Køge (, older spelling ''Kjøge'') is a
seaport
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as ...
on the coast of
Køge Bugt (''Bay of Køge'') 39 km southwest of
Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan a ...
. It is the principal town and seat of
Køge Municipality,
Region Sjælland
Region Zealand ( da, Region Sjælland) is the southernmost administrative region of Denmark, established on 1 January 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform, which abolished the traditional counties ("amter") and set up five larger regi ...
,
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark
, establish ...
. In 2022, the
urban area
An urban area, built-up area or urban agglomeration is a human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban morphology as cities ...
had a population of 38,304.
[BY3: Population 1. January by urban areas, area and population density]
The Mobile Statbank from Statistics Denmark
Statistics Denmark ( da, Danmarks Statistik) is a Danish governmental organization under the Ministry of the Interior and Housing and which reports to the Minister of Economic and Internal Affairs. The organization is responsible for creating st ...
The natural harbour and strategic location have given Køge a long history as a
market town
A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rural ...
. Today, that past is evident in a well-preserved old town centre with many
half-timbered
Timber framing (german: Holzfachwerk) and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large woode ...
houses.
Køge is located in the
Copenhagen metropolitan area
The Copenhagen metropolitan area or Metropolitan Copenhagen ( da, Hovedstadsområdet, , literally "The Capital Area") is a large commuter belt (the area in which it is practical to commute to work) surrounding Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark ...
and is connected to downtown Copenhagen by the
E line of the
S-train
The S-Bahn is the name of hybrid urban-suburban rail systems serving a metropolitan region in German-speaking countries. Some of the larger S-Bahn systems provide service similar to rapid transit systems, while smaller ones often resemble c ...
commuter rail system. Køge is also on the
Copenhagen-Ringsted Line that was opened in June 2019. The new line positioned Køge as a central hub in Denmark's transport system.
History
Like most Danish cities, the origins of Køge precede
written history
Recorded history or written history describes the historical events that have been recorded in a written form or other documented communication which are subsequently evaluated by historians using the historical method. For broader world his ...
. Køge was first recognized as an official
market town
A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rural ...
in 1288, as a contrast to the ecclesiastical center at that time –
Roskilde
Roskilde ( , ) is a city west of Copenhagen on the Danish island of Zealand. With a population of 51,916 (), the city is a business and educational centre for the region and the 10th largest city in Denmark. It is governed by the administrative ...
– and was an important merchant town during the late Middle Ages.
During the local witchhunt, called
Køge Huskors (1608–1615), at least 15 people were convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake.
Køge suffered during the wars between Denmark and Sweden (1643–1720, →
Battle of Køge Bay). In 1807, the town and surrounding area was the scene of the
Battle of Køge between British and Danish troops. Køge remained a small town until the late 19th century, when industrial development and population growth began. Today, Køge forms the core of the 18th most populous
urban area
An urban area, built-up area or urban agglomeration is a human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban morphology as cities ...
in Denmark.
Geography
Køge is located at the back of
Bay of Køge, demarcated by Copenhagen to the north and the
Stevns Peninsula
Stevns Peninsula is a peninsula on Sjælland in Denmark. It is separated from Sjælland by the three streams Stevns Å, Tryggevælde Å and Kildeå.
The main town of the peninsula is Store Heddinge, and most of the peninsula is covered by the ...
to the south, where Køge Å (''Køge Creek'') meets the sea.
Apart from Køge proper, the town's
urban area
An urban area, built-up area or urban agglomeration is a human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban morphology as cities ...
consists of the suburbs of Køge Nord (
Ølby Lyng and Ølsemagle Lyng) to the north and
Hastrup and
Herfølge to the south.
Economy
The port is directly connected with th
Scandinavian Transport Centre a large business park on the northwestern outskirts of Køge, where – among others – the headquarters and the Danish distribution centre of the multinational, Danish-founded, discount supermarket chain
Netto is located.
Culture
Museums
Køge Museum is located at 4 Nørregade in a
preserved former merchant's house from the year 1619. Further down the street, in No. 29, lies
KØS Museum of art in public spaces. It is the only art museum in Denmark dedicated specifically to sketches and models for art works in the public realm. Among its holdings is the original model for
The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen.
Architecture
The historical architecture of the town centre is one of the major attractions of Køge. The oldest dated
half-timbered
Timber framing (german: Holzfachwerk) and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large woode ...
house in Denmark, which is also the oldest dated non-nobility and non-religious building of the
nordic countries
The Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or ''Norden''; lit. 'the North') are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic. It includes the sovereign states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sw ...
