By road Aalborg is 64 kilometres (40 mi) southwest ofFrederikshavn, and 118 kilometres (73 mi) north ofAarhus. The distance toCopenhagen is 412 kilometres (256 mi) if travelling by road and not using ferries.
The earliest settlements date to around AD 700. Aalborg's position at the narrowest point on theLimfjord made it an important harbour during theMiddle Ages, and later a large industrial centre. Architecturally, the city is known for itshalf-timbered mansions built by its prosperous merchants.Budolfi Church, now a cathedral, dates from the end of the 14th century andAalborghus Castle, a royal residence, was built in 1550. Today, Aalborg is a city in transition from aworking-class industrial area to aknowledge-based community. A major exporter ofgrain,cement, andliquors, its thriving business interests includeSiemens Gamesa Renewable Energy,Alfa Laval, andAalborg Portland. These companies have become global producers ofwind turbine rotors, marine boilers, and cement.
The name of Aalborg can be traced back to coins from the 11th century in the form ofAlabu orAlabur.[16] LikeAabenraa, there has been dissent regarding the spelling of the city's name. In current times, the modern name of Aalborg is nearly always written with a double-a instead of the Danish standard letter for that sound,å.Å was implemented to replace "aa" in all Danish place names on 22 March 1948 as a result of a Danishspelling reform. However, thecity council in Aalborg made the unanimous decision to ignore the new law and keep the old way of spelling, stating:
"Upon receiving a copy of the Ministry of Education's notice of 22 March 1948 about changes to orthography, according to which Aalborg's name henceforth shall be spelled Ålborg, the executive committee relays, that the city council – regardless of the notice – enacts that the city's name – as up until now – is spelled Aalborg, since the city's name with this way of spelling is known world-over. This was agreed upon unanimously."[17]
In 1984, then Minister of EducationBertel Haarder and Minister of CultureMimi Jakobsen, decided that themunicipalities of Denmark could decide for themselves which way of spelling they preferred.[18] This went against theDanish Language Council and theToponomy Committee's advice.[19] Both spellings are included in the official list of placenames.[20][21] It is neverorthographically wrong to write Ålborg[22] though it might upset local residents, many of whom identify strongly with the traditional spelling of the name. Aalborg is locally known as "Dobbelt A" (Double A) and the local rapperNiarn has even made a song about the city of the same name.[23] The city has also been nicknamed "Nordens Paris" (Paris of the North).[24]
The area around the narrowest point on the Limfjord attracted settlements as far back as theIron Age, leading to a thrivingViking community until around the year 1000 in what has now become Aalborg. In theMiddle Ages, royal trading privileges, a natural harbour and a thrivingherring fishing industry contributed to the town's growth. Despite the difficulties it experienced over the centuries, the city began to prosper once again towards the end of the 19th century when a bridge was built over Limfjord and the railway arrived. Aalborg's initial growth relied on heavy industry but its current development focuses on culture and education.[25]
Aalborg traces its history back over a thousand years. It was originally settled as a trading post because of its position on theLimfjord. The sites of what were two settlements and a burial ground can be seen onLindholm Høje, a hill overlooking the city. These large settlements, one from the sixth-centuryGermanic Iron Age, the other from theViking Age in the 9th to 11th centuries,[26] evolved at the narrowest point on Limfjord as a result of the traffic betweenHimmerland to the south andVendsyssel to the north.
The first mention of Aalborg under its original nameAlabu orAlabur is found on coins fromc.1040, the period whenKing Harthacnut (Hardeknud) settled in the area. Inc.1075,Adam of Bremen reported thatAlaburg, as he called it in German, was an important harbour for ships sailing to Norway.[16] In Valdemar'sDanish Census Book from 1231 it was calledAleburgh, possibly meaning "the fort by the stream" as inOld Norseall meant a stream or current andbur orburgh a fort or a castle.[27]The Church of Our Lady in Aalborg was originally built in the early 12th century but was demolished during the Reformation.[28] The Franciscan friary, or Greyfriars, on the east side of Østerå, was probably built around 1240; it was documented in 1268, but like many other Roman Catholic monasteries and convents was shut down in 1530 as a result of the Reformation.[28]
Execution of the rebel Skipper Clement inViborg, 1536 (engraving by an unknown author, 1574)
Aalborg's earliest trading privileges date from 1342, whenKing Valdemar IV received the town as part of his hugedowry on marryingHelvig of Schleswig. The privileges were extended byEric of Pomerania in 1430 and byChristopher of Bavaria in 1441. The town prospered, becoming one of the largest communities in Denmark. Its prosperity increased when the merchant- and trade association Guds Legems Laug was established in 1481, facilitating trade with theHanseatic League,[28]especially from 1516 whenChristian II granted it amonopoly in salting Limfjord's herring.[29] The king frequently visited the town, where he held court and stayed in the oldAalborghus. The herring fishery linked Aalborg to the East coast of England, across the North Sea, both in commercial competition and cultural exchange.[26] During the Middle Ages a number of important institutions were established in Aalborg, including Budolfi Cathedral in the late 14th century and theHospital of the Holy Ghost, a monastery and nunnery founded in 1451 to help those in need.[28] It was converted into a hospital during the Reformation and is still in use today as a nursing home for the elderly.[28]
In 1530 a large part of the town was destroyed by fire, and in December 1534 it was stormed and plundered by the king's troops after a peasants' revolt known as theCount's Feud led bySkipper Clement. It resulted in the death of up to 2,000 people.[28] TheReformation in 1536 brought about the demolition of the town's two monasteries.[26] As a result of the Reformation, Aalborg became aLutheran bishopric in 1554.[28]
Aalborg in the 1830s: painting of the old watermill by wine merchant Bock showing the mill pond fed from the Østerå
