Fredericia

{{Short description|Town in Denmark}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}} {{expand Danish|date=January 2023|topic=geo}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Fredericia | native_name = | other_name = | settlement_type = Town  | image_skyline = Landsoldaten - panoramio.jpg | image_caption = The statue ''Landsoldaten'' ("The Foot Soldier") in Fredericia, Denmark | image_flag = | image_shield = Coat of arms of Fredericia.svg | motto = | nickname = | etymology =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Denmark | subdivision_type1 = | subdivision_name1 = | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Southern Denmark<br> (''Syddanmark'') | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = Municipality | subdivision_name4 = Fredericia  | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Denmark#Denmark Region of Southern Denmark | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Denmark | coordinates = {{coord|55|34|N|9|45|E|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes =  | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1650 | established_title1 = Current municipality | established_date1 = 1970  | area_footnotes = | area_urban_km2 = 27.4 | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi =  | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 15 | elevation_ft =  | population_as_of = 2025 | population_footnotes = <ref name=pop/> | population_urban = 41543 | population_density_urban_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi= | population_blank1_title = Gender <ref>[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY1?lang=en BY1: Population 1. January by urban areas, age and sex] The Mobile Statbank from Statistics Denmark</ref> | population_blank1 = 20833 males and 20710 females | population_demonym = Fredericianer  | timezone1 = CET | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = CEST | utc_offset1_DST = +2  | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = DK-7000 Fredericia | area_code_type = | area_code = (+45) 72 | geocode = | iso_code =  | website = {{URL|http://www.fredericia.dk/}} | footnotes = }}

'''Fredericia''' ({{IPA|da|fʁeðɐˈʁetɕæ, fʁæðɐˈʁætɕæ}})<ref>Erik Hansen: [http://sproget.dk/raad-og-regler/artikler-mv/sprogbrevet-dr/sprogbrevetdr-nr-72/udtale SprogbrevetDR nr. 72], sproget.dk (in Danish)</ref> is a town located in Fredericia Municipality in the southeastern part of the Jutland peninsula in Denmark. The city is part of the Triangle Region, which includes the neighbouring cities of Kolding and Vejle. It was founded in 1650 by Frederick III, after whom it was named.

The city itself has a population of 41,543 (1 January 2025)<ref name=pop>[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY3?lang=en BY3: Population 1. January by urban areas, area and population density] The Mobile Statbank from Statistics Denmark</ref> and the Fredericia Municipality has a population of 52,616 (2025).

==History== 250px|thumb|left|Plan of Fredericia in 1900 [[File:Huguenot obelisk.jpg|thumb|left|Obelisk erected to the memory of Huguenots arriving in the city after being driven out of northeastern France and Belgium by troops of Louis XIV]] After the devastation caused by the Thirty Years War in a largely unfortified Jutland, King Christian IV realized the necessity of building a strong fortress in Jutland, and decided that this project could be combined with his plans for building a large town in Jutland.

A fortified encampment was built on a point of land called Lyngs Odde, near the current location of Fredericia, with a rampart stretching to either side of the point, thus protecting the encampment from attacks. However, the fortifications were not perfect, and when Swedish Field Marshal Lennart Torstenson invaded Jutland, he was able to break through the ramparts. It was Frederick III who was finally able to complete the plans for the fortification, also adding a flank fortification on nearby Bers Odde as suggested by Danish Marshal of the Realm Anders Bille.

On 15 December 1650, the King signed the document giving the town its first privileges, and work on the new fortifications could begin. In 1651, the town was named Frederiksodde (Frederick's Point) after the king, and on 22 April 1664, it was given the new Latinized name of Fredericia.

Every 6 July, the town of Fredericia holds a festival to commemorate the 1849 Battle of Fredericia, fought during the First War of Schleswig, in which Danish troops won a victory over the Schleswig-Holstein rebels who were laying siege to the town. Fredericia's landmark, ''Landsoldaten'', was unveiled on 6 July 1858.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assistens.dk/bissen.htm |title=Kulturcentret Assistens |access-date=2006-07-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615031425/http://assistens.dk/bissen.htm |archive-date=15 June 2006 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Present== The municipality today is part of the East Jutland metropolitan area with 1.2M inhabitants,<ref>{{cite book |title = Vision Østjylland |url = http://www.blst.dk/NR/rdonlyres/D57AF934-C471-41E6-A8B0-389AF80A94A6/0/Visionsoplaeg20082008.pdf |publisher = Styregruppen for projekt Byudvikling i Østjylland |language = da |access-date = 12 September 2013 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090225003300/http://www.blst.dk/NR/rdonlyres/D57AF934-C471-41E6-A8B0-389AF80A94A6/0/Visionsoplaeg20082008.pdf |archive-date = 25 February 2009 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> and is the site of Fredericia municipality's municipal council.