, can be found in Køge. It was built in 1527. Originally a section of a row of
hovels, it is now a part of the public library. Pictures can be found in the gallery. The Third largest Viking Ring Fortress was found near the city of Køge, Denmark.
Near the house is Sankt Nicolai Church. The tower of the church contains a lighthouse, which was the first to be built in Denmark.
Køge Town Hall dates from 1552 and is the oldest town hall in Denmark still in use as such.
''Køge Torv'', the
market square
The market square (or sometimes, the market place) is a square meant for trading, in which a market is held. It is an important feature of many towns and cities around the world.[hectare
The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100- metre sides (1 hm2), or 10,000 m2, and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. An acre i ...]
(2.5
acres
The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet), which is exactly equal to 10 square chains, of a square mile, 4,840 square ...
), the largest
town square
A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true square, geometric square, used for community gathe ...
in Denmark outside Copenhagen and the largest and best-preserved medieval town square in Denmark. There are fair days on the square Wednesday and Saturday.
Kjøge Miniby (Kjøge Mini-Town) is a historically correct model of the town from the year 1865 – built to a scale of 1:10.
Sports
The football club
HB Køge
HB Køge () is a professional Danish football club based primarily in the town of Herfølge, and secondly in the town of Køge, both in the Køge Municipality, part of 'Region of Zealand', in the eastern part of Zealand, south of Copenhagen. It ...
was created through a merger of professional football between
Herfølge Boldklub
Herfølge Boldklub is a Danish football club founded in 1921. It is based in Herfølge, a southern suburb of Køge in the eastern part of Zealand. In 2009, the club shared its licence, and merged its professional football with Køge BK to form ...
and
Køge Boldklub
Køge Boldklub is a Danish football club from Køge, Zealand.
History
In 1954, the club became the first outside Copenhagen to win the Danish Championship.
The club declared bankruptcy in February 2009, but continued as an amateur side in the ...
in 2009. It currently plays in the
Danish 1st Division
The 1st Division (''1. Division'') is the second-highest football league in Denmark, also known as NordicBet Liga for sponsorship reasons. From 1945 to 1991 the 1. Division was the name of the highest level of football in Denmark. With the format ...
. Their home ground is
Køge Sports Park (Capelli Sport Stadium).
Gallery
File:Køge during winter.jpg, Køge in the winter
Image:Koege ToexensSkole.JPG, New entrance to the former Tøxens Skole in Køge (now Sankt Nicolai Skole Nord)
Image:OldestbuildinginKoege.jpg, Oldest dated house in Køge, also the oldest dated half-timbered house in Denmark
Image:Køge - gammelt bindingsværkshus, Kirkestræde.jpg, Modern photo of the oldest dated half-timbered house in Køge and Denmark
Image:Køge - Kirkestræde.jpg, Looking down Kirkestræde (Church Street) in Køge. Køge's church (Sankt Nicolai Kirke is behind the trees)
Image:Sankt Nicolai Kirke Koege Denmark.jpg, Køge church (Sankt Nicolai Kirke)
Image:Køge - gamle huse i Kirkestræde.jpg, Old houses on Kirkestræde (Church Street) in Køge
Image:Køge - statue af Frederik 7. - Torvet.jpg, Statue of King Frederik VII in the centre of Køge's town square
Image:Køge museum.JPG, Køge Museum with the yellow painted town hall in the background
Image:Kunstmuseet-Koege-Skitsesamling.jpg, KØS - museum of art in public spaces
Image:Køge Miniby2.jpg, Part of Kjøge Miniby (Kjøge Mini-Town) the historical Mini-Town
File:Water tower in Koge, Denmark.JPG, Water tower in Koge
Transport
Roads
The partial Y
interchange, where the Danish part of the motorway
E20 meet the Danish part of the motorway
E47 and
E55, is located only few kilometers northwest of Køge.
Railway stations
Køge station is the principal railway station of the town.
Copenhagen S-train
The Copenhagen S-train ( da, S-tog), the S-train of Copenhagen, Denmark is a key part of public transport in the city. It is a hybrid urban-suburban rail serving most of the Copenhagen urban area, and is analogous to S-Bahn systems of Berlin, Vi ...
has a line which begins here. Regional trains to
Roskilde
Roskilde ( , ) is a city west of Copenhagen on the Danish island of Zealand. With a population of 51,916 (), the city is a business and educational centre for the region and the 10th largest city in Denmark. It is governed by the administrative ...
and
Næstved
Næstved () is a town in the municipality of the same name, located in the southern part of the island of Zealand in Denmark.