From the 1550s to the 1640s, as a result of increased foreign trade, Aalborg enjoyed great prosperity, second only to that of Copenhagen. The population grew in parallel with the development of many fine buildings in the city as merchants benefitted from their shipping routes from Norway to Portugal.[30] In 1663, the city suffered yet another serious fire, which destroyed the tower of Budolfi Church.[31]
During the second half of the 18th century, Aalborg entered a further period of prosperity. InErik Pontoppidan'sDanske Atlas (Danish Atlas) it was described as "after Copenhagen, the best and most prosperous market town in Denmark".[32] The population grew from 4,160 in 1769 to 5,579 in 1801. In 1767, the second newspaper ever published in Denmark appeared in the city.[25]
After Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden in 1814, Aalborg lost its important role as the country's centre for Norwegian trade. Its former prosperity also suffered as a result of difficulties with the herring industry as the fish disappeared after the sea breached the Agger Tange (which had linkedThy with the rest of Jutland at the western end of Limfjord) in the1825 North Sea storm.[25] The after effects of the state bankruptcy in 1813 also contributed to widespread poverty in the city. In the mid-19th-century, Aalborg was overtaken byAarhus as the largest city in Jutland. Towards the end of the 19th century there was however an upturn. In 1865, the pontoon bridge over Limfjord was completed, and in 1869, the railway reached the city with a railway bridge over the sound to Vendsyssel three years later.[26] The harbour facilities were also improved, making Aalborg Denmark's second port.[33] Aalborg became the country's main producer of tobacco products and spirits, followed in the 1890s by fertilisers and cement.[34] By 1901, the population had increased to almost 31,500.[25]
Around the beginning of the 20th century, as a result of decisions taken by the municipality, many of the city's half-timbered houses were torn down. They were replaced by hundreds of modern buildings, completely changing the look of the city. Factories with smoking chimneys became ever more prevalent in the outskirts. Among the most important wereDe Danske Spritfabrikker (spirits and liquors), De forenede Textilfabrikker (textiles), theEast Asiatic Company (trading), Dansk Eternit (building materials) andC.W. Obel's tobacco factory (established in 1787).Aalborg Portland, run byF.L. Smidth, was one of several cement factories operating in 1913, together employing some 800 workers.[33] By the 1930s, Aalborg was being promoted as "Denmark's new centre for industry and workers".[34] Replanning continued with additional thoroughfares cutting through the city. The port facilities were also improved with the help of a dredger and the opening of new docks. In 1933,Christian X inaugurated a new bridge over Limfjord to replace the fragile pontoon crossing.[26]
German soldiers in conflict with Aalborg citizens (August 1943)
Aalborg Airport, officially opened in 1938 because of the success of the cement industry, had in fact operated flights to Copenhagen since 1936.[35] During theGerman invasion of Denmark in 1940, the airport was captured by Germanparatroopers on the night of 21 April as a base for German aircraft flying to Norway.[36] On 13 August 1940, a dozenBristol Blenheim bombers ofNo. 82 Squadron RAF were launched against the Luftwaffe airfield during one of the most disastrousRoyal Air Force raids of the war. One turned back because of fuel problems, but all of the remaining 11 were shot down by enemy fighters and/or flak batteries within 20 minutes.[37][38] After the war, theRoyal Air Force destroyed all theGerman facilities including planes, hangars and equipment but left the passenger facilities intact.[35]
By 1960, Aalborg had become known as the "city of smoking chimneys", with half of the inhabitants working in industry or manufacturing.[33] Ten years later, Aalborg's population had grown to around 97,000 inhabitants.[25]
Limfjorden as seen during a sunny autumn day (2019).
The significance of Aalborg's industry began to decline in the 1970s, precipitating a fall in the city's population until about 1990, when it began to increase again. By the year 2000, the service and education sectors accounted for about 60 percent of the workforce, partly as a result of the founding ofAalborg University (AAU) in 1974. Since 1970, Aalborg and the northern suburb of Nørresundby have become a major administrative centre, thanks in part to the offices of theRegion Nordjylland established in the east of the city.[33] In addition to large industrial companies including Aalborg Portland, the only cement-producing company in the country,[39] and the building products company Eternit, many small and medium-sized enterprises have been established. The telecommunications and information technology sector has developed with the support of Aalborg University and the North Jutland knowledge park NOVI.[40]
Aalborg Waterfront as seen at sunset (2020).
The First European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns took place in Aalborg in 1994. It adopted theAalborg Charter, which provides a framework for the delivery of localsustainable development and calls on local authorities to engage in LocalAgenda 21 processes.[41] The Fourth European Sustainable Cities and Towns Conference, held in Aalborg in 2004, adopted the more binding Aalborg Commitments on local sustainable development. The commitments have now been signed by 650 local authorities while over 2,500 have signed the earlier Aalborg Charter.[42]
The area close to the waterfront is low-lying, with an elevation averaging about 5 metres (16 ft),[47] but there are many hills in and around city, some reaching over 60 m (200 ft).[48] Nørresundby, on the northern side of the sound, is also a hilly area.[48] Villages to the south of Aalborg from west to east includeFrejlev,Svenstrup, andGistrup (which contains extensive woodland to the south as well as a golf club).Klarup andStorvorde lie to the southeast along the 595 road,[47] which, flanking a stretch of the Limfjord known as Langerak, leads to the town ofHals.[47]Nibe, with a harbour on the Limfjord, is 21 kilometres (13 mi) to the southwest, past the village of Frejlev. The Nibe Broads (Nibe Bredning) in the Limfjord not only has the largesteelgrass belts in Danish waters but is an important sanctuary for thousands of migratory birds.[49] To the north of the city, villages includeVadum,Aabybro,Vestbjerg,Sulsted,Tylstrup,Vodskov, andHjallerup.[47] There is an extensive plantation, Branths Plantage - Møgelbjerg, immediately north of Vodskov.
