Nykøbing Sjælland
Encyclopedia
Nykøbing Sjælland is a town in Denmark
, located in northern Odsherred
on the island of Zealand. Located on the Isefjord
, it has a population of 5,212 (1 January 2011). It is located in Odsherred municipality
which is part of Region Sjælland
. The town is a popular seaside resort.
Nykøbing Sjælland is one of the oldest market towns on Zealand, first mentioned in the last part of the 13th century, although the local church dates from the first half of this 13th century. The town was destroyed by followers of Marsk Stig
in 1290, and it has since been swept by several fires. The town and surrounding land was pawned by the crown to the Diocese of Roskilde
in 1370, but was redeemed by Queen Margaret I
. In the Middle Ages, the town was known for its harbour and its role in herring
fishing. It received a charter
in 1443, after which commerce replaced fishing as the main occupation. A school teaching in Latin
was established in 1590, and replaced by a school which taught in Danish
by 1740. At this time, the population was a mere 350, making it one of Zealand's smallest towns.
The local courthouse was erected in 1868 on Holtets Plads near the church. This building also served as city hall and prison. It has been a protected structure since 1991 and is now home remains a local courthouse and the home of Restaurant Madkunsten. The local Odsherred Museum was located in Kirkestræde till 2004, but has since been relocated to modern buildings near Annebjerggaard Museum, approx. 2 km south of town. The latter museum holds Northern Europe's largest privately-owned collection of antique glass. A third local museum is dedicated to detective fiction
and Sherlock Holmes
.
Nykøbing Sjælland serves as the northern terminus of the local railway Vestsjællands Lokalbaner
which links it to Holbæk
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, located in northern Odsherred
Odsherred
Odsherred is a peninsula in the north-western part of the island Zealand in Denmark. Odsherred is stretching from the Sjællands Odde in the north-west to the now drained fjord Lammefjord in the south, covering an area with a wide range of the most typical Danish landscapes such as long sandy...
on the island of Zealand. Located on the Isefjord
Isefjord
The Isefjord, Danish Isefjorden, is a deeply branched arm of the sea into the Danish island Zealand.From its relatively narrow entrance from the Kattegat at Hundested and Rørvig, branches of the Isefjord stretch 35 km inland and divide the northern part of Zealand into the peninsulas of...
, it has a population of 5,212 (1 January 2011). It is located in Odsherred municipality
Odsherred municipality
Odsherred municipality is a municipality in Odsherred, Region Sjælland in Denmark. It covers an area of 355 km² and a total population of 33,129 and its seat is the town of Højby.-History:...
which is part of Region Sjælland
Region Sjælland
Region Zealand is an administrative region of Denmark established on January 1, 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform, which replaced the traditional counties with five larger regions. At the same time, smaller municipalities were merged into larger units, cutting the number of...
. The town is a popular seaside resort.
Nykøbing Sjælland is one of the oldest market towns on Zealand, first mentioned in the last part of the 13th century, although the local church dates from the first half of this 13th century. The town was destroyed by followers of Marsk Stig
Stig Andersen Hvide
Stig Andersen Hvide was a Danish nobleman and magnate, known as the leading man among the outlaws after the murder of King Eric V of Denmark. In Danish tradition, he is known as Marsk Stig.-Biography:...
in 1290, and it has since been swept by several fires. The town and surrounding land was pawned by the crown to the Diocese of Roskilde
Diocese of Roskilde
The Diocese of Roskilde is a diocese within the Evangelical Lutheran National Church of Denmark. The seat of the Bishop is Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde.-History:...
in 1370, but was redeemed by Queen Margaret I
Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
. In the Middle Ages, the town was known for its harbour and its role in herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
fishing. It received a charter
Municipal charter
A city charter or town charter is a legal document establishing a municipality such as a city or town. The concept developed in Europe during the middle ages....
in 1443, after which commerce replaced fishing as the main occupation. A school teaching in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
was established in 1590, and replaced by a school which taught in Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
by 1740. At this time, the population was a mere 350, making it one of Zealand's smallest towns.
The local courthouse was erected in 1868 on Holtets Plads near the church. This building also served as city hall and prison. It has been a protected structure since 1991 and is now home remains a local courthouse and the home of Restaurant Madkunsten. The local Odsherred Museum was located in Kirkestræde till 2004, but has since been relocated to modern buildings near Annebjerggaard Museum, approx. 2 km south of town. The latter museum holds Northern Europe's largest privately-owned collection of antique glass. A third local museum is dedicated to detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
and Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
.
Nykøbing Sjælland serves as the northern terminus of the local railway Vestsjællands Lokalbaner
Vestsjællands Lokalbaner
Vestsjællands Lokalbaner A/S was a Danish railway company. A merger of Odsherreds Jernbane A/S and Høng-Tølløse Jernbane A/S , VL was established in May 2003 after several years of close cooperation between the two companies...
which links it to Holbæk
Holbæk
Holbæk is a town in Denmark and the seat of Holbæk municipality with a population of 27,055 . The city is located in the northeastern part of Region Sjælland, Denmark....
.