Nakskov

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Party of boats heading out from the port of Nakskov around 1914-1920

Nakskov is a municipality (Danish, kommune) on the western coast of the island of Lolland in Storstrøm County in south Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 33 km², and has a total population of 14,749 (2005). The mayor of Nakskov is Flemming Bonne Hansen, a member of the Socialist People's Party (Socialistisk Folkeparti) political party.

The main town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Nakskov.

Neighboring municipalities are Højreby to the east, Ravnsborg to the north, and Rudbjerg to the south. To the west is Nakskov Fjord, an inlet from the Langeland Belt (Langelandsbælt), which runs between the islands of Lolland and Langeland. Nakskov Fjord is a wildlife reserve, known for its bird life [2]. Boat service can be arranged out to the islands of Nakskov Fjord— Slotø, Vejlø, Enehøje, and Albuen— from the town of Nakskov.

Ferry service connects the municipality from the harbour northwest of the town of Nakskov over the Langeland Belt to the town of Spodsbjerg on the island of Langeland.

Copper plate illustration of the town of Nakskov, Denmark, probably 17th century, seen from the south across the strait separating the inner and outer portions of the fjord

By January 1, 2007 Nakskov municipality will cease to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It will be merged with existing Holeby, Højreby, Maribo, Ravnsborg, Rudbjerg and Rødby municipalities to form the new Lolland municipality. This will create a municipality with an area of 892 km² and a total population of 49,469 (2005). The new municipality will belong to the new Region Sjælland ("Zealand Region").

1 History
2 Attractions
3 Notable people born in Nakskov
4 External links
5 References

[edit] History

Nakskov and surrounding area (up = south) as depicted by the Swedish king's cartographer during the siege of Nakskov in 1959[1]

Situated in the inner part of the fjord in Denmark that remains the richest in islands, despite many of the islands having been included in the larger island of Lolland, the area was settled in the neolithic period. The town received trade privileges in 1266. Once the hub of the wealthy farmland region of western Lolland, Nakskov thrived on trade and industry. This situation changed gradually, as overland traffic was enabled by the contruction of a railways to the neighboring island of Falster in 1875 [3] and from there to Sjælland and the capital Copenhagen the Storstrømsbroen bridge in 1937[4]. An industrial boom in shipbuilding ended after Denmark joined the EEC and subsidies were dismantled.

[edit] Attractions

Large parts of the wetlands around Nakskov were drained in the 19th century. The dyke along the southern shore of the fjord allow walking or biking to the village of Langø.

[edit] Notable people born in Nakskov

View from Langø in Nakskov Fjord toward the peninsula of Albuen and the island of Langeland in the west

* Mette Jacobsen (b. 1973) – Danish freestyle and butterfly swimmer

Severin From[5], chess player.
Freddy Blak[6], politician, former member of Socialdemokraterne, now founder and member of Blaklisten[7]. Former MEP representing Socialdemokraterne, now member of Region Sjælland representing Blaklisten.