Helsingborg
Encyclopedia
Helsingborg is a city
and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality
, Skåne County
, Sweden
with 97,122 inhabitants in 2010. Helsingborg is the centre of an area in the Øresund region of about 320,000 inhabitants in north-west Scania
, and is Sweden's closest point to Denmark
, with the Danish city Helsingør clearly visible on the other side of the Øresund about 4 km to the west.
Historic Helsingborg, with its many old buildings, is a scenic coastal city. The buildings are a blend of old-style stone-built churches and a medieval fortress (Kärnan
) in the city centre, which has stood guard in Helsingborg for over 600 years, and more modern commercial buildings. The streets vary from wide avenues to small alley-ways. Kullagatan, the main pedestrian shopping street in the city, was the first pedestrian shopping street in Sweden.
, at that time controlling both sides of that strait. From 1429 the Danes introduced the Sound Duty
(Sound Dues), a levy
on all trading vessels passing through the sound between Elsinore and Helsingborg. This was one of the main incomes for the Danish Crown.
Following the Dano-Swedish War (1657-1658)
and the Treaty of Roskilde
Denmark had to give up all territory on the southern Scandinavian peninsula
, and Helsingborg became a Swedish city. King Charles X Gustav of Sweden
landed here on the 5th of March 1658 to take possession of the Scanian lands and was met by a delegation led by the bishop
of the Diocese of Lund
, Peder Winstrup
. At that time the town had a population of barely 1,000 people.
The new situation, being a border town, caused problems for the city. The days of conflict were not over. The Danes made many attempts to regain the lost provinces. The last time was in 1710, when 14,000 invaders landed on the shores near Helsingborg. The Battle of Helsingborg
was fought on the 28th of February just outside the city, which was badly affected. It took long time to recover and in 1770 the city had 1321 inhabitants and was just slowly growing.
On the 20th of October 1810 Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte
, Marshal of France
and crown prince-elect
of Sweden (later king Charles XIV John) took his first step on Swedish soil in Helsingborg on his journey from Paris
to Stockholm
.
From the middle of the 19th century onwards, however, Helsingborg was one of the fastest growing cities of Sweden, increasing its population from 4 000 in 1850 to 20 000 in 1890 and 56 000 in 1930 due to industrialization. From 1892 a train ferry
was put in service, connecting Helsingborg with its Danish sister city Helsingør. A tramway network was inaugurated in 1903 and closed down in 1967. Plans are underway to reintroduce trams in the city.
Three ferry companies take people and cargo to and from Denmark around the clock. The route is popular with day-trippers going to Elsinore
or Copenhagen
, or simply enjoying the views from the ferries.
IKEA
, the retailer of furniture and home interiors, has its international corporate headquarters in Helsingborg.
Nicorette
the nicotine chewing gum, has a manufacturing plant there. Ramlösa
is a mineral water from Ramlösa Brunn, a southern suburb of the city. Mobile phone developer Spectronic
is also situated in Helsingborg.
Urban areas in Sweden
Urban area is a common English translation of the Swedish term tätort. The official term in English, used by Statistics Sweden, is, however, locality. There are 1,940 localities in Sweden . They could be compared with census-designated places in the United States.A tätort in Sweden has a minimum of...
and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality
Helsingborg Municipality
Helsingborg Municipality is a municipality in Skåne County in Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Helsingborg, which is Sweden's eighth largest city...
, Skåne County
Skåne County
Skåne County is the southernmost administrative county or län, of Sweden, basically corresponding to the historical province Scania. It borders the counties of Halland, Kronoberg and Blekinge. The seat of residence for the Skåne Governor is the town of Malmö...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
with 97,122 inhabitants in 2010. Helsingborg is the centre of an area in the Øresund region of about 320,000 inhabitants in north-west Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
, and is Sweden's closest point to Denmark
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...
, with the Danish city Helsingør clearly visible on the other side of the Øresund about 4 km to the west.
Historic Helsingborg, with its many old buildings, is a scenic coastal city. The buildings are a blend of old-style stone-built churches and a medieval fortress (Kärnan
Kärnan
Kärnan is a medieval tower in Helsingborg, Scania, in southern Sweden. It is the only part remaining of a larger Danish fortress which, along with the fortress Kronborg on the opposite of Oresund, controlled the entranceway to the Baltic Sea.-History:...
) in the city centre, which has stood guard in Helsingborg for over 600 years, and more modern commercial buildings. The streets vary from wide avenues to small alley-ways. Kullagatan, the main pedestrian shopping street in the city, was the first pedestrian shopping street in Sweden.
