Frederikssund

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Frederikssund
Town hall
Frederikssund
Location in Denmark
Coordinates: 55°50′00″N 12°04′00″E / 55.83330°N 12.06659°E / 55.83330; 12.06659
Country Denmark
Region Capital (Hovedstaden)
Municipality Frederikssund
Government
 • Mayor Ole Find Jensen
Population (2013)
 • Total 15,654
Time zone Central Europe Time (UTC+1)

Frederikssund is a Danish town, seat of the Frederikssund Municipality, in the Region Hovedstaden with a population of 15,654 (1 January 2013).[1] It received the status of market town in 1810. The town is famous for its annual Viking Games as well as for the J.F. Willumsen museum. Since 1935, it has been connected to Hornsherred via the Kronprins Frederik Bridge.[2]

History

Historical coat of arms

There is evidence of communities dating right back to the stone age with a number of burial sites in the area. It seems probable that there was a small settlement at the present location of Frederikssund in the Middle Ages but the development of the town probably began in the 12th century with the construction of a church at what was then known as Ude Sundby[3] or Sundby Færge (Sundby Ferry). Located at a narrow point on Roskilde Fjord, Sundby Færge became the harbour for the nearby market town of Slangerup.

In 1809-10, the status of market town was transferred from Slangerup to Frederikssund, named after King Frederik III.[4] In 1868, a pontoon bridge linking Frederikssund to Hornsherred was opened.[5] This was replaced by today's Kronprins Frederik Bridge in 1935.

Frederikssund's rapid expansion from a small town at the end of the 19th century is due in large part to the railway connection with Ballerup in 1879 which was upgraded to a frequent suburban service to Copenhagen in 1989.

Geography

Frederikssund is located on the east coast of Roskilde Fjord, about 45 km north-west of Copenhagen, 20 km south of Hillerød and 30 km north of Roskilde. It is less than an hour from Copenhagen by either road or rail. S-trains (suburban commuter trains) leave about once every 10 minutes. Copenhagen Airport can be reached by road or rail in about an hour.

The low hills on which Frederikssund lies are formed of moraines from the last Ice Age. The shallow Roskilde Fjord which separates Frederikssund from Hornsherred originated in the same period.

The fertile land surrounding Frederikssund is used for mixed farming - with an emphasis on cereals, root crops and pigs.

Frederikssund today

The recent development of the town center and the old commercial harbour have given Frederikssund a new look which reflects its growing popularity as a residential area with connections to Copenhagen and surroundings. It has all the facilities associated with a modern Danish town: museums, a public library, supermarkets, a hospital and sports and recreation centers. With a location facing west over the Roskilde Fjord, it has many footpaths along the shores and up into the higher ground to the east. The local rail and bus services are well developed.

Culture

Cultural attractions include the J.F. Willumsens Museum,[6] the Færgegården local history museum[7] at the far end of the bridge over to Hornsherred, and the annual Viking plays[8] held in a large outdoor theatre.

Leisure activities

Activities range from sailing,[9] rowing,[10] cycling,[11] golfing[12] or gliding[13] to simply sitting out on the main pedestrian street (gågade).

Sports

There are several sports clubs and facilities in Frederikssund covering soccer,[14] American football,[15] swimming,[16] basketball, bowling and cycling.

Twin towns

See also

References

  1. ↑ BEF44: Population 1st January, by urban areas database from Statistics Denmark
  2. ↑ Frederikssund. From Den store Danske. In Danish. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  3. ↑ History of Frederikssund Church from Frederikssund Kirke. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  4. ↑ History of Frederikssund's town hall from Dansk Center for Byhistorie. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
  5. ↑ Historical descriptions for the Færgegården local history museum. Retrieved 11 January 2007.
  6. ↑ "J.F. Willumsens Museum". Jfwillumsensmuseum.dk. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  7. ↑ "Planning your trip" (in (Lingala)). VisitDenmark. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  8. ↑ Kategori: Nyheder (27 December 2012). "vikingespil.dk". vikingespil.dk. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  9. ↑ "frederikssundsejlklub.dk". frederikssundsejlklub.dk. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  10. ↑ "frederikssund-roklub.dk". frederikssund-roklub.dk. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  11. ↑ fjordstien.dk
  12. ↑ "Frederikssund Golf Klub, DK-3630 Jægerspris, Denmark". Golfonline.dk. 7 March 2007. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  13. ↑ "f-f-f.dk". f-f-f.dk. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  14. ↑ frederikssundik.dk
  15. ↑ "oaks.dk". oaks.dk. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  16. ↑ http://www.sitecenter.dk/frederikssundsvoemmeklub

External links

Media related to Frederikssund at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 55°50′00″N 12°04′00″E / 55.83330°N 12.06659°E / 55.83330; 12.06659

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