Næstved has several adult education centers, five elementary schools - and has at least one of each type of the fou ...
and local trains to
Stevns. There are also an
S-train
The S-Bahn is the name of hybrid urban-suburban rail systems serving a metropolitan region in German-speaking countries. Some of the larger S-Bahn systems provide service similar to rapid transit systems, while smaller ones often resemble c ...
station in the northern part of
Ølby Lyng and a local train station in the southern suburb of Herfølge.
The
Køge Nord Station
Køge (, older spelling ''Kjøge'') is a seaport on the coast of Køge Bugt (''Bay of Køge'') 39 km southwest of Copenhagen. It is the principal town and seat of Køge Municipality, Region Sjælland, Denmark. In 2022, the urban area had ...
opened on 1 June 2019 and serves as an
Intercity
InterCity (commonly abbreviated ''IC'' on timetables and tickets) is the classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe. Such trains (in contrast to regional, local, or commuter trains) generally call at m ...
,
regional
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
and
S-train
The S-Bahn is the name of hybrid urban-suburban rail systems serving a metropolitan region in German-speaking countries. Some of the larger S-Bahn systems provide service similar to rapid transit systems, while smaller ones often resemble c ...
station.
Port of Køge
The Port of Køge is one of the oldest ports in Denmark but has been modernised over the last few years. Since 2002, there has been a ferry connection to
Rønne
Rønne ( sv, Rönne) is the largest town on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. It has a population of 13,807 (1 January 2022). It was a municipality in its own right from 1970 until 2002, when Bornholm was a county (Danish: ''Bornh ...
on the Baltic island of
Bornholm
Bornholm () is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, to the east of the rest of Denmark, south of Sweden, northeast of Germany and north of Poland.
Strategically located, Bornholm has been fought over for centuries. It has usually been ruled by ...
, operated by
BornholmerFærgen.
Notable people
*
Jesper Brochmand
Jesper Rasmussen Brochmand (5 August 1585 - 19 April 1652) was a Danish Lutheran clergyman, theologian and professor who served as Bishop of the Diocese of Zealand from 1638 until his death.
Brochmand was a key founder of the dogmatic system th ...
(1585 in Køge - 1652) a Danish Lutheran clergyman, theologian and Bishop of the
Diocese of Zealand The Diocese of Zealand (Danish: ''Sjællands Stift'') was a protestant diocese in Denmark that existed from 1537 to 1922. The diocese had been formed in 1537 following the Reformation of Denmark, and was dissolved in 1922 when it was divided into ...
*
Hans Holst (before 1619 - after 1640) a Danish woodcarver did work in St Nicholas Church
*
Marie Toft
Ane Marie Elise Toft, later Grundtvig, née Carlsen (4 April 1813 – 9 July 1854) was a wealthy Danish landowner who owned and efficiently administered the Rønnebæksholm estate near Næstved which she had inherited from her first husband follow ...
(1813 in the
Gammel Køgegård manor – 1854) a wealthy Danish landowner who managed
Rønnebæksholm
Rønnebæksholm is a former manor house located just outside Næstved in south-eastern Denmark. The estate covers 230.5 hectares of land. It was acquired by Næstved Municipality in 1998 and is now run as a cultural centre, hosting a wide range ...
and wife of philosopher
N. F. S. Grundtvig
*
Carl Christian Amussen (1825–1902) was
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its ...
's first jeweler, emigrated to New Zealand 1857, then to Utah, 1868
*
Emmy Drachmann ''Emmy Drachmann'' (23 October 1854 – 20 January 1928) was a Danish writer and the wife of Holger Drachmann.
Biography
Emmy Drachmann (née Culmsee) was born as the youngest of nine children parented by Frederik Leopold Culmsee (1811–95) an ...
(1854–1928) a Danish writer and the wife of
Holger Drachmann
*
Harald Bergstedt
Harald Bergstedt (Harald Alfred Petersen; 10 August 1877, in Køge – 19 September 1965, in Copenhagen) was a Danish writer, novelist, playwright and a poet.
Author of the genre and satire verses (collections: ''Song of the province / Sange fr ...
(1877-1965) a Danish writer, novelist, playwright and poet
*
Finn Kjærsdam (born 1943) a Danish Land Surveyor, brought up in Køge
*
Michael Falch
Michael Ehlert Falch (born 16 September 1956 in Køge, Denmark) is a Danish singer, guitarist, author and actor.
In rock band Malurt
Michael Falch started his career as a lead singer and musician in the Danish rock band Malurt established in ...
(born 1956) a Danish singer, guitarist, author and actor
IMDb Database
retrieved 19 June 2020
* Doggie (artist)
Doggie (born April 19, 1966, in Køge) is a Danish artist
An artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse ...
