Holbæk
Encyclopedia
Holbæk is a town in Denmark
and the seat
of Holbæk municipality
with a population of 27,055 (1 January 2011). The city is located in the northeastern part of Region Sjælland
, Denmark.
Holbæk is on Zealand, on the banks of Holbæk Fjord, an inlet of the larger Isefjord
. Holbæk is a commercial and industrial center for the surrounding area. By rail, Holbæk is serviced by Danske Statsbaner
's line from Roskilde
to Kalundborg
, which runs through the city. Vestsjællands Lokalbaner
connects Holbæk by rail to Nykøbing Sjælland
. The city serves as a major hub for the Movia
bus routes. Holbæk has an active commercial seaport that serves as the harbor for the ferry to Orø
(island). Near the harbor there is a substantial marina
.
's letter of June 8, 1199, in which he granted the majority of his estates to Sorø Klosterkirke
in Sorø
. It was called Holbækgaard, a larger farm belonging to a nobleman
, around which the city would eventually develop.
Next it appears in Valdemar the Victorious'
book of properties (see Kong Valdemars Jordebog on the Danish Wikipedia) in 1231. Valdmar broke ground for Holbæk Slot (Holbæk Castle) in 1236.
Holbæk clearly grew from then on but is not mentioned again until around 1400 when Margaret I
came for a court proceeding that granted her territories in Jutland
. The event may have triggered the creation of the first city seal which shows the three trees by the water that are the prominent features of the current seal.
that serves as a concert venue
for modern music.
, Germany
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...
and the seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Holbæk municipality
Holbæk municipality
Holbæk municipality is a municipality in northeastern Region Sjælland on the island of Zealand in Denmark. The municipality includes the island of Orø, and covers an area of 583 km², and has a total population of 69,010 . Its mayor for 2010–2013 is Søren Kjærsgaard, a member of the Liberal Party...
with a population of 27,055 (1 January 2011). The city is located in the northeastern 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...
, Denmark.
Holbæk is on Zealand, on the banks of Holbæk Fjord, an inlet of the larger 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...
. Holbæk is a commercial and industrial center for the surrounding area. By rail, Holbæk is serviced by Danske Statsbaner
Danske Statsbaner
DSB, an abbreviation of Danske Statsbaner , is the largest Danish train operating company, and the largest in Scandinavia. While DSB is responsible for passenger train operation on most of the Danish railways, goods transport and railway maintenance are outside its scope...
's line from Roskilde
Roskilde
Roskilde is the main city in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark on the island of Zealand. It is an ancient city, dating from the Viking Age and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network....
to Kalundborg
Kalundborg
Kalundborg is a city with a population of 16,434 in Kalundborg municipality in Denmark and the site of its municipal council. Kalundborg is on the main island Zealand, with Copenhagen, but opposite on the far western edge....
, which runs through the city. 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...
connects Holbæk by rail to Nykøbing Sjælland
Nykøbing Sjælland
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 . It is located in Odsherred municipality which is part of Region Sjælland...
. The city serves as a major hub for the Movia
Movia
Movia is a family of metro train built by Bombardier Transportation. The structure and body shell are fully customisable for the needs of each system that orders it. Unlike most traditional metro trains, they usually have full-width gangways between carriages, allowing passengers to walk the entire...
bus routes. Holbæk has an active commercial seaport that serves as the harbor for the ferry to Orø
Orø
Orø is a small island in Denmark located in the Isefjord.It covers and has a population of 867 .Administratively the island belongs to Holbæk Municipality....
(island). Near the harbor there is a substantial marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
.
History
Holbæk is first mentioned in official documents in AbsalonAbsalon
Absalon was a Danish archbishop and statesman, who was the Bishop of Roskilde from 1158 to 1192 and Archbishop of Lund from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and churchfather of Denmark in the second half of the 12th century, and was the closest advisor of King Valdemar I of...
's letter of June 8, 1199, in which he granted the majority of his estates to Sorø Klosterkirke
Sorø Klosterkirke
Sorø Klosterkirke is located in the Danish town of Sorø. It was founded by Danish archbishop Absalon and built by Cistercians in the period from 1161-1201. It is made of red brick, which was a new material for the time. It is built similar style to the Abbey of Fontenay. The church contains royal...
in Sorø
Sorø
Sorø is a town in Sorø municipality in Region Sjælland on the island of Zealand in east Denmark. The population is 7,805 . The municipal council and the regional council are located in Sorø....
. It was called Holbækgaard, a larger farm belonging to a nobleman
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
, around which the city would eventually develop.
Next it appears in Valdemar the Victorious'
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
book of properties (see Kong Valdemars Jordebog on the Danish Wikipedia) in 1231. Valdmar broke ground for Holbæk Slot (Holbæk Castle) in 1236.
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...
came for a court proceeding that granted her territories in Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
. The event may have triggered the creation of the first city seal which shows the three trees by the water that are the prominent features of the current seal.
Culture
Culturally, Holbæk can be noted for Musikhus Elværket, a converted power stationPower station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
that serves as a concert venue
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
for modern music.
Famous people
- Agnete HoyAgnete HoyAgnete Hoy , also known as Anita Hoy, is an English artist potter who managed successfully to create a bridge between industrial ceramics and work of the studio potters. Having studied in Copenhagen she went on to work for the Holbæk and Saxbo potteries in the late-1930s before returning to England...
, potter - Inga NielsenInga NielsenInga Nielsen was a Danish soprano who had an active international opera career from 1971 to 2006. A child prodigy, Nielsen performed on American radio during the 1950s, beginning at the age of six, and also released some commercial recordings of Danish folk songs and Christmas carols as a child...
, opera singer - Christian PoulsenChristian PoulsenChristian Bjørnshøj Poulsen is a Danish footballer who plays for Evian in Ligue 1. He has played for a number of European clubs, winning the Danish Superliga championship with F.C...
, footballer - Stefan SchmidtStefan SchmidtStefan Schmidt is a Danish professional footballer who most is playing for Brønshøj Boldklub in the Danish 1st Division. Generally playing a defensive midfielder and central midfielder role, Schmidt is a midfield workhorse with a strong tackle and good technical and passing skills...
, footballer - Aage StentoftAage StentoftAage Stentoft was a Danish composer, film score composer and theatre director. He composed over 700 melodies during his lifetime.- Biography :...
, composer
Twin towns — Sister cities
Holbæk is twinned with: CelleCelle
Celle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Sources
- City History
- NetBorger.dk Statistics
- Statistikbanken Statistics