Västerås
Encyclopedia
Västerås vɛstərˈoːs is a city in central Sweden
, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren
in the province Västmanland
, some 100 km west of Stockholm
. The city has a population of 110,877 inhabitants (2010) out of the municipal total of 137,207 (2010).
Västerås is the seat of Västerås Municipality
, the capital of Västmanland County
and an episcopal see
.
Västerås is one of the oldest cities in Sweden and Northern Europe. The name originates from Västra Aros, which refers to the river mouth of Svartån
. The area has been populated since the Nordic Viking Age
, before 1000 AD. In the beginning of the 11th century it was the second largest city in Sweden, and by the 12th century had become the seat of the bishop.
Anundshög
is located just outside the City of Västerås. Anundshög is Sweden's largest burial mound. "Hög" is derived from the Old Norse
word haugr meaning mound or barrow. It was built about 500 AD and is over 74 yards wide and is almost 10 yards high.
In the ensuing centuries a cathedral and a monastery were built. The first City Arms date from the end of the 13th century.
King Gustav I of Sweden
called together the riksdag
in Västerås. During the riksdag assembly the decision was made to convert Sweden into a Protestant state and to remove the power of the Catholic Church.
Rudbeckianska Gymnasiet, the oldest gymnasium
(secondary school
) in Sweden, was built in Västerås by Johannes Rudbeckius
in 1623.
In the 18th and 19th centuries the growing of cucumber
became popular, and Västerås received the nickname Gurkstaden (the Cucumber City), which it still retains today.
", in order to attract tourists and new inhabitants, as well as students to the local university college
, Mälardalen University
(approximately 16,000 enrolled students in Västerås and in the nearby Eskilstuna
). To this effect, the city has started using a designed logo as branding in some official contexts, partially replacing the coat of arms
, as well as rebuilding several old harbor areas to make them more attractive to live in.
Västerås has the largest lakeside commercial and recreational port in Scandinavia on Lake Mälaren.
The city also has a skyscraper
cordially nicknamed "Skrapan
" (The Scraper) which has Sweden's highest-located cocktail bar, called Sky Bar, on the 24th floor of the building. Västerås hosts Power Big Meet
, an annual event where owners of high-powered American cars can meet.
dam was built on Svartån
, in central Västerås. This early electrification encouraged ASEA
, a large electricity equipment manufacturer, to concentrate its operations in Västerås, shifting focus away from Arboga
. Later, after a merger with Brown, Boveri & Cie
, ASEA
became ABB
. As a result, Västerås was home to its Swedish headquarters. There, it is situated mainly at the Mimer Complex in the city centre with production facilities in Finnslätten and Saltängen.
Other major industries include transportation like Bombardier with several distribution centres, coppersmiths Outokumpu Copper
and IT.
and favourable infrastructure connections with railways, waterways and highways. Amongst others, ICA AB has one of its main distribution centres located in Västerås.
Västerås is the birth place of multinational clothing retailer H&M
, their first store was opened in the town centre in 1947.
with: Lahti
, Finland
1940 Randers
, Denmark
1947 Ålesund
, Norway
1947 Akureyri
, Iceland
1953 České Budějovice
, Czech Republic
1964 Banja Luka
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1969 Kassel
, Germany
1972 Phenix City, USA
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....
, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren
Mälaren
Lake Mälaren is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west...
in the province Västmanland
Västmanland
' is a historical Swedish province, or landskap, in middle Sweden. It borders Södermanland, Närke, Värmland, Dalarna and Uppland.The name comes from "West men", referring to the people west of Uppland, the core province of early Sweden.- Administration :...
, some 100 km west of 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...
. The city has a population of 110,877 inhabitants (2010) out of the municipal total of 137,207 (2010).
Västerås is the seat of Västerås Municipality
Västerås Municipality
Västerås Municipality is a municipality in Västmanland County in central Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Västerås....
, the capital of Västmanland County
Västmanland County
Västmanland County is a county or län in central Sweden. It borders to the counties of Södermanland, Örebro, Gävleborg, Dalarna and Uppsala...
and an episcopal see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
.
History
Svartån
Svartån is a name given to a considerable number of Swedish rivers and streams.Svartån in Västmanland is 91 kilometers long. It passes through the towns of Skultuna and Västerås and has its outlet in Mälaren...
. The area has been populated since the Nordic Viking Age
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,...
, before 1000 AD. In the beginning of the 11th century it was the second largest city in Sweden, and by the 12th century had become the seat of the bishop.