TheHimmerland region to the south still has a number of moors which once formed a vast area of heathland extending 35 km (22 mi) to theRold Forest nearArden. Rebild Hills in the Rold Forest stretch over 425 acres (172 ha) of rolling heath country about 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Aalborg.[50]Lille Vildmose, to the southeast, is reported to be the largestraised bog in north-western Europe.[51]
The city centre, dating from the Middle Ages, lies on a series of clay banks between the former streams of Vesterå and Lilleå, which used to run into the sound. Despite effective drainage, the main streets, including Algade, still run east to west while the side streets run north to south. The Budolfi Church and the old town hall line Gammeltorv, the old market square. The main shopping streets are Algade and Bispengade, the latter lying in between the modern Vesterbro thoroughfare and Nytorv square. Østerågade, once the old harbor, is noted for its merchants' mansions.[40]
The city cemetery, the Kilden park and the modern art museum, Kunsten, are in the modern commercial and administrative area around the railway station to the west. Beyond this,Hasseris has become a residential district with a number of large villas and detached houses. The city's main development area is now to the east of the centre although in addition to the university and new areas of housing, it still contains the shipping harbor, Østhavnen, and the cement factory. The waterfront to the northeast of the centre is being transformed from a harbour into a recreational area with theUtzon Center andMusikkens Hus.[40]
Off the northwestern side of the city in the sound is the island ofEgholm, reached via ferry. The island, with a population of 51 as of 2023[update],[52] covers an area of 6.05 square kilometres (2.34 sq mi) and consists mainly of farmland although there are still a few untilled areas of salt marshes and woodland. Dikes have been built along the coastline to protect the island from flooding.[53] The Kronborg Forest on the island, covering an area of 17 hectares (42 acres), was acquired by the municipal government in 1945.[53] A restaurant in the vicinity was established in 1918 but rebuilt in 1946 following a fire.[53] To the west of Egholm is the smaller uninhabited Fruensholm,[54] and there are also three small islands to the north.[47]
There are several man-made lakes nearby:Lindholm Kridtgrav lies to the northwest ofSkanse Park on the northern side of Limfjord, whileNordens Kridtgrav to the northwest of Mølleparken is on the southern side.[47] The Aalborg area is one of three in Denmark wherechalk deposits are found (the others beingMøns Klint andStevns).[55] The largest quarry is at Rørdal in Øster Sundby (6 km (4 mi) to the east of the city centre), while Vokslev (20 km (12 mi) to the west) has also provided chalk. Clay is also quarried in Østerådalen in the southern outskirts, making the area ideal for cement production.[56]
The 6.5 hectares (16 acres)Østre Anlæg park is one of the oldest in Aalborg, visited by up to 175,000 people a year.[57] It was used as a dumping ground in the 1920s before being cleaned up and made into a recreational area in the 1930s and 1940s.[57] It contains lawns, flowers, tall trees, bushes, and a lake, overlooked by St. Mark's Church on the eastern side. The lake is on the site of a former clay pit.[58] Fifty-one species of bird have been recorded in the park.[57]
Lindholm Fjordpark, to the south of the Lindholm's industrial park, forms part of the green sector of the city known as 'Ryåkilen' along the coast of the sound, covering roughly 50 hectares (120 acres).[59] Like Østre Anlæg, it once served as a waste site with landfill, and a housing estate was built on its northeastern side.[59] Its use as a landfill site was gradually discontinued in the 1990s, and in 1996, extensive restoration work began.[59] Today it has woodlands and open areas with grass and herbaceous vegetation, notablybuckthorn.[59] It is also a habitat for many species of migratory birds such aspale-bellied brent geese,curlews, and songbirds. The park is also used by the Nordjysk Windsurfing Club and has a six-hole golf course.[59]
Aalborg has a number of additional civic parks and recreational facilities. Among them areKildeparken, which hosts the annualAalborg Carnival, Mølleparken, which contains a pond, statues, an outdoor exercise facility, and a 2.5 kilometre (1.6 mi) jogging trail (within the trail lies theLysløjpen, a 45-metre [148 ft] gradient), Sohngårdsholmpark, a wooded area containing trails for both walking/jogging and biking and a six-hole golf course (free to the public), the Aalborg Open Air Swimming Pool, also free to the public, Bundgårdsparken, and Lindholm Strandpark.[60]
TheAalborg Zoo was opened in 1935 and typically houses 1,300 animals from 138 different species, includingtigers,chimpanzees,zebra,elephants,giraffes,penguins andpolar bears.[61] It is one of the area's major tourist attractions with over 300,000 visitors a year.[62] Within the zoo an African savannah has been created where exotic animals are housed.[51]
Aalborg was home to an amusement park,Karolinelund, founded in 1946. In 2005, still owned by the founding family, it was sold to an entrepreneur who resold it to the city the following year. When the park closed in 2010, it was home to 17 attractions. Recently, the city has reopened the park to volunteers who wish to return it to operating status. The park is once again open to the public as a leisure facility but without rides and attractions.[63] The association, Platform4, a non-profit user-driven project-oriented venue that experiments with technology (electronics) in combination with artistic genres is now located in the park. Volunteers frequently arrange seminars, exhibitions, films, music concerts, and more which are open to the public.
