Nykøbing Falster

{{Distinguish|Nykøbing Mors|Nykøbing Sjælland}} {{more footnotes needed|date=September 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{expand Danish|date=January 2023|topic=geo}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Nykøbing Falster | image_skyline = Nykøbing Falster - udsigt mod byen.jpg | imagesize = 300px | image_caption = Nykøbing Falster waterfront | image_flag = | image_seal = Nykøbing Falsters Segl.jpg | image_shield = Coat of arms of Nykøbing Falster.svg | pushpin_map = Denmark Falster#Denmark#European Union | pushpin_label_position =  | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Denmark | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Denmark | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Denmark|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Region Zealand|Zealand (''Sjælland'')]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Municipalities of Denmark|Municipality]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Guldborgsund Municipality|Guldborgsund]] | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Simon Hansen | leader_title1 =  | established_title = | established_date = | area_magnitude =  | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = (in [[Guldborgsund Municipality]]) | area_total_km2 = 903.42 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | population_as_of = 2025 | population_note = | population_total = 19928 (City and Sundby) | population_footnotes = | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = [[Central Europe Time]] | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = +2 | coordinates = {{coord|54.76542|11.87549|region:DK-035|display=inline,title}} | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = 4800 | area_code = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Nykøbing Falster''' ({{IPA|da|ˈnyˌkʰøˀpe̝ŋ ˈfælˀstɐ|IPA|Da-Nykøbing Falster.ogg}}; originally named '''Nykøbing''') is a city on the island of [[Falster]] in southern [[Denmark]]. It has a population of 16,682 (1 January 2025).<ref>[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY3?lang=en BY3: Population 1 January, by urban areas] The Mobile Statbank from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref> Including the [[satellite town]] [[Sundby (Lolland)|Sundby]] on the Lolland side, with a population of 3,246, the total population is 19,928.

Nykøbing Falster is the seat of the [[Guldborgsund Municipality|Guldborgsund]] [[Municipality|''kommune'']] in [[Region Sjælland]]. The city lies on [[Falster]], and is connected by the {{convert|295|m|yard|adj=mid|-long}} [[Frederick IX Bridge]] over the [[Guldborgsund]] (''Guldborg Strait'') waterway to the island of [[Lolland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://structurae.net/en/structures/frederik-den-ix-s-bro|title=Frederik IX Bridge (Guldborgsund, 1962)|website=structurae.net|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>

==Overview== Nykøbing Falster is the largest city on the islands of Lolland and Falster, and is often called "Nykøbing F." to distinguish it from at least two other cities in Denmark with the name of Nykøbing. Nykøbing Falster is the seat of state and regional authorities. Additionally, a city in Sweden is called [[Nyköping]], which means exactly the same thing ("new market") in the closely related language.

There is a {{convert|0.5|km|adj=on}} long commercial district, walking street (''gågade'') on the Falster side of the city with a wide selection of shops. At the end of the street is a large plaza where special events are arranged. These include popular late-night events, which are held several times a year. It has a large central library in the center of town.

The town receives many visitors during the summer, especially from Germany.

==History== === Early history === [[File:Nykøbing Falsters våben 1655.png|thumb|left|150px|Coat of arms in 1655]] [[File:Nykiøbing efter Resen.jpg|thumb|left|Map from 1675.]] Nykøbing Falster was founded around a 12th-century [[Middle Ages|medieval]] castle. At the end of the 12th century, fortifications were set up on a peninsula on [[Guldborgsund]] for protection against the [[Wends]], and these were later converted into Nykøbing Castle. The town of Nykøbing Falster grew up around these fortifications. After the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], the castle was the residence of widowed Danish queens. As several queens of German descent resided here, many Germans came to the town.<ref>[http://www.planetware.com/denmark/nykobing-falster-dk-st-faln.htm Reference on www.planetware.com]</ref>

[[File:Nyekiöbing in Falster 1730.jpg|thumb|250px|Nykøbing in 1740.]] Situated on a headland, the castle was protected from all sides. In its early days, the castle belonged to the [[dynasty|royal house]]. Medieval documents issued in this region reveal that the [[Noble court|royal court]] regularly visited the castle. This is the castle where [[Christopher II of Denmark|Christopher II]] died (1332) and where [[Christian V]] was married (1667). [[Christian, Prince Elect of Denmark]] resided here. The castle was chartered in 1539. [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9056578/Nykobing-Falster REF]

The castle and the entire crown land on [[Falster]] were put up for sale in 1763 to help improve the poor state of government finances. The castle was sold for demolition, and only the modest ruin of one of the towers, Fars Hat (''Father’s Hat'' in Danish) is in existence today.

