Middelfart | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Saint Nicolaus Church | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Middelfart Location in Denmark Show map of Denmark.svg) Middelfart Middelfart (Region of Southern Denmark) Show map of Region of Southern Denmark | |
| Coordinates:55°29′55″N9°44′40″E / 55.49861°N 9.74444°E /55.49861; 9.74444 | |
| Country | Denmark |
| Region | Southern Denmark (Syddanmark) |
| Municipality | Middelfart |
| First documented | 1231 |
| City charter | 1496 |
| Municipal charter | 1970 |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 11.6 km2 (4.5 sq mi) |
| Population (2025) | |
| • Urban | 16,749 |
| • Urban density | 1,440/km2 (3,740/sq mi) |
| • Gender[1] | 8,079 males and 8,670 females |
| Demonym | Middelfarter |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 5500 |
| Area code | (+45) 3 |
| Website | www.middelfart.dk |
Middelfart is a town in centralDenmark, with a population of 16,749 as of January 2025[update].[2] The town is the municipal seat ofMiddelfart Municipality on the island ofFunen (Danish:Fyn).
The name Middelfart, first recorded as "Mæthælfar" inValdemar's Census Book in 1231, consists of the old Danish wordmæthal meaning 'middle' andfar meaning 'way'. This name originally referred to thestraitSnævringen ('the narrowing'), which is the narrowest part of theLittle Belt, and was subsequently applied to the settlement as well.[3][4]
It is not known when the town was established but it certainly owes its existence to its location at the narrowest point across theLittle Belt. The town was granted its first privileges at the end of the 13th century at a time when fishing played an important role in addition to its ferry link toSnoghøj in Jutland. From theMiddle Ages the town appears to have specialized in catchingharbour porpoises. In the 16th century cattle export was also significant.[4]
After theSwedish Wars in the 17th century the town suffered from losing its foreign export privileges and from competition fromFredericia on the other side of the belt, which not only had a ferry link toStrib but levied customs duties on traffic through the Little Belt. In the 18th century income from porpoise catches diminished but in the 19th century, with the establishment of its own harbour in 1836, conditions improved thanks in particular to the growing trade in agricultural products from the surrounding areas. From the mid-19th century small industries started to develop, especially the iron foundry. Therail link between Middelfart and Nyborg opened in 1865, bringing added prosperity despite the fact that it connected with the ferry from Strib rather than the one from Middelfart.[4]
By the beginning of the 20th century, the iron foundry, with about a hundred workers, was the town's main industry. After the firstLittle Belt Bridge was completed in 1935 Middelfart became an important hub for traffic between Jutland and Funen. The population grew from 2,345 in 1880 to 11,056 in 1950 but in the second half of the 20th century the rate of growth declined. In 1970 a motorway bridge to Jutland was opened and in 2007 Middelfart became the seat of an expanded municipality, which included the former communes ofEjby andNørre Aaby.[4]
Middelfart Municipality had a population of 37,685 in January 2014.
From theMiddle Ages until the end of the 19th century the local fishermen were alsowhale hunters in winter. The onlycetacean common in Danish waters is theharbour porpoise (Phocoena phocaena). The whale hunters linked their boats across the rather narrowLittle Belt and by beating the sea with sticks and branches they directed the migrating porpoises to low water areas where they could be slaughtered. As the whaleblubber was used for lamps, indoors and outdoors, the arrival of electricity made whale hunting uneconomical. In the winter of 1854–55, 1742 whales were caught, but a normal winter's catch would be half that or even less. In the 20th century the hunt was resumed during the two world wars. Two memorial stones now stand where the hunters landed the whales and where blubber was prepared.
Middelfart is served byMiddelfart railway station which is served by the passenger rail service betweenCopenhagen andJutland. It is located on theCopenhagen–Fredericia/Taulov Line which connects the Danish capital, Copenhagen, and theJutland peninsula by way of the islands ofZealand andFunen. It offers directInterCity services toCopenhagen,Odense,Aalborg,Aarhus andEsbjerg as well asregional train services toFredericia andOdense.[5]
Gammel Havn (Old Harbour) dates from the 1830s. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was extended and deepened to the east.[6]
Middelfart Church, dedicated to St Nicholas, is located close to the harbour at the end of Algade. Built in several stages, it has aLate Romanesquechancel, a tower first constructed in the 14th century and a nave with aisles from the late 15th century. The richly carved altarpiece is from 1650.[7]
Henner Friiser Hus, a half-timbered house on Brogade dating from around 1575, is now part of Middelfart Museum and contains exhibitions related to the history of the town. Restoration work on the building was completed in March 2014.[8]
TheKulturøen (literally, "Culture Island") Cultural Centre contains the public library, a cinema, a restaurant, a café and the tourist office.[9]
Middelfart is home tofootball teamMiddelfart G&BK. Middelfart played host to the1998 UCI World Cyclocross championships.
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Middelfart istwinned with:
Oskarshamn, Sweden[12]
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