Source: Danish Meteorological Institute (humidity 1961–1990)[64][65]
Aalborg during winter
Aalborg is cool most of the year, with average high temperatures of around 20 °C (68 °F) and lows of 11 °C (52 °F) during the summer,[66] and average temperatures of −3 to 2 °C (27 to 36 °F) during the coldest months of January and February, rarely dropping below −15 °C (5 °F). The warmest months are typically July and August, with an average temperature of 16 °C (61 °F), but by October the temperature averages 9 °C (48 °F).[67] June has the highest number of hours of sunshine on average at 218, closely followed by May and July.[67] Precipitation is rather evenly distributed all year around, with an average of 76 mm (3 in) during October, normally the wettest month with an average 14 days with rainfall, and an average of 35 mm (1 in) during February, normally the driest month with an average of eight days of precipitation, closely followed by April.[67]
The current mayor is Lasse Frimand Jensen from the Social Democratic Party who was elected on the 19th of June 2023.[71]
The civic government in Aalborg consists of seven departments:[72] the Mayor's Department (responsible for the titular position, the four Citizen Service Centres in Aalborg, the Financial Services division, the Commercial Services division, the General Services division, and the Fire and Rescue Centre);[73] the Technical and Environmental Department (responsible forurban planning, transportation oversight, the Parks and Nature division, and the Environmental Division);[74] the Department of Family and Employment (responsible for Children and Family services, social services, and the city's "Job Centre");[75] the Department of Care of the Elderly and Disabled (responsible for social benefits, senior citizen care, and disabled citizen care);[76] the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs (responsible for the municipal schools, the public libraries, the Cultural Affairs division, and the city archives);[77] the Health and Sustainable Development Department (responsible for public health, the Occupational Health and Safety Division, the Public Transportation division, and the Sustainable Development division);[78] and the Utilities Department (responsible for gas, heating, water, sewage, and refuse collection).[79]
Aalborg and its satellite town, Nørresundby (situated to the north), seen from the satellite.
Aalborg was the largest town in Jutland until it was surpassed by Aarhus in the mid-19th century.[28] In 1672, it had 4,181 inhabitants, growing slowly during the 18th century, with 4,425 in 1769, 4,866 in 1787 and 5,579 by 1801.[83] By 1845, there were 7,477 inhabitants, increasing to 10,069 by 1860. Dramatic growth began in the late 19th century, with an increase from 14,152 in 1880 to 31,457 in 1901.[83] By 1930, the population had grown to 59,091, although the figure was boosted by the merging of Nørre Tranders, Rørdal Fabriksby, Øster Sundby, and Øster Uttrup into Aalborg.
In 1950, it reached 87,883, which grew to 100,587 by 1970.[83] There was a temporary decline in population to 94,994 in 1976 but in 1981, following the incorporation ofNørresundby, it grew to 114,302.[83] The population has increased steadily since then; according to the census of 1 January 2009, Aalborg had a total of 122,461 inhabitants,[84] 101,497 of them living in the town and 20,964 in the independent suburb of Nørresundby.
As of 2021[update], the town had a total population of 142,561 (118,871 in the city proper and 23,690 in Nørresundby)[85] making it the fourth most populous in Denmark after Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense.[86][84] Statistics for 2016 showed there were 210,316 people living in the Municipality of Aalborg.[87]
Aalborg isNorth Jutland's major industrial and commercial centre, exportinggrain,cement, and spirits.[88] Heavy industry was behind the city's prosperity until fairly recently. Many of the factories have now closed, to be replaced by developments in the knowledge-based and green-energy sectors.[46] Mobile and wireless communications industries have grown substantially since the 1990s, as has rotor production for wind turbines.
In January 2011, there were some 9,200 enterprises in Aalborg, employing around 109,000 people or approximately 35% of the workforce of the Northern Region. In the 2010s, the city is set on increasing its participation in the global economy through both existing companies and new entrants. Its efforts are focused on four areas: energy and environment, information technology, health support systems and "Arctic business". The latter covers trade with Greenland as thePort of Aalborg handles over 60% of all goods shipped to Greenland. Four harbours dot the waterfront, Marina Fjordparken, Skudehavnen, Vestre Badehavn, and Østre Havn. Tourism is also growing, with a considerable rise in the number of passengers at Aalborg Airport. Aalborg Municipality has Denmark's second highest revenue from tourism and is the only municipality in the north of Denmark where overnight stays are increasing.[89][90]
Telenor Denmark, part of the NorwegianTelenor telecommunications and mobile phone company, has a workforce of about 1,100 in Aalborg, making it one of the city's largest new employers.[91]Siemens Wind Power has rotor-blade production and testing facilities in Aalborg. In 2012 and 2013, there were additions in both areas. The new testing plant is the world's largest research test centre for wind turbine technology.[92][93] In 2012, the company shipped a record 570 wind turbine blades from thePort of Aalborg, mainly to England and Ireland, up 45% on the previous year.[94]
Aalborg was home toDe Danske Spritfabrikker or Danish Distillers (now owned by the Norwegian companyArcus), which produces numerous brands ofakvavit, until 2014.[95] The company is the world's largest akvavit producer and exporter.[96]Aalborg Industries, the world's largest manufacturer of marine boilers, has been established in Aalborg since the 1920s.[97] It has recently expanded intofloating production systems for the offshore market. Employing 2,600 people, in December 2010 it was acquired by the SwedishAlfa Laval, also a specialist in the area.[98]Aalborg Portland, a subsidiary of the ItalianCementir since 2004,[99] was founded in 1889 with the support ofFLSmidth. Able to draw on the chalk deposits from Rørdal to the east of the city, it rapidly became a major cement producer. Today it is the world's largest supplier of white cement, which it exports around the globe.[100]
Aalborg has a wide selection of shops and restaurants. In the city centre, there are both large department stores and smaller speciality shops. One of the largest shopping malls in Denmark, theAalborg Storcenter, is to the south of the city inSkalborg. It has about 75 stores, including a largeBilka supermarket.[101] The city has over 300 restaurants,[102] catering in Danish, European and Asian dishes. Notable establishments includeFusion on the waterfront,[103]Mortens Kro, run by celebrity chef Morten Nielsen, andIrish House, a pub in the 17th-century Jens Olufsen's House.[104] While Aalborg is renowned for its alcohol and nightlife,[102] there are also a number of coffee shops.[105]
Aalborg has 12 large hotels, most within walking distance of the city centre.[106] The Helnan Phønix Hotel is the largest, occupying what was originally built as a lavish private residence in 1783 for a Danish brigadier.[107] It was converted into a hotel in 1853, and in 2011 had 210 rooms, furnished with dark oak.[107] The Chagall was established in the 1950s and has reproductions ofMarc Chagall paintings in the rooms.[107] Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel, operated by theRadisson Hotels chain, contains 188 rooms and has the Italian restaurantVero Gusto.[108] The Park Hotel, opposite the railway station, was established in 1917.[107] Other hotels include Cabinn Aalborg, Hotel Hvide Hus, Hotel Krogen and Prinsen Hotel. Several banks includingDanske Bank,Forex,Jyske Bank,Spar Nord andNordea have branches in Aalborg.[109]
Despite its industrial background and the factories along its waterfront, the city has gained popularity for tourism in recent years, offering a wide variety of attractions and historic buildings in addition to its museums, churches and parks.[110] See the religion section for details on churches.
