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 (1 January 2011)[1]. It is located in Odsherred municipality which is part of Region Sjælland. The town is a popular seaside resort.
Nykøbing Sjælland is one of the oldest market towns on Zealand, first mentioned in the last part of the 13th century, although the local church dates from the first half of this 13th century. The town was destroyed by followers of Marsk Stig in 1290, and it has since been swept by several fires. The town and surrounding land was pawned by the crown to the Diocese of Roskilde in 1370, but was redeemed by Queen Margaret I. In the Middle Ages, the town was known for its harbour and its role in herring fishing. It received a charter in 1443, after which commerce replaced fishing as the main occupation. A school teaching in Latin was established in 1590, and replaced by a school which taught in Danish by 1740. At this time, the population was a mere 350, making it one of Zealand's smallest towns.
The local courthouse was erected in 1868 on Holtets Plads near the church. This building also served as city hall and prison. It has been a protected structure since 1991 and is now home remains a local courthouse and the home of Restaurant Madkunsten. The local Odsherred Museum was located in Kirkestræde till 2004, but has since been relocated to modern buildings near Annebjerggaard Museum, approx. 2 km south of town. The latter museum holds Northern Europe's largest privately-owned collection of antique glass. A third local museum is dedicated to detective fiction and Sherlock Holmes.
Nykøbing Sjælland serves as the northern terminus of the local railway Vestsjællands Lokalbaner which links it to Holbæk.
This article is a translation of the corresponding article on the Danish Wikipedia, accessed on 25 April 2007.