Anundshög
Anundshög
Anundshög is a tumulus near Västerås in Västmanland, the largest in Sweden. It has a diameter of and is about high.Assessments of the era of the mound vary between the Bronze Age and the late Iron Age...
is located just outside the City of Västerås. Anundshög is Sweden's largest burial mound. "Hög" is derived from the Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
word haugr meaning mound or barrow. It was built about 500 AD and is over 74 yards wide and is almost 10 yards high.
In the ensuing centuries a cathedral and a monastery were built. The first City Arms date from the end of the 13th century.
Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
called together the riksdag
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
in Västerås. During the riksdag assembly the decision was made to convert Sweden into a Protestant state and to remove the power of the Catholic Church.
Rudbeckianska Gymnasiet, the oldest gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
(secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
) in Sweden, was built in Västerås by Johannes Rudbeckius
Johannes Rudbeckius
Johannes Rudbeckius or Johannes Rudbeck , bishop at Västerås, Sweden, from 1619 until his death, and personal chaplain to King Gustavus II Adolphus ....
in 1623.
In the 18th and 19th centuries the growing of cucumber
Cucumber
The cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same genus as the muskmelon. The plant is a creeping vine which bears cylindrical edible fruit when ripe. There are three main varieties of cucumber: "slicing", "pickling", and...
became popular, and Västerås received the nickname Gurkstaden (the Cucumber City), which it still retains today.
Today
Västerås is predominantly known as an industrial city, but also a retailing and logistics city. The city wants to distinguish itself as Västerås - Mälarstaden, meaning "Västerås -- the city by Lake MälarenMälaren
Lake Mälaren is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west...
", in order to attract tourists and new inhabitants, as well as students to the local university college
University college
The term "university college" is used in a number of countries to denote college institutions that provide tertiary education but do not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university...
, Mälardalen University
Mälardalen University
Mälardalen University College , or MdH, is a university college located in Västerås and Eskilstuna, Sweden. It has 13,000 students and over 1,000 employees, of which around 40 are professors...
(approximately 16,000 enrolled students in Västerås and in the nearby Eskilstuna
Eskilstuna
Eskilstuna is a city and the seat of Eskilstuna Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 60,185 inhabitants in 2005. Eskilstuna has a large Sweden Finn population....
). To this effect, the city has started using a designed logo as branding in some official contexts, partially replacing the coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
, as well as rebuilding several old harbor areas to make them more attractive to live in.
Västerås has the largest lakeside commercial and recreational port in Scandinavia on Lake Mälaren.
The city also has a skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
cordially nicknamed "Skrapan
Skrapan Västerås
Skrapan is the commonly used name for the only skyscraper building in Västerås, Sweden. The building is 81 meters tall and was constructed from 1988 to 1990. At the top of the building is a bar called Skybar with a good view of lake Mälaren....
" (The Scraper) which has Sweden's highest-located cocktail bar, called Sky Bar, on the 24th floor of the building. Västerås hosts Power Big Meet
Power Big Meet
Power Big Meet is the world's largest classical car show and is held in Västerås, Sweden for American cars . It is held each summer during the first weekend of July and is a major event for raggare from all over Sweden and the world.The Power Big Meet begins on Friday, when the cars drive around...
, an annual event where owners of high-powered American cars can meet.
Industry
In 1891, the Turbine House, a small hydroelectricHydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
dam was built on Svartån
Svartån
Svartån is a name given to a considerable number of Swedish rivers and streams.Svartån in Västmanland is 91 kilometers long. It passes through the towns of Skultuna and Västerås and has its outlet in Mälaren...
, in central Västerås. This early electrification encouraged ASEA
ASEA
Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget was a Swedish industry company. It merged with the Swiss Brown, Boveri & Cie in 1988 to form Asea Brown Boveri...
, a large electricity equipment manufacturer, to concentrate its operations in Västerås, shifting focus away from Arboga
Arboga
Arboga is a locality and the seat of Arboga Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden with 10,369 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:The city of Arboga is known to have existed as a town since the 13th century but the area has been inhabited since around 900 AD...
. Later, after a merger with Brown, Boveri & Cie
Brown, Boveri & Cie
Brown, Boveri & Cie was a Swiss group of electrical engineering companies.It was founded in Baden, Switzerland, in 1891 by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri who worked at the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. In 1970 BBC took over the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon...
, ASEA
ASEA
Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget was a Swedish industry company. It merged with the Swiss Brown, Boveri & Cie in 1988 to form Asea Brown Boveri...
became ABB
Asea Brown Boveri
ABB is a Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, and best known for its robotics. ABB operates mainly in the power and automation technology areas. It ranked 143rd in Forbes Ranking ....
