Naestved
Encyclopedia
Næstved a commercial town
in a municipality of the same name
, lies on the island of Zealand in Denmark
. The town is one hour's travel from Copenhagen
. Næstved has a population of 41,667 (1 January 2011). Næstved's UN/LOCODE
is DKNVD.
Næstved has several adult education
centers, five elementary schools
- and has at least one of each type of the four upper-second-level education centers. The city has the largest high school in Denmark, Næstved Gymnasium & HF
.
In 2003, the Guard Hussars regiment moved from Næstved to Slagelse
.
In January 2008, the City Council
presented plans for a new urban area in the Stenlænge area of the town (119 acres), including 1000-1500 residential homes, along with a new stadium, hotel, school, sports facilities, and more. The council intends to establish Næstved's position as the leading Zealand city after Copenhagen, for cultural facilities and for family life. This project brings to life a dream of having the facilities that will attract the best performers from Denmark and abroad: it also, for concerts and shows, would give Næstved the ability to compete with Copenhagen and other cities of Næstved's size.
Næstved has roots as far back as 400-500 BC. Archaeological material from this period has been found in the soil under Næstved, and tells of human life here before long before the Viking era
.
The name of the city, Næstved, derives from two words: Næs and Tved. Tved means "cleared land" or "cleared wood" (as "thwaite" in English toponyms), and refers to the city's origin in the woods of southern Zealand, on the banks of the Suså
. "Næs" is the Danish word for a small peninsula (as "ness" in English toponyms), and probably refers to the city's placing on the peninsulas Ydernæs, Grimstrup Næs, and Appenæs.
In 1135, Benedictine
monks received Saint Peter's Church and surrounding land in order to found St. Peter's Priory. This is seen as the foundation of the town of Næstved, although the town appears to have existed already at that time, being both big and important to the region.
, Saint John's Church, Herlufsholm Church, and Holsted Church. There are other churches in the town, such as Sjølundkirken.
. It is in the center of the city, only five minutes walk away from the station. Denmark's top artists perform here, along with various names from abroad. Amongst the best-known foreign artists to have visited Næstved over the last few years are Electric Light Orchestra
, Beth Hart
, Runrig and Modern Talking
.
In recent years, various theatres have emerged in Næstved, culminating with the creation of an "Egns Teater" - a local theatre - in 2006. Performances by talented local artists add to Næstved's position as a cultural stronghold on Zealand outside Copenhagen.
"Studenternes Hus" downtown (House of Students) is also a widely known and frequently used venue for local and national acts, as well as mid-range artistes from abroad. Cheap entry fees and a relaxed atmosphere attract a young crowd.
Besides those museums offering a broad view of local history
, Næstved has numerous small museums, mainly focusing on local art. One of the most important, and most visited, is the Kähler Museum, showing pieces of Kähler ceramics.
Experienced mayor, Henning Jensen, led the city through the merger, and stayed head of the city council, with the four mayors from the other merged municipalities taking place as members of the council. Henning Jensen remained mayor of Næstved until 2011.
has had the majority of seats in the City Council of Næstved. Today, they also have the most seats (more than half the seats in the City Council).
Critics claim that the party's power in the city is too large, with an absolute majority from only one party making it hard for the views of the opposing parties to be heard.
Traditionally Næstved's public have turned to the left on the political scale, when casting their votes. Social Democrats have been heading the city council almost continuously since its creation. The historically high rate of industrial workers in Næstved, have seen the liberal and conservative parties struggle over the last century.
Surprisingly enough, as Næstved increasingly becomes an academic city, the leftward tendency has never changed, and the Social Democrats in Næstved now stand stronger than ever.
to follow.
Næstved entered the project in 1947.
Næstved's Cities of Friendship as per 1.1.2007:
was established on, what was then the outskirts of the city. It is called Næstved Storcenter (Næstved Big Center), and houses some 80+ shops. Clothing, Danish design
and much more can be found here. The center also offers seven restaurants of various kinds, from Mexican cuisine
to pizzas hamburgers. People from most of Zealand come here to shop, and the large warehouse, BILKA, attracts a lot of customers.