===Recent history=== From 1970 to 2006, Nykøbing was the administrative seat of the [[Counties of Denmark|former county]] of [[Storstrøm County|Storstrøm]] as well as the Nykøbing Falster municipality.

On 1 January 2007, the former Nykøbing Falster municipality merged with [[Nysted]], [[Nørre Alslev]], [[Sakskøbing]], [[Stubbekøbing]], and [[Sydfalster]] municipalities to form [[Guldborgsund municipality]]. This municipal reform, [[Municipalities of Denmark#Municipal Reform 2007|''Kommunalreformen'']], created a municipality with an area of {{convert|907|km2|0|abbr=out}} and a total population of 63,533 (2005) and will belong to the new [[Region Sjælland]] ("Zealand Region"). The former Nykøbing Falster municipality covered an area of {{convert|134|km2|0|abbr=out}} with a total population of 25,483 (2005).

==Geography== [[File:Nykøbing Falster.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Aerial view of Nykøbing Falster (April 2010)]] Nykøbing Falster is a harbor town which is located roughly in the middle of the western coast of the island of Falster. It is located where the Tingsted Stream (Danish: Tingsted Å) empties into the [[Guldborgsund]] strait which divides the islands of Falster and [[Lolland]].

==Main sights== [[File:Nykøbing Falster Klosterkirke2.JPG|thumb|right|250px|[[Abbey Church, Nykøbing Falster|The old abbey church]] (Klosterkirken)]] The city has a few noteworthy buildings, including a wooden house from 1580 and ''[[Czarens Hus]] ("The Tsar's House")'', named in memory of Tsar [[Peter I of Russia|Peter the Great]] of Russia, who stayed there in 1716. The most noteworthy attraction is the city's old water tower, [[:da:Nykøbing Vandtårn (Nykøbing Falster)|Nykøbing Vandtårn]], which was built in 1909 and remains an icon of the city and the surrounding areas. Today, the water tower houses a small cultural center holding art exhibitions and cultural events.

Other attractions include: * the [[Falsters Minder|City Museum]] (''Bymuseet'') * the Middle Ages Center (''[[Middelaldercentret]]''), located in [[Sundby (Lolland)|Sundby]] * [[Ejegod Windmill]] with its toy museum * The [[Abbey Church, Nykøbing Falster|abbey church]] founded in 1419. *[[Guldborgsund Zoo]].<ref>[http://zoos.dk/zoos.asp?id=121 "Guldborgsund Zoo"], Zoos.dk. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 21 December 2012.</ref> (formerly "The People's Park") *The fire fighting museum ([https://www.brandmuseet.dk Brandmuseet])

== Transportation == [[File:Nykøbing_Falster_Station.jpg|thumb|[[Nykøbing Falster railway station]].]] Nykøbing Falster has [[Nykøbing Falster railway station|a railway station]] operated by [[Danish State Railways]].<ref name=DSBNykobingFStation>{{cite web|url=https://www.dsb.dk/kundeservice/stationer/nykobing-f/|title=Nykøbing F Station|publisher=DSB|language=da|accessdate=21 March 2024}}</ref> It is the terminus for regular local passenger-train services from [[Copenhagen]] via [[Ringsted]] and [[Køge]]. International trains operating between Copenhagen and [[Hamburg]] called at the station until 2019, and are now re-routed via [[Flensburg]]. The [[Lollandsbanen]] also operates a rail service to [[Nakskov]].

==International relations== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Denmark}}

===Twin towns – sister cities=== Nykøbing Falster is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with: *{{flagicon|POL}} [[Lublin]], Poland<ref name="Lublin twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.lublin.eu/Miasta_partnerskie_Lublina-1-443-3-413_436.html|title=Miasta Partnerskie Lublina|access-date = 2013-08-07|work=[Urząd Miasta Lublin] [City of Lublin]|language=pl|trans-title=Lublin - Partnership Cities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116171020/http://lublin.eu/Miasta_partnerskie_Lublina-1-443-3-413_436.html|archive-date=2013-01-16}}</ref>

== Sport == The local handball team [[Nykøbing Falster HK]] won the [[Damehåndboldligaen|Danish Women's Championship]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://handbollskanalen.se/danmark-damer/guldet-till-nykobing-14-mal-av-svenskorna/|title = Guldet till Nyköbing - 14 mål av svenskorna|date = 28 May 2017|publisher=handbollskanalen|language=sv}}</ref>

In football, the local team [[Nykøbing FC]] competes in the [[Danish 3rd Division|4th tier]] of Danish football.