. As a result, Västerås was home to its Swedish headquarters. There, it is situated mainly at the Mimer Complex in the city centre with production facilities in Finnslätten and Saltängen.
Other major industries include transportation like Bombardier with several distribution centres, coppersmiths Outokumpu Copper
Outokumpu
Outokumpu is a group of companies headquartered in Espoo, Finland, aimed at stainless steel. The company has approx. 8 000 employees in about 30 different countries worldwide...
and IT.
Retailing and trade
One of the historical reasons that made Västerås a city is its trading-friendly location by the river Svartån and lake Mälaren. The city remains one of the main logistical centers in Sweden due to its central location in the densely populated region MälardalenMälaren Valley
The Mälaren Valley , occasionally referred to as Stockholm-Mälaren Region , is the easternmost part of Svealand, the catchment area of Lake Mälaren and the surrounding municipalities...
and favourable infrastructure connections with railways, waterways and highways. Amongst others, ICA AB has one of its main distribution centres located in Västerås.
Västerås is the birth place of multinational clothing retailer H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
, their first store was opened in the town centre in 1947.
Sports
- De grönvita (The Green and White), Västerås SKVästerås SK BandyVästerås SK Bandy is a Swedish sports club located in Västerås that plays the winter sport of bandy. The senior side currently plays in the Swedish Elitserien, the top division of Swedish bandy...
- Founded on January 29, 1904, "The Green and White" is the most successful bandyBandyBandy is a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal.The rules of the game have many similarities to those of association football: the game is played on a rectangle of ice the same size as a football field. Each team has 11 players,...
team in Sweden, with 18 Swedish Championships won. They have the largest indoor arena for bandy in Sweden, ABB Arena Syd. The Bandy World ChampionshipsBandy World ChampionshipsThe Bandy World Championships are a competition between bandy-playing nations. The tournament is administrated by the Federation of International Bandy....
have been played in Västerås several times. - VIK Västerås HKVIK Västerås HKVIK Västerås HK is an ice hockey club from Västerås, Sweden. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. Västerås IK has played 12 seasons in the top Swedish league Elitserien .-History:Västerås IK was founded in 1913 and started playing ice hockey in...
, known as VIK Västerås Hockey Klubb. The club had its greatest moment in 1992/1993 when the club won the regular series in the Swedish Elitleague (VIK reached quarter finals in the playoff). In 2000 the club was degregaded from the league and faced a financial crisis. The club was declared bancrupt. During the fall of 2000 the club restarted in the lowest division which the team won. Today (2010) they are playing in Hockeyallsvenskan. Among hockeyplayers from Västerås you find: Nicklas LidströmNicklas LidströmNicklas Erik Lidström is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings, and is their captain...
, Tommy SaloTommy SaloTommy Mikael Salo is a Swedish General Manager of Swedish ice hockey club Leksands IF of the HockeyAllsvenskan. He is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender and a former head coach of IK Oskarshamn.-Playing career:...
, Patrik BerglundPatrik BerglundPatrik Berglund is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Mikael BacklundMikael BacklundMikael Backlund is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, 24th overall, of the Flames in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut in 2008–09.-Playing career:Backlund began his junior hockey career with...
and many more. - Västerås SKVästerås SK FotbollVästerås SK is a Swedish football club based in Västerås. The club, formed on 29 January 1904, is currently playing in the third highest Swedish league, Division 1 Norra.-Players:...
, currently plays in the second tier of Swedish football, SuperettanSuperettanSuperettan is the second highest league in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 16 Swedish football teams. It was created in 2000. Before that, the second level league in Sweden had been Division 1....
, after winning the Swedish Division North 1 in 2009/2010 season . Having mostly been playing in the higher divisions of Swedish football. The last time the club was in the premier division was in 1997. - IFK Västerås FK, football club in Division 5Swedish football Division 5Division 5 is the seventh level in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 53 sections with 10 to 12 football teams in each.- The competition :There are 53 groups of 10 to 12 teams each representing a local geographical area...
Västmanland - IK FrankeIK FrankeIK Franke is a Swedish football club located in Västerås in Västmanland.-Background:Idrottsklubben Franke was formed in 1943 and its main activity has been football despite the initial success came in bandy when the club won the national juniors championship in 1958. At youth level the football...
, football club in Division 3 Västra Svealand - Juventus IFJuventus IFJuventus IF is a Swedish football club located in Västerås. -Background:Juventus Idrottsförening was formed in 1948 in Vasteras as a fan club to one of the world's biggest football teams, Juventus FC from Torino in Italy...