Næstved Storcenter is on the outer edge of the city, and is easily accessible by bus (from Næstved Station) and by train (Næstved Nord Station is a five-minute walk from the mall entrance).
Every Wednesday and Saturday there's a market in the city centre on "Axeltorv" (Axle Square) - a very old square, dating back to the founding of the city. The cosy environment with various shops, the marketplace and a vast variety of cafes is very popular with tourists and locals alike.
Near the sea, with the harbour in the city centre, Næstved was traditionally a city of industry. In recent years, though, industry in the city centre has decreased, as production has moved to the outskirts of the city - primarily on Ydernæs.
system. The develop and manufacture high quality heating, ventilation, air-conditioning
and refrigeration solutions for land and marine applications, along with numerous other products including fire-fighting
products and systems.
In 1999 Novenco was sold to York International
Inc., and had its name changed to York Novenco. In 2006, however, York Novenco was acquired by Dania Capital (a Danish investment company
), who changed its name back to Novenco once again.
Næstved has numerous local media, from newspapers to daily television broadcasts
. Media company "Sjællandske Medier" (Zealandic Media) has its headquarters in downtown Næstved, and runs a local as well as a regional newspaper. Sjællandske Medier also operates a local TV-station called "24Sjællandske", offering local news
twenty-four-seven
.
Aside from Sjællandske Medier, Næstved has another media house: it runs two free newspapers
Also, the population has increased heavily, and actually Næstved is the second fastest growing city in Denmark, only out-performed by Denmark's second largest city Århus. More people means more ideas, and that shows in Næstved, where new galleries, workshops etc. has popped up in recent years.
The traffic in downtown Næstved can be very congested at times. New roads around the city has solved some of this problem, but still the traffic can be heavy, Especially around 8 and 16.
The City received a new library in 2005, just beside another new institution: Grønnegade Cultural Center in the center of Næstved. These two new structures have added to the experience of Næstved as a large city.
Prominent new buildings and fine restoration-works in the city center has also added to that experience.
is Denmark's third longest river and flows through Næstved. After the demolition of a huge parking lot
above it, the Suså has recently became more visible in the city. The Suså is surrounded on both sides by the Herlufsholm Wood from the city center to Herlufsholm. Visitors are able to walk down both sides of the Suså, and enjoy both the forest, the river, and Herlufsholm Boarding school.
Fishing is allowed in some parts of the river. Canoeing is also practiced on it.
in Holme Olstrup, just 10 minutes from the city center. The park has increased dramatically in size over recent years, and is one of the most visited sights in all of Denmark today.
Recently, a new feature has been added to the amusement park in Holme Olstrup. It is called Fantasy World
, and used to be located in Ringsted. However, the "world" has been bought by BonBon Land, and is now located right next to it. Fantasy World features a huge exhibition of Santa Claus
, his home, his workshop and all of his little helpers.
is located in the old Herlufsholm Kloster, on the bank of the Suså just outside the town of Næstved. For centuries students have attended the school, which enjoys a very respectable reputation. Today, the boarding school attracts students from all levels in the society, but earlier the school was more or less a high-society-only school.
The school houses various collections of scientific materials.
s and a large collection of paintings.
Today, the castle is owned by baron Otto Reedtz-Thott, and has been in the Reedtz-Thott family since 1737.
The castle covers some 2300 acres (9.3 km²) of land, with 1200 acres (4.9 km²) of agriculture and 1000 acres (4 km²) of wood.
The castle has a vast variety of exhibitions during the year. The Gavnø Classic Autojumble is Denmark's largest exhibition of classic car
s, and takes place every summer. Also there is a Christmas Market
taking place in the gardens during two weekends in November.
Art-, book-, hunting- and health-fairs also take place.
For centuries, the Kähler ceramics has been world renowned for its high quality and unique designs, and the pottery has been on the cutting edge of Danish ceramic art for more than 100 years. Every piece of Kähler is still handmade.
