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'Halmstad' ['hulm-stɑː(d)] is a port, university, industrial and recreational city at the mouth of the Nissan River in Halland County, south-western Sweden. The river empties into the Kattegatt. The city has a population of 55,688 (2005), and is the seat of Halmstad Municipality (''Halmstads kommun''), and of Halland County (''Hallands län'').
The city will host the 2007 Solheim Cup, which will be played at the Halmstad Golfklubb.

Contents

History

Notable natives

Sport

See also

History

Halmstad received its first charter in 1307, and the city is celebrating its 700 year aniversary in 2007. The oldest remains of that first town are to be found at "Övraby" upstream on the River Nissan, quite close to the regiment buildings. The reamins of the church can still be seen today between a defunct brick industry and a former landfill.
In the 1320s the town moved to the present day town centre. At this time there were two monasteries in the town and during the 15th century the St. Nikolai church was built. Battles raged between the Swedes and the Danes as Halland at that time was a real border county.
During the Kalmar Union – a Nordic Union between Sweden, Norway and Denmark which lasted between 1400-1520 – it was in Halmstad that the Union King was to be finally selected.
At the end of the 16th century, Christian IV ordered the fortification of Halmstad and in the beginning of the 17th century built a crescent with the Nissan as part of the defences.
1619 is an important date in the history of Halmstad. In March of that year, King Gustav Adolf II of Sweden and Christian IV met at the castle. Over a period of a week they celebrated the payment in full of the "Älvsborg ransom". August of the same year saw the destruction of Halmstad by fire.
Peace was declared roughly 25 years later and Halland became Swedish which it hadn't been for 300 years. Halland finally became Swedish when peace was declared at Roskilde in 1658 and Danish rule was broken. However, uncertain times still continued until the battle of "Fyllebro" in 1676, which lies just outside Halmstad, where the Swedes convincingly beat the Danes.
The first May Day demonstration in Sweden was held in Halmstad in 1897.

Notable natives

★ Carl Bildt - politician, former prime minister, present foreign minister

★ Per Gessle - musician (Roxette/Gyllene Tider).

★ Ernst Wigforss - politician

★ - fictional characters

★ Thomas Petersson - Stand-up comedian

★ Jörgen Persson - table tennis player

★ Fredrik Ljungberg - football player

★ Jonas Altberg - musician (Basshunter)

★ Michael Amott - musician (Spiritual Beggars/Arch Enemy/Carcass)

★ Sofia Arvidsson - professional tennis player

★ Peter Wahlbäck - Stand-up comedian

★ Niklas 'Kvarforth' Olsson - musician (Shining/Diabolicum/Skitliv)

Sport

★ Badminton

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★ Halmstad Badmintonklubb

★ Football

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★ Halmstads BK

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★ IS Halmia

★ Golf

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★ Halmstad GK

★ Gymnastics

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★ Halmstad Frigymnaster

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★ Halmstad Kvinnliga GF

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★ Halmstad Rytmiska GF

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★ Nissaflickorna

★ Dancing

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★ Laxbuggarna

★ Handball

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★ HK Drott

★ Icehockey

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★ Halmstad Hammers HC

★ Swimming

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★ SK Laxen

★ Table tennis

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★ Halmstad BTK

★ Track & Field

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★ IFK Halmstad

See also

★ Halmstad Municipality

★ Kroenleins Brewery