, football club in Division 3 - Skiljebo SKSkiljebo SKSkiljebo SK is a Swedish football club located in Västerås.-Background:Since their foundation on 4 March 1944 Skiljebo SK has participated mainly in the middle and lower divisions of the Swedish football league system. The club currently plays in Division 2 Norra Svealand which is the fourth tier...
, football club in Division 2 Norra Svealand - Västerås IKVästerås IK FotbollVästerås IK is a Swedish football club located in Västerås.-Background:Since their foundation in 1913 Västerås IK has participated mainly in the middle divisions of the Swedish football league system. Their high point came early in the club's history when Västerås IK competed in the first season...
, football club in Division 2 Norra Svealand - In Women's Football Västerås is mostly known for the team Gideonsbergs IF Dam, currently playing in the second division (Norrettan). The team won the Swedish Championships in 1992 and the Nordic Championships in 1993.
- Västerås Roedeers - an American football team, founded 1989
- IVH Västerås, Handball team. Lady team plays in the Elit League (Elitserien) and the men in Division 1.
- Rönnby IBK Tigers, Floorball team. Won the Swedish lady championschip in 2006/07 and 2009/10.
- Västerås Friidrottsklubb, Track and field club in Västerås, hosting the 2008 Swedish Championships.
Notable natives
- Mattias AndréassonMattias AndréassonMattias Andréasson, born on March 29, 1981, Swedish singer and Swedish Idol 2007 contestant . He is also known as dmaSOUL. Starting 2007, he is part of the Swedish band E.M.D..-Idol:...
, Singer and member in E.M.D - Mikael BacklundMikael BacklundMikael Backlund is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, 24th overall, of the Flames in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut in 2008–09.-Playing career:Backlund began his junior hockey career with...
, ice hockey player - Patrik BerglundPatrik BerglundPatrik Berglund is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, ice hockey player - Maria BonnevieMaria BonnevieAnna Maria Cecilia Bonnevie is a Norwegian-Swedish actress. She was born in Västerås, Sweden, but she grew up in Oslo, Norway. Her parents, both actors, are the Norwegian actress Jannik Bonnevie and Swedish actor Per Waldvik...
, actress - Lars EkborgLars EkborgLars Åke Rupert Ekborg, born 6 June 1926 in Uppsala, died 7 October 1969, was a Swedish actor.Ekborg was the father of actors Dan and Anders Ekborg...
, ComedianComedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy... - EmbeeEmbeeEmbee is a Swedish hip hop DJ and producer. He was born Magnus Bergkvist on February 24, 1977 in Badelunda, Västmanland, Sweden. He is best known for his work with Swedish hip-hop group Looptroop Rockers...
, hip hop deejay and producer - FrondaSebastian FrondaSebastian Fronda is a Swedish hip-hop artist. He released his first studio album in 2004, and toured Sweden in summer 2006. He then took a time-out from doing live performances to work on his next album, Fridlysta Frekvenser. The first single from that album was released on April 11, 2007...
, rapper - Patrik IsakssonPatrik Isaksson (swimmer)Patrik Isaksson is a former breaststroke swimmer from Sweden, who won several titles in the short course championships...
, swimmer - Fredrik JohanssonFredrik Johansson (guitarist)Fredrik Johansson is a former member of melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity, joining in 1993. While in Dark Tranquility, he performed lead guitar on the In Flames song "December Flower" from the album The Jester Race. He is not to be confused with the other Gothenburg-based guitarist of the...
, Musician - Pontus KåmarkPontus KåmarkPontus Kåmark is a Swedish former footballer. He played for AIK, Leicester City, IFK Göteborg and Västerås SK.Born in Västerås, Västmanlands län, Kåmark, a defender, was part of the third-place Swedish squad at the 1994 FIFA World Cup...
, football player - Dagmar LangeDagmar LangeDagmar Lange was a Swedish author of crime fiction under the pen name Maria Lang. She was one of the first detective novelists in the Swedish language, and her books helped make the genre popular in Sweden...
, author under the pen name Maria Lang - Nicklas LidströmNicklas LidströmNicklas Erik Lidström is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings, and is their captain...
, Ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player - Magnus LindgrenMagnus LindgrenMagnus Lindgren is a Swedish jazz musician. He studied at the Västerås Music College. He then attended the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm, Sweden, and began working with the Soul Enterprise. He began playing with Herbie Hancock at age 18, and formed his current quartet in 1997...