The old pottery is still located downtown Næstved on "Kählersbakken", a ten minute walk from the Axeltorv Square in the city centre.
going on behind the scenes. Locals are trying to get a highway-connection for the city these days, but so far without success. On the other hand, the railways to and from Næstved have been improved greatly over the years, making Næstved easily accessible by train from most parts of Zealand.
are also offered. The station is operated by DSB (Danske Stats Baner ~ Danish Railways
).
Heavy traffic
on the motorways to Copenhagen has added to the amount of commuters using rail-transport to and from the Copenhagen area.
NB: In Denmark, you must have a valid ticket before entering the train. Tickets can not be bought from the personnel on the train, and if you travel without a valid ticket, you will be fined DKK 600.
All buses depart from the bus-terminal at Næstved Station in the center of the town.
in Kastrup (Copenhagen). By car, the airport is little more than an hour away. It is possible to go by train directly from Næstved to the airport in 1 hour and 20 minutes (approximately).
There are direct road connections to nearby Ringsted, Slagelse, Præstø and Vordingborg (80 km/h) - all four cities within 30 minutes reach.
Bridge), and the Fehmarn connection can be reached within an hour by road.
One of the biggest stone plants in the country for the refinement of seabed materials is situated at Næstved Harbour. One of the reasons why the company chose to set up at Næstved Harbour was because it would be possible for their annual production of around 120 000 tonnes of material to be sent more quickly to customers - and because Næstved Harbour has exactly the kind of storage capacity required, regardless of whether goods are to be stored for a long time or just briefly.
.
is a soccer team
operating as a club, founded in 1939 as a merger between Næstved Idrætsklub and Næstved Boldklub. They placed first in the Danish Division
, the second best league of Denmark. The home kit is green-green-white (jersey-shorts-socks) and the away kit is red-red-white.
Results achieved by the club;
Bronze medal winners: 1972, 1975, 1981, 1986
Silver medal winners: 1980, 1988
Danish Cup
runners-up: 1994
Danish champions (indoor soccer
): 2003
Næstved's basket team plays in the best league of Denmark (Canal Digital
Ligaen).
The 1980s was a successful decade for the team, where it managed to play in the best league for some years, and after a less successful 1990s decade the team is now back in the top division and currently has the ambition to be on of the dominating teams of Denmark within few years.
They have reached the Danish Cup Final twice - in 2007 and again in 2009. Both times they played Bakken Bears
from Aarhus
- they lost both times though.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in a municipality of the same name
Næstved Municipality
Næstved is a municipality in Region Sjælland on the island of Zealand in the south of Denmark. The municipality includes the island of Gavnø. It covers an area of 681 km², and has a total population of 80,732 . Its mayor is Henning Jensen, a member of the Social Democrats political party...
, lies on the island of Zealand in 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...
. The town is one hour's travel from 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...
. Næstved has a population of 41,667 (1 January 2011). Næstved's UN/LOCODE
UN/LOCODE
UN/LOCODE, the United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations, is a geographic coding scheme developed and maintained by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe , a unit of the United Nations. UN/LOCODE assigns codes to locations used in trade and transport with functions such as...
is DKNVD.
Næstved has several adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
centers, five elementary schools
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
- and has at least one of each type of the four upper-second-level education centers. The city has the largest high school in Denmark, Næstved Gymnasium & HF
Education in Denmark
Education in Denmark is compulsory for children below 15 or 16. The school years up to the age of fifteen/sixteen are known as Folkeskole . About 82% of young people take further education in addition to this. Government-funded education is usually free of charge and open to all...
.
In 2003, the Guard Hussars regiment moved from Næstved to Slagelse
Slagelse
Slagelse, a town in east Denmark, is in Slagelse municipality on the island of Zealand. It is about 100 km southwest of Copenhagen. The population is 31,979 ....
.
In January 2008, the City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
presented plans for a new urban area in the Stenlænge area of the town (119 acres), including 1000-1500 residential homes, along with a new stadium, hotel, school, sports facilities, and more. The council intends to establish Næstved's position as the leading Zealand city after Copenhagen, for cultural facilities and for family life. This project brings to life a dream of having the facilities that will attract the best performers from Denmark and abroad: it also, for concerts and shows, would give Næstved the ability to compete with Copenhagen and other cities of Næstved's size.