The town is a major barracks, home to the Royal Danish Army's Signals Regiment (''Telegrafregimentet''), which is located at Rye's Barracks (''Ryes Kaserne'') and Bülow's Barracks (''Bülows Kaserne'').

==Transportation== The town is one of Denmark's largest traffic hubs.

===Rail=== [[File:Fredericia_Station_09.jpg|thumb|Fredericia railway station in 2013.]] Fredericia railway station is the principal railway station of the town.<ref name=DSBFredericiaStation>{{cite web|url=https://www.dsb.dk/kundeservice/stationer/fredericia/|title=Fredericia Station|publisher=DSB|language=da|accessdate=18 June 2022}}</ref> It is an important railway junction where the Copenhagen-Fredericia Line, the Fredericia-Aarhus Line, and the Flensburg-Fredericia Line all meet.<ref name=DanskeJernbaner>[https://danskejernbaner.dk/vis.station.php?FORLOEB_ID=214&content=Fredericia-Baneg%C3%A5rd-(Fa) Fredericia Banegård] on [https://danskejernbaner.dk Danske Jernbaner]</ref> The station was opened in 1935 together with the opening of the Little Belt Bridge across the Little Belt.<ref name=DanskeJernbaner/> The train services are operated by the railway company DSB.<ref name=DSBFredericiaStation/> It offers direct InterCity services to Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus, Aalborg, Struer, Esbjerg, Sønderborg, Flensburg and Hamburg.

===Air=== The nearest airport with scheduled national and international flights is Billund Airport {{circa}} 45 km west of Fredericia.

==Sport== ===Speedway=== The Vejlby Speedway Center, run by the Fredericia Motor Klub, is located on the northern outskirts of Fredericia and is a mini speedway track for bikes with 50cc and 80cc engines.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fmk-speedway.dk/ |title=Official home page |website=Fredericia Motor Klub |access-date=8 April 2023}}</ref> Fredericia Speedway competed in the town from 1958 to 2005 at various venues, including the Fredericia Speedway Center (the old Fredericia Stadion) and the Frederikslyst Motorbane.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://speedwaylife.com/danske-baner/fredericia-vejlby/ |title=FREDERICIA VEJLBY |website=Speedway Life |access-date=8 April 2023}}</ref>

=== Handball === The handball club Fredericia HK and its predecessor Fredericia KFUM has won the Danish Championship several times, and they currently play in the top division.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://frdb.dk/fhk/der-glimter-medaljer-og-maaske-guld-i-horisonten-for-fhk-spiller-fra-70-ernes-guldhold-fulgte-spaendt-med-da-naeste-skridt-blev-taget|publisher=Fredericia Dagblad|title=Der glimter medaljer og måske guld i horisonten for FHK: Spiller fra 70'ernes guldhold fulgte spændt med, da næste skridt blev taget|date=27 May 2023|access-date=5 March 2025|author=Nana Handhøj|language=da}}</ref>

=== Soccer === The local soccer team FC Fredericia was promoted to the Danish Superliga for the first time ever in 2025 after 24 years in the second best league.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 May 2025 |title=Fredericia rykker op i Superligaen |url=https://www.dr.dk/sporten/fodbold/superliga/fredericia-rykker-op-i-superligaen |access-date=10 May 2025 |website=DR |language=da-DK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kokborg |first=Johnny Wojciech |date=9 May 2025 |title=Aldrig sket før: FC Fredericia rykker op i Superligaen |url=https://www.bt.dk/fodbold/aldrig-sket-foer-fc-fredericia-rykker-op-i-superligaen |access-date=10 May 2025 |website=www.bt.dk |language=da}}</ref>

==Arts and education== The former Danske Musicalakademi in Fredericia was in 2015 amalgamated with five other performing arts schools, to form the Danish National School of Performing Arts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Den Danske Scenekunstskole: Kulturministeriet |website=kum.dk |publisher=Kulturministeriet |date=1 January 1970 |url=https://kum.dk/om-ministeriet/organisation-og-institutioner/statsinstitutioner/den-danske-scenekunstskole/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512181948/https://kum.dk/om-ministeriet/organisation-og-institutioner/statsinstitutioner/den-danske-scenekunstskole/ |archive-date=12 May 2018 |url-status=dead |language=da |access-date=2 February 2026}}</ref>