, jazz musician - Maria MontazamiMaria MontazamiMaria Montazami, born in 1965 in Västerås, is a Swedish housewife and television personality in the series Svenska Hollywoodfruar, which is currently airing its third season in Sweden. Montazami has also appeared in commercials for Max Hamburgers and the travel agency Vings commercial...
, television personality - PandoraPandora (singer)Anneli Magnusson , known by her stage name Pandora, is a Swedish eurodance artist. She was most popular during the mid 1990s in the Nordic countries,in Asia and Australia in the end of 1990s to mid 2000s but is still active and releasing material more recently as United DJs vs...
, singer - Stefan PetterssonStefan Pettersson (footballer)Stefan Bengt Pettersson is a former Swedish footballer, who began his career in the Swedish Allsvenskan with the club IFK Norrköping, before leaving for IFK Göteborg during the 1984 season...
, football player - PromoePromoePromoe is a Swedish rapper, and member of Swedish hip hop group Looptroop Rockers, formed in Västerås, Sweden, 1992. He released his fourth album in 2009 entitled Kråksången, and later the same year followed up with the mixtape Bondfångeri...
, rapper (member of LooptroopLooptroopLooptroop Rockers is a hip hop group from Västerås, Sweden. The members are rappers Promoe , Supreme , DJ/Producer Embee and CosM.I.C...
) - Pugh RogefeldtPugh RogefeldtPugh Rogefeldt, real name Anders Sture Torbjörn Rogefeldt , is a Swedish singer, musician, guitarist and songwriter.-Biography:...
, musician - Linda RosingLinda RosingLinda Thelenius is a Swedish model, singer, author and politician...
, singer, politician, model - Jonny Rödlund, football player
- Tommy SaloTommy SaloTommy Mikael Salo is a Swedish General Manager of Swedish ice hockey club Leksands IF of the HockeyAllsvenskan. He is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender and a former head coach of IK Oskarshamn.-Playing career:...
, icehockey player - Bobo StensonBobo StensonBo Gustav Stenson is a Swedish jazz pianist. Stenson was noted as early as 1963, when he stepped up from the local scene in Västerås to start playing frequently in Stockholm, where he accompanied a long line of visiting American players including Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz and Gary Burton...
, jazz pianist - Gary SundgrenGary SundgrenKari Juhani "Gary" Sundgren is a retired Swedish footballer who played mostly for AIK Fotboll, as a defender .-Club career:...
, football player - Esbjörn SvenssonEsbjörn SvenssonEsbjörn Svensson was a jazz pianist and founder of the jazz group Esbjörn Svensson Trio, commonly known as E.S.T...
, jazz pianist - Åsa SvenssonÅsa SvenssonÅsa Svensson is a female tennis player from Sweden, who turned professional in 1992. She won two singles and seven doubles titles in her career. The right-hander reached her highest individual ranking on the WTA Tour on 1 April 1996, when she became the number 28 of the world.-Singles :-Won :-...
, tennis player - Tomas TranströmerTomas TranströmerTomas Gösta Tranströmer is a Swedish writer, poet and translator, whose poetry has been translated into over 60 languages. Tranströmer is acclaimed as one of the most important Scandinavian writers since the Second World War...
, poet - Mai ZetterlingMai Zetterling-Early life:Zetterling was born in Västerås, Västmanland, Sweden to a working class family. She started her career as an actress by the age of seventeen at Dramaten, the Swedish national theater, and appeared in war-era film starting in her teens.-Career:...
, actress - AxenstarAxenstarAxenstar is a power metal band from Västerås, Sweden, founded in 1998 by Peter Johansson and Magnus Ek. Their fifth and latest studio album, Aftermath, was released on 7 January 2011.-Current members:...
, Power metalPower metalPower metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Västerås is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Lahti
Lahti
Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , 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...
1940 Randers
Randers
Randers is a city in Randers municipality on the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. It is Denmark's sixth-largest city, with a population of 60,656 . Randers city is the main town of the municipality and the site of its municipal council.-Overview:Randers municipality has 94,750 inhabitants...
, 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...
1947 Ålesund
Ålesund
is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , 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...
1947 Akureyri
Akureyri
Akureyri is a town in northern Iceland. It is Iceland's second largest urban area and fourth largest municipality ....
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , 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...
1953 České Budějovice
Ceské Budejovice
České Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
1964 Banja Luka
Banja Luka
-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
1969 Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, 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...
1972 Phenix City, USA
External links
- Västerås Official website
- Local portal for Västerås, articles, pictures etc
- Westeraas, Ancient See of - Article in the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
- Pictures from Anundshög, Västerås, Sweden; www.remains.se