History
Næstved has roots as far back as 400-500 BC. Archaeological material from this period has been found in the soil under Næstved, and tells of human life here before long before the Viking era
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
.
The name of the city, Næstved, derives from two words: Næs and Tved. Tved means "cleared land" or "cleared wood" (as "thwaite" in English toponyms), and refers to the city's origin in the woods of southern Zealand, on the banks of the Suså
Suså River
The 83 km long Suså River , Zealand's largest waterway and longest river, runs into Lake Tystrup, the 8th largest lake in Denmark....
. "Næs" is the Danish word for a small peninsula (as "ness" in English toponyms), and probably refers to the city's placing on the peninsulas Ydernæs, Grimstrup Næs, and Appenæs.
In 1135, Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monks received Saint Peter's Church and surrounding land in order to found St. Peter's Priory. This is seen as the foundation of the town of Næstved, although the town appears to have existed already at that time, being both big and important to the region.
Culture
Næstved is the cultural center of the Southern Zealand-region, with various museums, concert-venues, theaters and exhibitions of all kinds during the year.Churches
Næstved has five Danish National Churches: St. Martin's Church, St. Peter's ChurchSt. Peter's Church, Næstved
St. Peter's Church in Næstved on the Danish island of Sealand is first mentioned in a monasterial letter from 1135. Built of red brick, it is one of Denmark's largest and finest Gothic buildings, scarcely altered since 1375. The chancel, with its five tall windows, is particularly impressive...
, Saint John's Church, Herlufsholm Church, and Holsted Church. There are other churches in the town, such as Sjølundkirken.
Music and stage arts
Grønnegades Kaserne Kulturcenter was opened in 2002 in what used to be military barracksBarracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
. It is in the center of the city, only five minutes walk away from the station. Denmark's top artists perform here, along with various names from abroad. Amongst the best-known foreign artists to have visited Næstved over the last few years are Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
, Beth Hart
Beth Hart
Beth Hart is an American singer who became famous with the hit , which aired during Episode 17 of the 10th and final season of Beverly Hills, 90210.Her musical influences include rock, blues and gospel.-Musical career:...
, Runrig and Modern Talking
Modern Talking
Modern Talking was a German dance pop duo consisting of Thomas Anders and Dieter Bohlen. Their music has often been classified as Europop. They have been referred to as Germany's most successful pop duo, and have had a number of hit singles, reaching the top 5 in many countries...
.
In recent years, various theatres have emerged in Næstved, culminating with the creation of an "Egns Teater" - a local theatre - in 2006. Performances by talented local artists add to Næstved's position as a cultural stronghold on Zealand outside Copenhagen.
"Studenternes Hus" downtown (House of Students) is also a widely known and frequently used venue for local and national acts, as well as mid-range artistes from abroad. Cheap entry fees and a relaxed atmosphere attract a young crowd.
Museums
Næstved has a range of museums of local importance, In the city centre, Næstved Museum offers the full story of Næstved - from the very first settlements till this day. In Stenboderne, near St. Peter's Church, a collection of ancient findings are on show, including pottery, armory and more.Besides those museums offering a broad view of local history
Local history
Local history is the study of history in a geographically local context and it often concentrates on the local community. It incorporates cultural and social aspects of history...
, Næstved has numerous small museums, mainly focusing on local art. One of the most important, and most visited, is the Kähler Museum, showing pieces of Kähler ceramics.
Politics
On 1 January 2007, the size and population of the municipality of Næstved increased dramatically, as the government decided to merge four smaller municipalities with the municipality of Næstved. Næstved emerged with nearby Fuglebjerg, Fladså, Holmegaard and Suså, increasing population in the municipality of Næstved to more than 80.000. That made Næstved the second-largest town on Zealand, only outranked by the capital, Copenhagen.Experienced mayor, Henning Jensen, led the city through the merger, and stayed head of the city council, with the four mayors from the other merged municipalities taking place as members of the council. Henning Jensen remained mayor of Næstved until 2011.
Political history
Traditionally, the Social Democratic PartySocial Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
has had the majority of seats in the City Council of Næstved. Today, they also have the most seats (more than half the seats in the City Council).