Jens Bang's House (Danish:Jens Bangs Stenhus), on Østerågade near the old town hall, is one of Denmark's best examples of 17th-century domestic architecture. Built in 1624 by the Aalborg merchantJens Bang in theDutch Renaissance style, the four-story sandstone building is noted for its rising gables and sculptedauricular window decorations. For over 300 years, it has housed the city's oldest pharmacy.[111]
Jørgen Olufsen's House (Jørgen Olufsens Gård) on Østerågade is Denmark's best preserved merchant's mansion in theRenaissance style. Built mainly of sandstone in 1616, it also has a half-timbered section. The style is reminiscent of similar buildings in the north of Germany and in the Netherlands. Olufsen, Jens Bang's half brother, was not only a successful merchant but also mayor of Aalborg. When it was built, the residence with its integrated warehouse was on the Østerå, an inlet from the sound with access for barges. The old iron bar with a hook for scales can be seen in the portico.[112][113]
Aalborghus Castle (Aalborghus Slot) is ahalf-timbered building with red-painted woodwork and whitewashed wall panels. It was built in the mid-16th century by KingChristian III for his vassals who collected taxes and is the only remaining example of its kind in the country.[16] The park, dungeon and casemates, but not the castle itself, are open to the public in the summer months.[114] In the 1950s, the castle was converted into administrative offices.[25]
Historical house in Aalborg town centre
Aalborg's old city hall in Gammeltorv, in service until 1912, was built in 1762. It is now only used for ceremonial and representative purposes. Designed in theLate Baroque style, the building with its black-glazed tile roof consists of two storeys and a cellar. The yellow-washed façade is decorated with whitepilasters and afrontispiece featuring theDanish coat of arms and a bust of KingFrederick V. His motto,Prudentia et Constantia, is also seen above the main entrance.[115] The well-preserved door is an example of theRococo style. The building was listed by theDanish Heritage Agency in 1918.[116]
Another old building of note is the half-timbered Håndværkerhuset (at Kattesunded 20) fromc. 1625, which originally housed a number of warehouses. It is now used as a centre for arts and crafts.[117] Finally, the headquarters ofDanish Distillers (De Danske Spritfabrikker), to the west of the Limfjord Bridge, is noted for itsNeoclassical appearance. Completed in 1931 by the architectAlf Cock-Clausen, it combines functionality with decorative classical symbolism. Considered a masterpiece of Danish factory design, it is now a Danish National Heritage site.[26][118] When the factory closed in 2014, was the area bought by an investor, who will use the buildings to create an international culture city with museums, theatres, apartments etc.
Jomfru Ane Gade (literally Virgin Anne's Street) is one of the most famous streets in Aalborg if not in Denmark. Popular for its cafés and restaurants during the day, it is even busier at night with its clubs, discos and bars. During the 1990s, the street was infamously a 'hang out' of twobiker gangs who were at war for some years all over Scandinavia. As the bikers disappeared it became increasingly popular for people of all ages.[119] The pedestrian hubs ofNytorv Square andJohn F. Kennedy Square in the central city area are also part of the cityscape.