History
Helsingborg is one of the oldest cities of Sweden. It has been the site of permanent settlement officially since 21 May 1085. Helsingborg's geographical position at the narrowest part of The Sound made it very important for DenmarkDenmark
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...
, at that time controlling both sides of that strait. From 1429 the Danes introduced the Sound Duty
Sound Dues
The Sound Dues were a toll on the use of the Sound which constituted up to two thirds of Denmark's state income in the 16th and 17th centuries...
(Sound Dues), a levy
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
on all trading vessels passing through the sound between Elsinore and Helsingborg. This was one of the main incomes for the Danish Crown.
Following the Dano-Swedish War (1657-1658)
Dano-Swedish War (1657-1658)
The Dano-Swedish War of 1657–58 was a war between Sweden and Denmark. In 1657 Charles X of Sweden and his Swedish army was bogged down in Poland. Frederick III saw this as an opportunity to recover the territories lost in 1645 and attacked Sweden...
and the Treaty of Roskilde
Treaty of Roskilde
The Treaty of Roskilde was concluded on 26 February or 8 March 1658 during the Second Northern War between Frederick III of Denmark–Norway and Charles X Gustav of Sweden in the Danish city of Roskilde...
Denmark had to give up all territory on the southern Scandinavian peninsula
Scandinavian Peninsula
The Scandinavian Peninsula is a peninsula in Northern Europe, which today covers Norway, Sweden, and most of northern Finland. Prior to the 17th and 18th centuries, large parts of the southern peninsula—including the core region of Scania from which the peninsula takes its name—were part of...
, and Helsingborg became a Swedish city. King Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Charles X Gustav also Carl Gustav, was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. After his father's death he also succeeded him as Pfalzgraf. He was married to Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, who...
landed here on the 5th of March 1658 to take possession of the Scanian lands and was met by a delegation led by the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Diocese of Lund
Diocese of Lund
-External links:* from Nordisk Familjebok, in Swedish...
, Peder Winstrup
Peder Winstrup
Peder Winstrup was Bishop of Lund in Scania during a period spanning both Danish and Swedish sovereignty of the region....
. At that time the town had a population of barely 1,000 people.
The new situation, being a border town, caused problems for the city. The days of conflict were not over. The Danes made many attempts to regain the lost provinces. The last time was in 1710, when 14,000 invaders landed on the shores near Helsingborg. The Battle of Helsingborg
Battle of Helsingborg (1710)
The Battle of Helsingborg was Denmark's failed and final attempt to regain the Scanian lands, lost to Sweden in 1658.On the Ringstorp heights northwest of Helsingborg, 14,000 Danish invaders under Jørgen Rantzau were decisively defeated by an equally large Swedish army under Magnus...
was fought on the 28th of February just outside the city, which was badly affected. It took long time to recover and in 1770 the city had 1321 inhabitants and was just slowly growing.
On the 20th of October 1810 Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte
Charles XIV John of Sweden
Charles XIV & III John, also Carl John, Swedish and Norwegian: Karl Johan was King of Sweden and King of Norway from 1818 until his death...
, Marshal of France
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
and crown prince-elect
President-elect
An -elect is a political candidate who has been elected to an office but who has not yet been sworn in or officially taken office. These may include an incoming president, senator, representative, governor and mayor.Analogously, the term "designate" An -elect is a political candidate who has been...
of Sweden (later king Charles XIV John) took his first step on Swedish soil in Helsingborg on his journey from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
From the middle of the 19th century onwards, however, Helsingborg was one of the fastest growing cities of Sweden, increasing its population from 4 000 in 1850 to 20 000 in 1890 and 56 000 in 1930 due to industrialization. From 1892 a train ferry
Train ferry
A train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
was put in service, connecting Helsingborg with its Danish sister city Helsingør. A tramway network was inaugurated in 1903 and closed down in 1967. Plans are underway to reintroduce trams in the city.
Industry
Helsingborg is a major regional centre of trade, transport and business. In 2001 Campus Helsingborg, a branch of University of Lund, opened in the former Tretorn rubber factory buildings, originally founded by Henry Dunker.Three ferry companies take people and cargo to and from Denmark around the clock. The route is popular with day-trippers going to Elsinore
Elsinore
Helsingør is a city and the municipal seat of Helsingør municipality on the northeast coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. Helsingør has a population of 46,279 including the southern suburbs of Snekkersten and Espergærde...
or Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, or simply enjoying the views from the ferries.
IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
, the retailer of furniture and home interiors, has its international corporate headquarters in Helsingborg.