==Notable residents== [[File:Ludvig Grundtvig.jpg|thumb|140px|Ludvig Grundtvig]] * [[Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow]] (1557–1631 in Nykøbing Falster), Queen of Denmark and Norway by marriage to [[Frederick II of Denmark]], mother of King [[Christian IV of Denmark]] * [[Anne Palles]] (1619–executed for sorcery in 1693), an alleged witch, hired in Nykøbing Falster by a woman to drug and murder her abusive and violent husband * [[Ludvig Grundtvig]] (1836–1901), a Danish photographer and portrait painter * [[Ingeborg Tolderlund]] (1848–1935), a Danish women's rights activist and suffragist * [[Christian Blangstrup]] (1857–1926), a Danish [[Encyclopedia|encyclopedist]] * [[Peter Freuchen]] (1886–1957), a Danish Arctic explorer, author, journalist and anthropologist * [[Vagn J. Brøndegaard]] (1919–2014), a Danish ethnobotanist * [[Gert Petersen]] (1927–2009), a journalist and politician who helped found the [[Socialist People's Party (Denmark)|Socialist People's Party]] * [[Claus Meyer]] (born 1963), a culinary entrepreneur, food activist, cookbook author and TV host * [[Martin Geertsen]] (born 1970), [[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre party]] politician * [[Pilgrimz]] (1998–2013), a local rock band

=== Sport === [[File:Sara Petersen Beijing 2015.jpg|thumb|140px|Sara Petersen, 2015]] * [[Carl Andersen (gymnast)|Carl Andersen]] (1879–1967), a gymnast at the [[1908 Summer Olympics]] and later an architect * [[Henrik Danielsen]] (born 1966), a Danish-Icelandic chess grandmaster and Icelandic Chess Champion in 2009 * [[Jørgen Nielsen (footballer, born 1971)|Jørgen Nielsen]] (born 1971), a Danish former football goalkeeper, 340 club caps * [[Michael Hansen (footballer)|Michael Hansen]] (born 1971), a Danish former professional football player, over 460 club caps * [[Claus Jensen]] (born 1977), a former footballer, 310 club caps and 47 for [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] * [[Esben Hansen]] (born 1981), a Danish former football midfielder, 230 club caps * [[Anders Due]] (born 1982), a Danish footballer, 270 club caps * [[Johanna Rasmussen]] (born 1983), a Danish professional footballer, 152 caps for [[Denmark women's national football team|Denmark]] * [[Sara Petersen (hurdler)|Sara Petersen]] (born 1987), a Danish hurdler, silver medallist at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] * [[Mikkel Rygaard Jensen]] (born 1990), a Danish footballer with over 300 club caps * [[Mikkel Mac]] (born 1992), a Danish racing driver * [[Mikkel Michelsen]] (born 1994), a Danish speedway rider * [[Rikke Sevecke]] (born 1996), a Danish women's football defender

== See also == {{div col|colwidth=22em}} *[[Guldborgsund Municipality|Guldborgsund]] *[[Gedser]] *[[Guldborg]] *[[Marielyst]] *[[Nagelsti]] *[[Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub]] *[[Nørre Alslev]] *[[Nysted]] *[[Øster Toreby]] *[[Sakskøbing]] *[[Stubbekøbing]] *[[Sundby (Lolland)|Sundby]] *[[Toreby Sogn|Toreby]] {{div col end}}

== References == {{Reflist}} * Municipal statistics: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070812152043/http://www2.netborger.dk/Kommunefakta/ NetBorger Kommunefakta], delivered from [http://www.kmd.dk/ KMD] aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data) * Municipal mergers and neighbors: [https://web.archive.org/web/20061208085744/http://kommune.eniro.dk/region/media/nyekommuner.shtml Eniro new municipalities map]

== External links == {{Commons category|Nykøbing Falster}} *{{wikivoyage inline|Nykøbing Falster}} *[http://www.tinf.dk/ Nykøbing Falster Tourist Information website] * {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Nykjöbing |volume=19 |short=x}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nykobing Falster}} [[Category:Nykøbing Falster| ]] [[Category:Municipal seats of Region Zealand]] [[Category:Municipal seats of Denmark]] [[Category:Former municipalities of Denmark]] [[Category:Cities and towns in Guldborgsund Municipality]] [[Category:Port cities and towns in Denmark]] [[Category:Port cities and towns of the Baltic Sea]] [[Category:Falster]]