'Nakskov' is a town in
Lolland municipality in
Region Sjælland on the western coast of the island of
Lolland in south
Denmark. To the west is
Nakskov Fjord, an inlet from the
Langeland Belt (''Langelandsbælt''), which runs between the islands of
Lolland and
Langeland. Nakskov Fjord is a wildlife reserve, known for its bird life
[2]. Boat service can be arranged out to the islands of Nakskov Fjord (Slotø, Vejlø, Enehøje, and Albuen) from the town of Nakskov.
Ferry service connects the harbour northwest of the town of Nakskov, over the Langeland Belt, to the town of Spodsbjerg on the island of Langeland.
History

Copper plate illustration of the town of Nakskov, Denmark, probably 17th century, seen from the south across the strait separating the inner and outer portions of the fjord.
Situated in the inner part of the fjord in Denmark which remains the richest of the islands, despite many of the islands having been included in the larger island of
Lolland, the area was settled during the neolithic period. The town received trade privileges in 1266. Once the hub of the wealthy farmland region of western Lolland, Nakskov thrived on trade and industry. This situation changed gradually, as overland traffic was enabled by the construction of a railway to the neighboring island of
Falster in 1875,
[3] and from there to Sjælland and the capital Copenhagen at the
Storstrømsbroen bridge in 1937
[4]. An industrial boom in shipbuilding ended after Denmark joined the EEC and subsidies were dismantled.
Attractions
Large parts of the wetlands around Nakskov were drained in the 19th century. The dyke along the southern shore of the fjord allows walking or biking to the village of Langø.
Notable people born in Nakskov

View from Langø in Nakskov Fjord toward the peninsula of Albuen and the island of Langeland in the west
★
Mette Jacobsen (b. 1973) – Danish freestyle and butterfly swimmer
★
Severin From[5], chess player.
★
Freddy Blak,
[6] politician, former member of
Socialdemokraterne, now founder and member of
Blaklisten[7]. Former MEP representing
Socialdemokraterne, now member of
Region Sjælland representing
Blaklisten.
Nakskov municipality
Until
January 1,
2007, "Nakskov" was also the name of a municipality (
Danish, ''
kommune'') covering an area of 33
km², and with a total population of 14,749 (2005). The last mayor of Nakskov was Flemming Bonne Hansen, a member of the
Socialist People's Party (''Socialistisk Folkeparti'')
political party. Nakskov municipality ceased to exist as the result of
''Kommunalreformen'' ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with
Holeby,
Højreby,
Maribo,
Ravnsborg,
Rudbjerg and
Rødby municipalities to form the new
Lolland municipality. This created a municipality with an area of 892
km² and a total population of 49,469 (2005).
External links
★
Lolland municipality's official website (Danish only)
★
Official website of the Nakskov Fjord outdoor guide service
References
★ Municipal statistics:
NetBorger Kommunefakta, delivered from
KMD aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data)
★ Municipal mergers and neighbors:
Eniro new municipalities map