Critics claim that the party's power in the city is too large, with an absolute majority from only one party making it hard for the views of the opposing parties to be heard.
Traditionally Næstved's public have turned to the left on the political scale, when casting their votes. Social Democrats have been heading the city council almost continuously since its creation. The historically high rate of industrial workers in Næstved, have seen the liberal and conservative parties struggle over the last century.
Surprisingly enough, as Næstved increasingly becomes an academic city, the leftward tendency has never changed, and the Social Democrats in Næstved now stand stronger than ever.
International Cities of Friendship
The Nordic International Cities of Friendship project was initiated in 1939, involving cities in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Later on Finland also became part of the network, with Iceland and the independent regions of Åland, Greenland and Faroe IslandsFaroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
to follow.
Næstved entered the project in 1947.
Næstved's Cities of Friendship as per 1.1.2007:
- GjøvikGjøvikis a town and a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik.In 1861, the village of Gjøvik in the municipality of Vardal was granted town status and was separated from Vardal to form a separate municipality...
- NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... - GävleGävleGävle is a city in Sweden, the seat of Gävle Municipality and the capital of Gävleborg County. It had 71,033 inhabitants in 12/31 2010. It is the oldest city in the historical Norrland , having received its charter in 1446 from Christopher of Bavaria.-History:It is believed that the name Gävle...
- SwedenSwedenSweden , 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.... - RaumaRauma, FinlandRauma is a town and municipality of ca. inhabitants on the west coast of Finland, north of Turku, and south of Pori. Granted town privileges on May 17, 1442 , Rauma is known of its high quality lace , and of the old wooden architecture of its centre , which is a Unesco world heritage...
- FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... - BessastadahreppurBessastadahreppur-International Cities of Friendship:Bessastadahreppur's Cities of Friendship as per 1.1.2007:* Gjøvik - Norway* Gävle - Sweden* Rauma - Finland* Næstved - Denmark-Nature:...
- IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
Næstved Stor Center
A decade ago, a large shopping mallShopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
was established on, what was then the outskirts of the city. It is called Næstved Storcenter (Næstved Big Center), and houses some 80+ shops. Clothing, Danish design
Danish design
Danish Design is a term often used to describe a style of functionalistic design and architecture that was developed in mid-20th century. Influenced by the German Bauhaus school, many Danish designers used the new industrial technologies, combined with ideas of simplicity and functionalism to...
and much more can be found here. The center also offers seven restaurants of various kinds, from Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine, a style of food that originates in Mexico, is known for its varied flavors, colourful decoration and variety of spices and ingredients, most of which are native to the country. The cuisine of Mexico has evolved through thousands of years of blending indigenous cultures, with later...
to pizzas hamburgers. People from most of Zealand come here to shop, and the large warehouse, BILKA, attracts a lot of customers.
Næstved Storcenter is on the outer edge of the city, and is easily accessible by bus (from Næstved Station) and by train (Næstved Nord Station is a five-minute walk from the mall entrance).
Næstved Mega Center
Just next to Næstved Storcenter you will find Næstved Mega Center, which, though, in comparison is rather small. Næstved Megacenter is home for approx. 10 large stores offering everything from hunters outfits to baby-wear.Næstved City Centre
The heart of the city has a large pedestrian area for a place of its size.Every Wednesday and Saturday there's a market in the city centre on "Axeltorv" (Axle Square) - a very old square, dating back to the founding of the city. The cosy environment with various shops, the marketplace and a vast variety of cafes is very popular with tourists and locals alike.
Industries
(This section needs development)Near the sea, with the harbour in the city centre, Næstved was traditionally a city of industry. In recent years, though, industry in the city centre has decreased, as production has moved to the outskirts of the city - primarily on Ydernæs.
Novenco
Næstved's largest industry. For more than 60 years, Novenco has been among the world leaders in supplying HVACHVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
system. The develop and manufacture high quality heating, ventilation, air-conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
and refrigeration solutions for land and marine applications, along with numerous other products including fire-fighting
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
products and systems.
In 1999 Novenco was sold to York International
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a company, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It was founded in 1885 by professor Warren S. Johnson, inventor of the first electric room thermostat....