==Notable people== 140px|thumb|Vilhelm Buhl, pre-1954 {{no sources|section|date=February 2026}}  === The arts === 140px|thumb|Svend Melsing, 1921 * Carit Etlar (1816 – 1900), Danish author of ''Gjøngehøvdingen'' in 1853 * Magdalene Thoresen (1819 – 1903), a Norwegian poet, novelist and playwright * Henrik Pontoppidan (1857 – 1943), a Danish realist writer, shared the 1917 Nobel Prize for Literature * Svend Rathsack (1885 – 1941), a Danish sculptor * Svend Melsing (1888 – 1946), actor, theatre director and playwright * Ellen Krause (1905 – 1990), a Danish artist, joined the Odsherred Painters * Else Holmelund Minarik (1920 – 2012), an American author of children's books * Tage Skou-Hansen (1925 – 2015), a Danish writer, editor and scholar * Cecil Bødker (born 1927 - 2020), a writer of young adult fiction and a poet * Erik Moseholm (1930 – 2012), a jazz composer, bandleader of the DR Big Band * Harvey Martin (1942 - 2014), sculptor * Kristian Blak (born 1947), a composer and musician in the Faroe Islands * Martin Zandvliet (born 1971), a Danish film director and screenwriter * Christian Holten Bonke (born 1973), a documentary filmmaker and screenwriter *Søren Andersen (born in Fredericia), guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer * Matias Saabye Køedt (Galimatias) (born in Fredericia), an electronic music artist best known for his 2015 EP Urban Flora with American singer-songwriter Alina Baraz

=== Sport === thumb|140px|Annette Jensen, 2016 * Jesper Bank (born 1957 in Fredericia), a sailor, twice Olympic gold medallist in 1992 and 2000 * Peter Kjær (born 1965 in Fredericia), a Danish former footballer with 459 club caps * Thomas Sørensen (born 1976 in Fredericia), football goalkeeper, 497 club caps and 101 for Denmark * Patrick Hougaard (born 1989 in Fredericia), a Danish motorcycle speedway rider * Annette Jensen (born 1991 in Fredericia), a Danish handball player * Sara Thygesen (born 1991 in Fredericia), a badminton player, specializing in doubles play. * Katrine Veje (born 1991 in Fredericia), a footballer, over 200 club caps and 119 for Denmark women

===Others=== * Jens Mikkelsen Ehrenborg (1621 – 1690), an officer, civil servant, and Swedish nobleman * Jørgen Balthazar Winterfeldt (1732 - 1821), a naval officer and philanthropist * Hartvig Philip Rée (1778 – 1859), a Jewish-Danish merchant and author * Poul Pagh (1796 – 1870), a Danish merchant and shipowner * Frederick Brockhausen (1858 – 1929), a cigar maker, trade unionist and US politician * Vilhelm Buhl (1881 – 1954), the 11th Prime Minister of Denmark * Erik Holtved (1899 – 1981), an archaeologist, ethnologist and artist * Jørgen Vig Knudstorp (born in Fredericia), businessman, former CEO of Lego Group

==Twin towns== {| class="wikitable" |- valign="top" | * {{flagicon|SWE}} Härnösand, Sweden, since 1948 * {{flagicon|GER}} Herford, Germany, since 1987 * {{flagicon|Greenland}} Ilulissat, Greenland, since 1962 || * {{flagicon|FIN}} Kokkola, Finland, since 1948 * {{flagicon|NOR}} Kristiansund, Norway, since 1948 * {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Šiauliai, Lithuania, since 1993 |}

==See also== *Fredericia municipality

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Fredericia}} {{NIE Poster}} *{{wikivoyage-inline|Fredericia}} * {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Fredericia |volume=11 |short=x}}

Category:Fredericia Category:Municipal seats of the Region of Southern Denmark Category:Municipal seats of Denmark Category:Cities and towns in the Region of Southern Denmark Category:Forts in Denmark Category:Port cities and towns in Denmark Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea Category:Planned communities Category:Fredericia Municipality Category:1650 establishments in Europe Category:Populated places established in 1650 Category:Frederick III of Denmark