Aalborgtårnet is a tripod tower erected in 1933 with a restaurant on the top. The tower itself is 55 m (180 ft) high; but as it stands on the top of the Skovbakken hill, it reaches a total height of 105 m (344.49 ft) above sea level, providing a view over the sound and the city. Designed by Carlo Odgård, it was erected in 1933 in connection with the North Jutland Fair.[120]
In 2008, theUtzon Center, its art, architecture and design credited to the noted architectJørn Utzon, is also dedicated to him.[51] It was built next to theLimfjord at the central harbour front in Aalborg. Born inCopenhagen, Utzon grew up in Aalborg. The centre contains an exhibition on Utzon's work, which includes theSydney Opera House, as well as educational displays on architecture and design.[121] The centre consists of several individual buildings creating a special place around a courtyard on a platform. The tall sculptural roofs of the auditorium and the boat-hall, both on the harbour front, and the library facing the park area and the city are set off by the lower roofs of the exhibition and workshop areas inside the complex.[122]
The annualAalborg Carnival usually takes place in the last weekend of May.[123] It consists of three events: the children's carnival (Danish:Børnekarneval),[124] the battle of carnival bands,[125] and the carnival proper. Attracting about 100,000 visitors, it is the biggest carnival in Scandinavia and one of the largest in northern Europe.[61]Hjallerup Market inHjallerup, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Aalborg is one of the oldest and largest markets in Denmark and is the largest horse market in Europe.[102] Held for three days in the beginning of June, it annually attracts more than 200,000 people and 1200 horses.[102]
In 1999, Aalborg was for the first time one of the four host ports in The Tall Ships Race (then Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race) of that year. The city hosted the world's largest event for sailing vessels again in 2004, 2010, and 2015
Aalborgs Kongres & Kultur Center, designed in a functional style byOtto Frankild, was completed in 1952. The centre's main component, the Aalborg Hall, can be divided into sections. The complex also contains a hotel, restaurant, bowling alley, and a number of meeting rooms. The smaller Europahallen was added in 1991, making the centre the largest in Scandinavia.[126] With over 100 theatrical and musical presentations per year, it offers international stars, opera, ballet, musicals, classical concerts, productions for children as well as pop and rock concerts. It can accommodate audiences of up to 2,500.[127]Aalborg Teater, built in 1878 and subsequently modified by Julius Petersen, seats 870 in the main auditorium. First privately owned, the theatre is now controlled and owned by the Danish Ministry of Culture. While most productions are housed in the main hall, the building can accommodate up to four shows at once in halls of varying sizes.[128] Over the years, the theatre has produced a wide selection of drama and musicals.[129]
Nordkraft is a cultural centre in a former power plant near the harbour. It has theatres, a cinema, and concert facilities. Kunsthal Nord, established in the centre in 2009, arranges up to five exhibitions a year of all forms of contemporary art, especially of local origin but also from other parts of Denmark and beyond. It serves as the exhibition centre for KunstVærket, the North Jutland centre for the arts, and also works in collaboration with the modern art museumKunsten designed by the Finnish architectAlvar Aalto.[130][131]
In the same neighbourhood, a huge concert hall,Musikkens Hus, designed byCoop Himmelb(l)au, opened in 2014. It is Aalborg's most ambitious construction project in recent years.[132]
The city also has a wide selection of galleries and arts and crafts outlets operated by local artists. TheAcademy of Music also has a presence in Aarhus.[51] There are several glass workshops; others produce jewelry, sculptures or exhibit paintings.[133]
There are various museums in the city. TheAalborg Historical Museum was established in 1863, making it one of the earliest provincial museums in the country.[134][135] The North Jutland Historical Museum conducted a series of archaeological excavations in the 1950s at Lindholm Høje, revealing ancient burial sites. In 1992, theLindholm Høje Museum was opened there and extended in 2008.[136] In 1994 and 1995, excavations at the site of the Greyfriars Monastery resulted in the creation of the undergroundGråbrødrekloster Museum in the city centre.[137] Several organisations now collaborate under the leadership of the North Jutland Historical Museum.[138] TheSpringeren - Marine Experience Center is a marine museum on the city's wharf with a wide range of exhibits including "Springeren", an old Danish submarine, whence its name.[139][140] TheAalborg Defence and Garrison Museum documents Danish defences during theSecond World War as well as the history of Aaborg's garrison since 1779.[141] TheKUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art Aalborg was built from 1958 to 1972;[142] the collection consists of around 1,500 art objects, including paintings, sculptures and other media.[143]
TheAalborg Symphony Orchestra (Danish:Aalborg Symfoniorkester) founded in 1943 presents about 150 concerts a year, frequently playing in theMusikkens Hus. It also plays for the Jutland opera company (Danish:Den Jyske Opera, also based in Aalborg), and at theRoyal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. It is one of the main organisers of the 10-day Aalborg Opera Festival held every March.[144][145] Aalborg has the jazz club Jazzclub Satchmo and an annual jazz and blues festival (Danish:Den Blå Festival), also known as the Mini New Orleans Festival. Over four days in mid-August, concerts are performed on squares, in the streets, and in cafés and restaurants.[146] Since 2012, the Egholm Festival, a small music festival on the island of Egholm near Aalborg has been organized in the first weekend of August.[147] It features relatively unknown upcoming pop, rock and hip-hop artists. The festival has two stage areas and was organized by the Musical Association Aalborg (MUSAM) and Aalborg Events.