Inc., and had its name changed to York Novenco. In 2006, however, York Novenco was acquired by Dania Capital (a Danish investment company
Investment company
An investment company is a company whose main business is holding securities of other companies purely for investment purposes. The investment company invests money on behalf of its shareholders who in turn share in the profits and losses....
), who changed its name back to Novenco once again.
Media
(This section needs improvement)Næstved has numerous local media, from newspapers to daily television broadcasts
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
. Media company "Sjællandske Medier" (Zealandic Media) has its headquarters in downtown Næstved, and runs a local as well as a regional newspaper. Sjællandske Medier also operates a local TV-station called "24Sjællandske", offering local news
Local news
In journalism, local news refers to news coverage of events in a local context which would not normally be of interest to those of other localities, or otherwise be of national or international scope.-Television:...
twenty-four-seven
24/7
24/7 is an abbreviation which stands for "24 hours a day, 7 days a week", usually referring to a business or service available at all times without interruption...
.
Aside from Sjællandske Medier, Næstved has another media house: it runs two free newspapers
Urban life
Over the last 10 years, Næstved has developed into a more lively city than before. The trend of going out to cafés struck Næstved in the beginning of this century, and today, the town offers several cafés in the City Centre.Also, the population has increased heavily, and actually Næstved is the second fastest growing city in Denmark, only out-performed by Denmark's second largest city Århus. More people means more ideas, and that shows in Næstved, where new galleries, workshops etc. has popped up in recent years.
The traffic in downtown Næstved can be very congested at times. New roads around the city has solved some of this problem, but still the traffic can be heavy, Especially around 8 and 16.
The City received a new library in 2005, just beside another new institution: Grønnegade Cultural Center in the center of Næstved. These two new structures have added to the experience of Næstved as a large city.
Prominent new buildings and fine restoration-works in the city center has also added to that experience.
Suså
The Suså RiverSuså River
The 83 km long Suså River , Zealand's largest waterway and longest river, runs into Lake Tystrup, the 8th largest lake in Denmark....
is Denmark's third longest river and flows through Næstved. After the demolition of a huge parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
above it, the Suså has recently became more visible in the city. The Suså is surrounded on both sides by the Herlufsholm Wood from the city center to Herlufsholm. Visitors are able to walk down both sides of the Suså, and enjoy both the forest, the river, and Herlufsholm Boarding school.
Fishing is allowed in some parts of the river. Canoeing is also practiced on it.
BonBon Land
Næstved is home to an amusement parkAmusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in Holme Olstrup, just 10 minutes from the city center. The park has increased dramatically in size over recent years, and is one of the most visited sights in all of Denmark today.
Recently, a new feature has been added to the amusement park in Holme Olstrup. It is called Fantasy World
Fantasy world
A fantasy world is a fictional universe used in fantasy novels and games. Typical worlds involve magic or magical abilities and often, but not always, either a medieval or futuristic theme...
, and used to be located in Ringsted. However, the "world" has been bought by BonBon Land, and is now located right next to it. Fantasy World features a huge exhibition of Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
, his home, his workshop and all of his little helpers.
Herlufsholm Kostskole
Herlufsholm Boarding SchoolBoarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
is located in the old Herlufsholm Kloster, on the bank of the Suså just outside the town of Næstved. For centuries students have attended the school, which enjoys a very respectable reputation. Today, the boarding school attracts students from all levels in the society, but earlier the school was more or less a high-society-only school.
The school houses various collections of scientific materials.
Holmegaard Glass Factory
Holmegaard Glass Factory is a glass company located in the village of Holmegaard, just outside of Næstved.Gavnø Castle
Gavnø Castle is located on the island of Gavnø near Næstved. The castle is known for its tulipTulip
The tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species and belongs to the family Liliaceae. The genus's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China. The tulip's centre of...
s and a large collection of paintings.
Today, the castle is owned by baron Otto Reedtz-Thott, and has been in the Reedtz-Thott family since 1737.
The castle covers some 2300 acres (9.3 km²) of land, with 1200 acres (4.9 km²) of agriculture and 1000 acres (4 km²) of wood.