Nicorette
Nicorette
Nicorette is the brand name of a pharmaceutical preparation that contains nicotine for the treatment of tobacco dependence. Nicorette was the first medicinal preparation to facilitate smoking cessation....
the nicotine chewing gum, has a manufacturing plant there. Ramlösa
Ramlösa
Ramlösa is a brand of carbonated mineral water from a source in Ramlösa Brunnspark in the southern part of Helsingborg, Sweden. Ramlösa goes back to the year 1707 when a health spa around the source was founded by Johan Jacob Döbelius....
is a mineral water from Ramlösa Brunn, a southern suburb of the city. Mobile phone developer Spectronic
Spectronic
Spectronic is a research and development company in Helsingborg, Sweden. The company have previously developed and manufactured a series of advanced mobile telephones, but is today specialized towards user interface development for third-party smartphones and software for medical image analysis...
is also situated in Helsingborg.
Sports
The following sports clubs are located in Helsingborg:- Helsingborgs IFHelsingborgs IFHelsingborgs IF , commonly referred to as Helsingborg and locally HIF, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
- Hittarps IKHittarps IKHittarps IK is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. -Background:Hittarps IK currently plays in Division 4 Skåne Nordvästra which is the sixth tier of Swedish football. They play their home matches at the Laröds IP in Helsingborg....
- Högaborgs BKHögaborgs BKHögaborgs BK is a Swedish football club from Helsingborg that was founded in 1927. They currently play in the Swedish fourth division . The club is best known for breeding young talented players...
- Ramlösa Södra FFRamlösa Södra FFRamlösa Södra FF is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg.-Background:The club was founded on 24 November 2007 following the merger of the Helsingborgs Södra BIS and Ramlösa BoIS clubs. Before the merger Helsingborg Södra played football in Division 2 Södra Götaland and Ramlösa BoIS in...
Notable natives
|
Subdivisions
The City of Helsingborg is subdivided into 32 districts.| The districts of Helsingborg (Classification and census from 9 January 2006) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norr (3600) | 12 | Centrum (3347) | 22 | Närlunda (1125) | |
| 2 | Mariastaden (2302) | 13 | Eneborg (3816) | 23 | Eskilsminne (1835) | |
| 3 | Ringstorp (2802) | 14 | Wilson Park (1988) | 24 | Gustavslund (2772) | |
| 4 | Berga (1720) | 15 | Rosengården (4388) | 25 | Planteringen (2663) | |
| 5 | Drottninghög (2708) | 16 | Husensjö (1564) | 26 | Elineberg (2115) | |
| 6 | Dalhem (4530) | 17 | Sofieberg (1606) | 27 | Ramlösa (4593) | |
| 7* | Tågaborg (7113) | 18 | Adolfsberg (4319) | 28 | Miatorp (2406) | |
| 8 | Stattena (2549) | 19 | Söder (3665) | 29 | Högasten (1034) | |
| 9 | Fredriksdal (4202) | 20 | Högaborg Högaborg Högaborg is a district of the Swedish city of Helsingborg situated south of the town center and east of Söder. It is inhabited by about 4,000 people, more than half of them immigrants. It is the home of the soccer club Högaborgs BK, where soccer player Henke Larsson played during his... (4017) |
30 | Ättekulla (3274) | |
| 10 | Slottshöjden (3621) | 21 | Fältabacken (930) | 31 | Råå RAA -RAA:* Research on Armenian Architecture* Ralph Appelbaum Associates* Recreation and Amusement Association, a system of brothels set up by the Japanese government for US occupation forces* Recreational Aircraft Association* Recreational Aviation Australia... (3021) |
|
| 11 | Olympia (1843) |
See also
- Helsingborgs DagbladHelsingborgs DagbladHelsingborgs Dagblad is the largest local newspaper in Swedish, published in Helsingborg in Skåne. It was founded in 1847. In 1892 it became one of the first daily papers in Sweden....
- European route E4European route E4European route E 4 passes from north to south through Sweden from the border with Finland, total length . The Finnish part lies entirely within Tornio in northern Finland, and is actually only long...
- SofieroSofieroSofiero Castle or just Sofiero in Helsingborg Municipality, Scania, was one of the Swedish royal family's country mansions, located north of Helsingborg. It was originally a Scanian farm called Skabelycke, bought in 1864 by Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden and his wife Sophia of Nassau. The first...
, a nearby castle - Helsingør
External links
- Helsingborg Municipality (Swedish)
- Helsingborg Municipality (English)
- Oresundstid (Swedish, Danish, English)