The principal religion in Aalborg as in the rest of Denmark isChristianity. Aalborg is the seat of abishop within theLutheran State Church of Denmark. The cathedral of this bishopric is theBudolfi Church, originally built no later than 1132 byViborg's Bishop Eskil. This church was considerably smaller than the current one, as it was merely a parish church. The existing structure was completed in the late 14th century, on the grounds of the former church, and was listed for the first time in the Atlas of Denmark in 1399. The church was named afterSt Botolph, an Englishabbot and saint.[148] The church is constructed in theGothic style.[148] In 1554 Aalborg was made a diocese and, after consideration, St Budolfi Church was made the seat of the Bishop of Aalborg. Aalborg is also home to the former Catholic church, theAbbey of Our Lady, converted from aBenedictine nunnery.[149]
The presentBudolfi Church, which has the status of a cathedral, dates from the end of the 14th century, although at least two earlier churches stood on the same spot. Built in theGothic style, it consists of a nave flanked by two aisles, a tower, and a porch. After the original tower was destroyed by fire in 1663, the striking new Baroque tower, based on that of an earlierCopenhagen city hall, was completed in 1779. The church has 16th-century frescoes and an intricately carved early Baroquealtarpiece from 1689 created byLauridtz Jensen.[150]
Abbey of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke) was designed in 1878 byJ.E. Gnudtzmann in the Neo-Romanesque style. The original Church of Our Lady from the early 12th century was pulled down after the Reformation because it was old and unstable, but the 12th-century tower and the original portal with sculpted decorations can still be seen. The carvedpulpit dates to around 1581.[26][151]
As a result of the considerable population increase from the end of the 19th century, a number of new churches were built in various styles. Next toAalborg Hall, Ansgar's Church with its tall tower was built in 1929 to a design byHother August Paludan in a modern Baroque style.[152] St Mark's Church (Sankt Markus Kirke), completed in 1933, was designed byEinar Packness. Its tower is crowned by an imposing spire. The Biblical figures known as the Johannes Group (based on Christ's meeting withJohn the Baptist inMatthew, Chapter 3) sculpted byBertel Thorvaldsen are displayed around the interior.[26][153] The Margrethe Church with its steeply sloping roof reaching 22 m (72 ft) is the work of Carlo Odgaard and Aaby Sørensen.Bent Exner designed some of the artefacts in the church including the crucifix over the altar.[154]
Aalborg's cemeteries have a history dating to the end of the Middle Ages. Sankt Jørgens Kirkegård (St George's Cemetery) was on the corner of Hasserisgade and Kirkegårdsgade. The site was chosen in a district outside the city as it provided isolation for those affected by the plague, many of whom died in the neighbouring hospice, Sankt Jørgens Gårde. In 1794, a new cemetery was opened in Klostermarken, immediately to the south of Sankt Jørgens Kirkegård. It was further extended in 1804, 1820 and 1870. It is now known as AalborgsAlmen Kirkegård (meaning "common cemetery") and contains the graves of many of the city's most notable citizens.[155]
Aalborg had asynagogue, built in 1854; and theJewish rabbi Salomon Mielziner served it for 35 years.[156] Services were no longer offered after Mielziner died, and in 1924 the synagogue was donated to the city government, which began using it to store the city archives (Stadsarkivet).[156] It was burned down by theSchalburg Corps in April 1945 towards the end of World War II, destroying its centuries-oldTorahs.[156][157]Antisemitism continues to exist in Denmark, and in 1999, an unlicensed Nazi radio station began operating from a neo-Nazi stronghold in Fynen,Nørresundby, within Aalborg municipality.[158] The activity has been widely denounced with organized opposition in Aalborg and the rest of Denmark, and in February 1999, 12 anti-fascists were arrested for possession of explosives at their base in Fynen.[158]
The major university in Aalborg is theUniversity of Aalborg (AAU), founded in 1974.[159] It has more than 17,000 students and more than 3,000 employees.[160] In 2012, 3,000 new students started at the university. In 1995 it merged withEsbjerg Engineering College.[159] The university has attempted from the outset to "develop a more "relevant" form of education than was then being offered by the established universities".[161] It has sought to develop what is known as "contextual knowledge", a form of problem-based learning based around the project work conducted by students, rather than the curriculum focusing on traditional academic disciplines.[161]
TheUniversity College of Northern Denmark is one of seven new regional organisations (professionshøjskoler) of different study sites in Denmark offering courses normally at thebachelor level. TheRoyal School of Library and Information Science (RSLIS) provides higher education in library and information science; one of its two departments is in Aalborg. With about 4,500 students a year and 700 employees,Tech College Aalborg offers a wide spectrum of vocational training and runs Aalborg Tekniske Gymnasium.Aalborg Business College provides basic training in retail and trading for private enterprises and the public sector, with courses which cover information technology, economics, sales and communication, and languages.[162]
The island of Egholm contains the former Egholm Skole, which was closed in 1972 when a ferry service to Aalborg was established and children on the island began attending the Vesterkæret Skole in Aalborg. Today the old school on Egholm is run as a school camp by the City of Aalborg, with 18 beds and facilities for 60 people.[53] Skipper Clement International School is a private school for children between 6 and 16. The international department conducts its classes in English, the first to be established in the Jutland peninsula,[163] but it does have department which educates in Danish, like the public schools in Denmark.
The city is home toAalborg BK, established in 1885 and known as "AaB" for short. The club has won the Danish championship (Superliga) four times in recent years (1995, 1999, 2008, 2014). The team qualified for the group stages of the1995–96 and2008–09UEFA Champions League seasons.Aalborg Chang is a Danish amateur association football club, previously known asFC Nordjylland.