(born 1966) a Danish hip-hop artist in Copenhagen and Istanbul
* Ulla Miilmann (born 1972) is the principal flautist of the DNSO
Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport or Sultan Saddik Abubakar Airport is an airport serving Sokoto, the capital of the Sokoto State in Nigeria. It is named after Siddiq Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto from 1938 to 1988.
Airlines and d ...
, brought up in Vemmedrup
* Michael Qureshi (born 1976) a Danish journalist, used fake sources
Sport
* Ove Frederiksen
Ove Frederiksen (22 August 1884 – 24 May 1966) was a Danish tennis player. He competed in two events at the 1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ...
(1884–1966) a tennis player, competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, b ...
* Hans Pedersen (1887 in Højelse near Køge – 1943) a Danish gymnast who competed in the 1912
Events January
* January 1 – The Republic of China is established.
* January 5 – The Prague Conference (6th All-Russian Conference of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party) opens.
* January 6
** German geophysicist Alfred ...
and 1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympische Sommerspiele 1920), officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIe olympiade; nl, Spelen van ...
* Henry Larsen (1916–2002) rower, team bronze medallist 1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ...
* Børge Raahauge Nielsen (1920–2010) rower, team bronze medallist 1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ...
* Casper Ankergren
Casper Ankergren (; born 9 November 1979) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is now the Head of Goalkeeping at Danish Superliga side Brøndby IF. He played three matches for the Denmark national under-21 ...
(born 1979) a former football goalkeeper, 319 club caps
* Klaus Nielsen
Klaus Nielsen (born 8 January 1980 in Køge) is a Danish professional mountain biker. He has won four Danish national championship titles in both men's cross-country and marathon races, and also represented his nation Denmark, as a 28-year-old ...
(born 1980) a pro. mountain biker, competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Nat ...
* Søren Larsen (born 1981) retired footballer, 229 club caps and 20 for Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark
, establish ...
* Nicklas Pedersen
Nicklas Pedersen (born 10 October 1987) is a Danish former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is currently U17 manager at HB Køge.
Club career
Pedersen started his senior career with Herfølge BK in the Danish 1st Divisio ...
(born 1987) a Danish former footballer with 250 club caps and 13 for Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark
, establish ...
, now U17 manager at HB Køge
HB Køge () is a professional Danish football club based primarily in the town of Herfølge, and secondly in the town of Køge, both in the Køge Municipality, part of 'Region of Zealand', in the eastern part of Zealand, south of Copenhagen. It ...
* Lena Grebak
Lena Grebak (born 18 September 1991) is a Danish badminton player. In 2015, she won the bronze medal at the European Games in the women's doubles event partnered with Maria Helsbøl. In 2016, she also won the bronze medal at the European Champio ...
(born 1991) a Danish female badminton player
* Emil Holst
Emil Holst (born 9 January 1991) is a Danish badminton player. He competed at the 2015 European Games and won a silver medal in the men's singles.
Achievements
European Games
''Men's singles''
European Junior Championships
''Boys' singl ...
(born 1991) a Danish badminton player
* Sebastian Lander
Sebastian Lander (born 11 March 1991) is a Danish professional road bicycle racer and track cyclist, who last rode for UCI Continental team . In 2012, Lander won the Danish National Road Race Championships.
Lander raced at the UCI Continental l ...
(born 1991) a road bicycle racer, won the Danish national road race championship in 2012
See also
* Køge Stadion
* Gammel Køgegård
* Nearby towns: Greve Strand
Greve Strand (commonly also known simply as Greve) is a Danish town, seat of the Greve Municipality, in the Region Sjælland. Its population is 41,879 (1 January 2015).Roskilde
Roskilde ( , ) is a city west of Copenhagen on the Danish island of Zealand. With a population of 51,916 (), the city is a business and educational centre for the region and the 10th largest city in Denmark. It is governed by the administrative ...
, Ringsted
Ringsted is a city located centrally in the Danish island of Zealand. It is the seat of a municipality of the same name.
Ringsted is situated approximately 60 km from Copenhagen.
Tourism and transport
Ringsted is one of Denmark's busies ...
and Haslev
Haslev, the largest town in Faxe municipality, lies in the southern part of Zealand, Denmark. About from Copenhagen, it has a population of 12,119 (1 January 2022). .
* Chronicle of the Expulsion of the Grayfriars#Chapter 10 Concerning the Friary in Køge
References
External links
Historic maps of Køge
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koge
Municipal seats of Region Zealand
Municipal seats of Denmark
Cities and towns in Region Zealand
Port cities and towns of the Baltic Sea
Køge Municipality