Aalborg Municipality

Aalborg (Danish: Aalborg, alternately Ålborg according to new spelling rules) is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in North Jutland County on the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. The municipality straddles the Limfjord, the waterway which connects the North Sea and the Kattegat east-to-west, and which separates the main body of the Jutland peninsula from the island of Vendsyssel-Thy north-to-south.

It is also the name of the municipality's main city and the site of its municipal council, as well as the name of a seaport.

The municipality and the town have chosen to retain the traditional spelling of the name as Aalborg, although the new spelling is used in other contexts, such as Ålborg Bay (Ålborg Bugt), the body of water which lies to the east of the Jutland peninsula.

The municipality, which includes the island of Egholm, covers an area of 560 km², and has a total population of 163.228 (2005). The mayor of the municipality is Henning G. Jensen, a member of the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) political party.

Neighboring municipalities are Sejlflod and Hals to the east, Dronninglund and Brønderslev to the north, Aabybro and Nibe to the west, and Støvring and Skørping to the south. The waters splitting the municipality are called Langerak to the east and Gjøl Bredning to the west. The island of Egholm is located in Gjøl Bredning, and is connected by ferry to the city of Aalborg at its southern shore.

By January 1, 2007 Aalborg municipality will, as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007), be merged with existing Hals, Nibe, and Sejlflod municipalities to form the new Aalborg municipality. This will create a municipality with an area of 1,171 km² and a total population of 192,353 (2005). The new municipality will belong to the new Region Nordjylland ("North Jutland Region").

Surroundings

The area is typical for the north of Jutland. To the west the Limfjord broadens into an irregular lake (salt water), with low, marshy shores and many islands. Northwest is Store Vildmose ("Big Vildmose"), a swamp where a mirage is sometimes seen in summer. Southeast lies the similar Lille Vildmose ("Little Vildmose"). Store Vildmose was drained and farmed in the beginning of the 20th century, and Lille Vildmose is now the largest moor in Denmark.

The city of Aalborg

The city of Aalborg is the fourth largest city in Denmark— after Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense. It is the location of Aalborg Air Base, an important base of the Danish air force, and is the seat of a Lutheran bishop.

Railway connects Aalborg with Hjørring, Frederikshavn, and Skagen to the north, and with Aarhus and the lines from Germany to the south, as well as to Copenhagen in the east over the island of Funen.

The harbour is good and safe, though fairly difficult to access.

History

Aalborg traces its history back over 1000 years. It was originally settled as a trading post, because of its position on the Limfjord. The sites of what were two settlements and a visible burial ground can be seen on Lindholm Høje, a hill overlooking the city. The size of these settlements emphasise the significance of this place as a crossroads.

The first mention of Aalborg under its original name Alabu, is found on a coin dated to 1040.

During the Middle Ages, Aalborg prospered and became one of the largest cities in Denmark. This prosperity was further enhanced when in 1516 Aalborg was granted a monopoly in salt herring.

Aalborg received town privileges in 1342 and the bishopric dates from 1554.

During the German invasion of Denmark in 1940, the Aalborg Aerodrome was captured by Nazi paratroopers very early in the action.

Industry

Aalborg is a growing industrial and commercial centre, exporting grain, cement and fish.

It is home to De Danske Spritfabrikker's ("Danish Distillers") aquavit snaps, production facility for the distillation of the Aalborg family of akvavits consisting of 17 different brands. Danish Distillers is Scandinavia's largest producer and supplier of spirits for consumption, and is the world’s largest producer and exporter of aquavit, supplying over 140 geographic markets.

It is also the center of a growing telecomunications industry originating from the Aalborg University.

Carnival in Aalborg

The annual carnival takes place on 27 and 28 May.

During the carnival, Aalborg receives about 100,000 people. On 27 May “The Battle of Carnival Bands” is an exciting and colourful evening with processions through the city when all the participating groups compete to be the leading carnival group.

The carnival itself is on 28 May – on this day the city centre is full of life. The streets are filled with gaily dressed people who are in a real spring mood. In Kilde Park concerts are given from various stages all day to midnight. The Carnival ends with a grand firework display on the harbour.

Architecture and tourist attractions

The old castle Aalborghus Castle (Aalborghus Slot) and some picturesque houses of the 17th century remain in the center of the town. The half-timbered (bindingsværk) castle was built in 1550 by King Christian III, and was converted to government administration offices in the 1950s.

Budolfi Church cathedral dates mostly from the middle of the 18th century, while Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady) was partially burnt in 1894. The foundations of both churches are from the 14th century or earlier.

There are also an ancient hospital and a museum of art and antiquities.

On the north side of the Limfjord is Nørresundby, which is connected to Aalborg by a road bridge, an iron railway bridge, as well as a motorway tunnel running under the Limfjord. Nørresundby is the site of the Lindholm Høje settlement and burial ground from the Germanic Iron Age and Viking times. There is also a museum on the site.

Aalborgtårnet. A tripod tower erected in 1933. The tower still gives an exquisite view over the fjord and the city from its 105 m rise over the sea level.

Twinning

Aalborg maintains cultural, economic and educational ties with Edinburgh, Scotland.

Other information

The city has a football team playing in the Danish Superleague, Aalborg Boldspilklub, which is known as AaB.

The city has the highest number of hairdresser shops, tattoo shops, bars, night clubs, pubs and solariums per inhabitant in Denmark.

External links

References

Municipal statistics: NetBorger Kommunefakta, delivered from KMD aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data)]
Municipal mergers and neighbors: Eniro new municipalities map