TheGigantium (also sometimes used as an examination hall by the AAU)
Aalborg is also known for the women's handball clubAalborg DH, and the men's handball clubAalborg Håndbold. Established in 2001 and 2011, respectively, they both play their games in theGigantium.[164] Rugby in Aalborg is represented byAalborg RKLynet (Lightning), established in 1964. The city also has the Aalborg Cricket Club, which is part of theDanish Cricket League.[165] They were established in 2000 and have players from various nations.[166][167]
Aalborg Tennisklub is located along the Kastetvej road in the centre of Aalborg. About 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the southwest of the city, near the hamlet of Restrup Enge, is Aalborg Golf Klub.[168]Aalborg Golf Klub is the second oldest golf club in Denmark, and was originally established in 1908 in the eastern part of Aalborg. In 1929 it moved to Sohngaardsholm, but 30 years later the course had to again move because of developments with the university.[169] The present course to the southwest of Aalborg was designed in 1968 by Graham Lockey and Commander John Harris as a 9-hole course, later expanded to 18 holes in 1976 and 27 in 2006.[169] In 2010 the club hosted the European Girls Team Golf Championships.[169] Another course, Ørnehoj Golfklub, is at the southeastern limits of the city, in the village of Gistrup.[170]
On the north side of the Limfjord isNørresundby, connected to Aalborg by theLimfjordsbroen road bridge, which was inaugurated in 1933, replacing a pontoon bridge which dated to 1865. The ironLimfjord Railway Bridge, inaugurated in 1938, is a nine-spanbascule bridge. It opens 4,000 times a year, allowing around 10,000 vessels to sail under it.[171] Opening in 1969 as the first motorway tunnel to be built in Denmark,[172] theLimfjord Tunnel[173] is 582 m (1,909 ft) long and has three lanes in each direction. It forms part of theE45, stretching fromAlta, Norway, toGela, Italy.[174]
Aalborg Airport is 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) northwest of the city centre. With its two runways, it has 20 direct routes to destinations in Denmark, Norway, Ireland,[175] the Netherlands, the UK, USA, Spain, and Turkey, along with seasonal flights to additional Spanish destinations and the Faroe Islands. Processing 1.4 million passengers a year, the airport is the third largest in Denmark.[176] TheAalborg Air Base, an importantDanish Air Force facility, occupies part of the extensive airport area.[177] ThePort of Aalborg is northern Denmark’s main import/export hub,[178] operated byAalborg Havn A/S on the Limfjord. Two additional private harbours serve the cement factory,Aalborg Portland A/S, and the power station,Vattenfall A/S.[179]
NT buses with different designs in John F. Kennedy Plads (December 2021)
Cycling is also relatively popular in Aalborg. Statistics for 2012 indicate 44% of the population use their bicycles several times a week while 27% of the workforce cycle to work. The municipal authorities hope to increase the use of bicycles by providing better cycle tracks and parking facilities, as well as improved support services.[184] Starting from 2009, city bikes were provided free of charge in Aalborg and Nørresundby from April to November with numerous stands throughout the area,[185] however the city bike system was closed down in 2014 when funding ran out.[186] In 2008, plans were made to build alight rail system to serve Aalborg, similar toOdense Letbane andAarhus Letbane. In 2014, the government committed funding to light rail in Aalborg, only to retract the funding after a new cabinet was elected in the2015 general election.[187] In 2017, government funding was approved to build abus rapid transit system instead of the light rail.[188] The system known asPlusbus eventually opened on 23 September 2023.[189][190]
Aalborg University Hospital, the largest in the north of Jutland, was founded in 1881. As of 2013[update], it consists of two large buildings in Aalborg, the hospital inDronninglund and smaller departments inHobro andHjørring. It is the largest employer in the area with around 6,500 on the payroll.[191] The hospital has traditionally undertaken research but from the beginning of 2013 it has had a formal collaboration with Aalborg University.[192] A new building, designed byschmidt hammer lassen architects and to be completed by 2020, will provide 134,000 m2 (1,440,000 sq ft) for hospital buildings and 17,000 m2 (180,000 sq ft) for the university's Faculty of Health.[193] The Aalborg University Hospital, section south, is on Hobrovej and has a 24-hour emergency ward.[46] The northern section is in Reberbanegade, which is in the western part of the city centre.Trænregimentet, the Danish regiment for army supply and emergency medical personnel, is also in Aalborg.[194]
Nordjyske Stiftstidende, published in Aalborg, is Denmark's second oldest newspaper founded in 1767 asNyttige og fornøyelige Jydske Efterretninger. It was later known asAalborg Stiftstidende (until 1999). In 1827, it merged with Aalborg's second newspaperAalborgs Stifts Adresse-Avis. The paper now serves the whole ofVendsyssel and most ofHimmerland and has local editions in Aalborg,Hjørring,Hobro,Frederikshavn,Fjerritslev,Skagen, andBrønderslev.[195]
ANR (also Aalborg Nærradio and Alle Nordjyders Radio) is a local radio station operated by Nordjyske Medier, owner ofNordjyske Stiftstidende. The TV news channel, 24Nordjyske, is operated by the same firm.[196]
Among those who contributed to Aalborg's prosperity in the 19th century werePoul Pagh (1796–1870) who significantly developed trade and shipping, andChristen Winther Obel (1800–1860) who increased production at the C.W. Obel tobacco factory until it became the city's main employer. Another important figure of the times wasMarie Rée (1835–1900) who ran the local newspaperAalborg Stiftstidende until 1900, often promoting women's rights.[197]
More recently, the actor and script-writerPreben Kaas (1930–1981), who was born in Aalborg, starred in over 50 Danish films.[198] Among the city's many sporting figures,Peter Gade (born 1976) stands out as one of the world's most successful badminton players.[199]
On the cultural side,Jørn Utzon (1918–2008), designer of theSydney Opera House, grew up in Aalborg; the iconicUtzon Center which he inspired now serves as a museum for his architectural designs and offers courses of study based on his approach.[200]
^Aalborg University (AAU) attracts several thousands new students on an annual basis in the town of Aalborg which temporarily increases its population.
^The white building at Boulevarden 38 pertains to the International Accommodation Office of Aalborg University (AAU) and is inhabited predominantly byMSc international students on an annual basis.
^Upton, Clive; Kretzschmar, William A. Jr. (2017). "Aalborg".The Routledge Dictionary of Pronunciation for Current English (2nd ed.). Routledge.ISBN978-1-138-12566-7.
^ab"Statistikbanken".www.statistikbanken.dk.Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved28 August 2022.
^Translated from an original document of the transactions of the city council on 7 June 1948 obtained from the Aalborg City Archive on the 12. of January, 2023. I will get a link later.
Thomas, Andrew (1996). "Over All Things Everywhere: The story of 82 Squadron, Royal Air Force".Air Enthusiast. Vol. 66. Stamford, UK: Key Publishing.ISSN0143-5450.
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