The castle has a vast variety of exhibitions during the year. The Gavnø Classic Autojumble is Denmark's largest exhibition of classic car
Classic car
A classic car is an older car; the exact meaning is variable. The Classic Car Club of America maintains that a car must be between 20 and 40 years old to be a classic, while cars over 45 years fall into the Antique Class.- Classic Car Club of America :...
s, and takes place every summer. Also there is a Christmas Market
Christmas Market
A Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, and Weihnachtsmarkt, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent...
taking place in the gardens during two weekends in November.
Art-, book-, hunting- and health-fairs also take place.
Kähler Ceramics
The history of "Kähler" has its beginning in 1839, when Herman Kähler took over an old pottery in Næstved, and founded the Kähler ceramic workshop.For centuries, the Kähler ceramics has been world renowned for its high quality and unique designs, and the pottery has been on the cutting edge of Danish ceramic art for more than 100 years. Every piece of Kähler is still handmade.
The old pottery is still located downtown Næstved on "Kählersbakken", a ten minute walk from the Axeltorv Square in the city centre.
Transport
Easy access to the city, is one of the top prioities for the local politicians of Næstved. Rail and roads are administrated by the State, so there is a lot of LobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
going on behind the scenes. Locals are trying to get a highway-connection for the city these days, but so far without success. On the other hand, the railways to and from Næstved have been improved greatly over the years, making Næstved easily accessible by train from most parts of Zealand.
Railways
Næstved Station offers direct connections south and north. You can get to Copenhagen within an hour for approx. 90 DKK. Connections to Jutland, Sweden and mainland EuropeContinental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
are also offered. The station is operated by DSB (Danske Stats Baner ~ Danish Railways
Rail transport in Denmark
The rail transport system in Denmark consists of about 2,600 km of railway lines, of which only the Copenhagen S-train network and the main line Helsingør-Copenhagen-Padborg are electrified...
).
Heavy traffic
Heavy Traffic
Heavy Traffic is a 1973 American animated film written and directed by Ralph Bakshi. The film, which begins, ends, and occasionally combines with live-action, explores the often surreal fantasies of a young New York cartoonist named Michael Corleone, using pinball imagery as a metaphor for...
on the motorways to Copenhagen has added to the amount of commuters using rail-transport to and from the Copenhagen area.
NB: In Denmark, you must have a valid ticket before entering the train. Tickets can not be bought from the personnel on the train, and if you travel without a valid ticket, you will be fined DKK 600.
Buses
A broad network of buses connects Næstved City to its urban area, as well as all major surrounding cities. Ticketprices are reasonable, and tickets are bought from the driver when boarding the bus.All buses depart from the bus-terminal at Næstved Station in the center of the town.
Air
The nearest airport is Copenhagen AirportCopenhagen Airport
Copenhagen Airport is the main international airport serving Copenhagen, Denmark and the Oresund Region. It is located on the island of Amager, south of Copenhagen city centre, and west of Malmö city centre on the other side of the Oresund Bridge. The airport lies mainly in the municipality...
in Kastrup (Copenhagen). By car, the airport is little more than an hour away. It is possible to go by train directly from Næstved to the airport in 1 hour and 20 minutes (approximately).
Roads
The infrastructure in Næstved has been under pressure for some years now. The roads in the city center are heavily crowded at mornings and in the afternoon. The absence of a direct motorway-connection to Copenhagen has led to numerous discussions over the years, but still, Næstveders have to take the 15 minute roadtrip to nearby Rønnede (East of the city) to access the E47/E55, connecting the area to the rest of Europe.There are direct road connections to nearby Ringsted, Slagelse, Præstø and Vordingborg (80 km/h) - all four cities within 30 minutes reach.
Næstved Harbour
In the middle of the city you will find Næstved Harbour. The harbour is in a central location in Denmark, near to Storebæltsbroen (The Great BeltGreat Belt
The Great Belt is a strait between the main Danish islands of Zealand and Funen . Effectively dividing Denmark in two, the Belt was served by the Great Belt ferries from the late 19th century until the islands were connected by the Great Belt Fixed Link in 1997–98.-Geography:The Great Belt is the...
