakskov in 1658.[https://archive.today/20070814022917/http://www.nakskov.dk/erhverv/info.asp?infoId=1350931&rootId=1347125]
File:NakskovFjordAlbuenFromLangoeJuly2006.jpg|View from Langø in Nakskov Fjord toward the peninsula of Albuen and the island of Langeland in the west
File:Nakskov - U-359 Ubådsmuseum.jpg|The formerly [[Soviet submarine U-359|Soviet submarine S-174/U-359]] in Nakskov harbor.
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Lolland Hydrogen Community]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.lolland.dk/ Lolland municipality's official website (Danish only)]
*Municipal statistics: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070812152043/http://www2.netborger.dk/Kommunefakta/ NetBorger Kommunefakta], delivered from [http://www.kmd.dk/ KMD aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data)]
* Municipal mergers and neighbors: [https://web.archive.org/web/20061208085744/http://kommune.eniro.dk/region/media/nyekommuner.shtml Eniro new municipalities map]

{{Lolland}}
{{Towns of Lolland Municipality}}
{{Storstrøm County}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Nakskov]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of Denmark]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Region Zealand]]
[[Category:Viking Age populated places]]
[[Category:Lolland]]
[[Category:Lolland Municipality]]