Bridge), and the Fehmarn connection can be reached within an hour by road.
One of the biggest stone plants in the country for the refinement of seabed materials is situated at Næstved Harbour. One of the reasons why the company chose to set up at Næstved Harbour was because it would be possible for their annual production of around 120 000 tonnes of material to be sent more quickly to customers - and because Næstved Harbour has exactly the kind of storage capacity required, regardless of whether goods are to be stored for a long time or just briefly.
Sports
The town of Næstved has several teams in the top divisions of various sports. Most notably in the football leagues, where the team has traditionally played a role on the domestic scene, but recently the basket team has been the town's most successful sports teamSport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
.
Næstved Boldklub (Football)
Næstved BKNæstved BK
Næstved Boldklub is a Danish football club currently playing in the Danish 1st Division. They play at Næstved Stadion in Næstved on Zealand, which has a capacity of 10,000, of which around 2,000 are seats....
is a soccer team
Football team
A football team is the collective name given to a group of players selected together in the various team sports known as football.Such teams could be selected to play in an against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an All-star team or even selected as a...
operating as a club, founded in 1939 as a merger between Næstved Idrætsklub and Næstved Boldklub. They placed first in the Danish Division
Danish Division
Danish Division , short DDIV, is the only remaining military land Division in Denmark. It is also the most potent single formation of the Danish armed forces.It was created January 1, 1997 as the successor of Jutland Division...
, the second best league of Denmark. The home kit is green-green-white (jersey-shorts-socks) and the away kit is red-red-white.
Results achieved by the club;
Bronze medal winners: 1972, 1975, 1981, 1986
Silver medal winners: 1980, 1988
Danish Cup
Danish Cup
The Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
runners-up: 1994
Danish champions (indoor soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
): 2003
Team FOG Næstved (Basketball)
Further information: Team FOG NæstvedTeam FOG Næstved
Team FOG Næstved is a professional basketball team from Næstved, Denmark, playing in the best Danish basketball league, Canal Digital Ligaen.The team's head coach is Geof Kotila, an American....
Næstved's basket team plays in the best league of Denmark (Canal Digital
Canal Digital
Canal Digital is a Scandinavian television distributor and internet service provider that was founded in March 1997 as a joint venture between the French pay-TV company Canal+ and the Norwegian telecommunications operator Telenor...
Ligaen).
The 1980s was a successful decade for the team, where it managed to play in the best league for some years, and after a less successful 1990s decade the team is now back in the top division and currently has the ambition to be on of the dominating teams of Denmark within few years.
They have reached the Danish Cup Final twice - in 2007 and again in 2009. Both times they played Bakken Bears
Bakken Bears
Bakken Bears is a Danish professional basketball club based in Aarhus. It was founded in 1962 and has won the Danish championship eight times so far .-Current squad:- National Honours :*Danish championship...
from Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
- they lost both times though.
Other sport teams in Næstved
- Næstved Vikings - American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
- Team Python Pro - Cycling (Team Python Pro is the professional part of Næstved Bicycle Club (NBC))
- Næstved-Herlufsholm Håndbold - Handball (both men and women)
- VK Næstved - Volleyball
- Kvik Næstved - Table tennisTable tennisTable tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
- Competes in the best Danish table tennis league - HG Fodbold (part of Herlufsholm Gymnastikforening) - Football
Famous people born in Næstved
- Harald T. FriisHarald T. FriisHarald Trap Friis , who published as H. T. Friis, was a noted Danish-American radio engineer whose work at Bell Laboratories included pioneering contributions to radio propagation, radio astronomy, and radar...
, radio engineerBroadcast engineeringBroadcast engineering is the field of electrical engineering, and now to some extent computer engineering and information technology, which deals with radio and television broadcasting... - Lars Jørgensen, handball-player (Born in the former municipality of Fladså)
- Jesper Klein, actor
- Helge Adam Møller, politician
- Flemming Ronne, artist
- Casper Andersen Pedersen
See also
- Chronicle of the Expulsion of the Grayfriars#Chapter 13 Concerning the Friary in Næstved