Odense is Denmark's third largest and Funen's largest city with 180,302 inhabitants (2020). The town is located by Odense Å, about 3 kilometers south of Odense Fjord. Odense is a diocesan town and was until 2006 the county seat of Funen County and before that Odense County. Although Odense is not home to the administration in the Region of Southern Denmark, the city is by far the largest in the region. Odense has Denmark's second largest hospital - after Rigshospitalet - Odense University Hospital (OUH). It is the capital of Odense Municipality.
Odense is one of Denmark's oldest cities and is first
mentioned in writing in the year 988. Below Odense are the remains
of one of the six well-known slave castles, Nonnebakken. The name
Odense dates from the Viking Age. According to Snorre's royal sagas,
the name comes from Odinsø, where the god Odin must have lived.
Odense has since its founding been one of Denmark's leading cities
and was until the end of the 19th century the largest after
Copenhagen.
The city's oldest quarter houses many old
half-timbered houses, including Ejler Rønnows Gård, Østerbyes Gård
and Pernille Lykkes Boder, which is part of the cultural history
city museum, Møntergården.
Odense Cathedral, Skt. Knud's
Church, contains four royal tombs: Knud the Holy after whom the
church is named, Erik 3. Lam - whose exact burial place is not known
- and transferred from the demolished Gråbrødrekirke King Hans and
Christian 2. In addition to the first two, Frederik IV also died in
the city, at Odense Castle, which today is home to the
municipality's city and cultural administration.
The poet
H.C. Andersen was born and raised in the city. Odense was in 1805,
when H.C. Andersen was born, Denmark's second largest city with
approx. 6,000 inhabitants (and 500 larger domestic animals), of
which approx. 50% belonged to the poor underclass, and approx. 10%
of the city's citizens were subsistence-free. He, and others, still
called the city Little Copenhagen.
During industrialization
in the middle of the 19th century, Odense broke its medieval borders
and spread in all directions. Industry magnate C.F. Tietgen was from
Odense, as was the manufacturer Thomas B. Thrige. Thrige's old
factory buildings in the Skibhus district still exist and since
February 2007 have formed the framework for Bazar Fyn with goods
from most of the world.
The oldest part of Odense is around Odense Å, which runs right
through the city.
From 1796 to 1806, the Odense Canal was
excavated, giving the city access to the Odense Fjord. The Port of
Odense was established in the same connection.
In the center of
the city are several green areas, including Kongens Have, H.C. Andersen
Garden, Children's Village, Lotzes Garden, the Rosengade facility and
Munke Mose. In 2002, Elmelund Forest was founded, where 350 hectares
were planted. On the western outskirts of the city is the Millennium
Forest of 74,000 m², which is used for many large concerts every year.
A number of major national and international companies have their
headquarters in Odense, among others Albani (brewery, owned by Royal
Unibrew), Universal Robots, Biva Møbler, Bøg Madsen (flower exporter),
Daells Bolighus (owned by Harald Nyborg), EuroSko Danmark (voluntary
shopping association ), Fransa (owned by Brandtex Group in Brande), GASA
(flower exporter), GF-Forsikring, Herstal Danmark A/S (hardware,
lighting) H.J. Hansen (wine trade, metal recycling, etc.), Harald
Nyborg, Høyer Autodele, Intersport Danmark, Jensens Bøfhus, JO-EL
Electric, Kwintet Kansas (work clothes), L'EASY, Le Klint (lighting),
Riegens (lighting), Micro Matic (draft beer plant), Nyt Syn, Nørgård
Mikkelsen (advertising agency), OBH-guppen, Odense Marcipan, Orifarm
(medicinal company), Pentabase (biotech company), Alphalyse (biotech
company), Roulunds Rubber, Stof 2000, Alumeco, Damixa, FTZ (auto parts),
Automester, ALOC (financial IT), Thrige Electric, TV 2 Danmark, Juliana
(greenhouses and mailboxes), Come&Stay/Retail Internet and Wittenborg
(automatic machines).
In Odense is one of Denmark's largest and
oldest shopping centres, Rosengårdcentret, which has 153 stores with
100,000 m² in an indoor pedestrian environment. The number of shops
makes Rosengårdcentret Denmark's largest in terms of number of shops.
Rosengårdcentret was voted Denmark's best shopping center in 2007.
[source missing] The center was chosen from among 24 of Denmark's
leading shopping centres. It is the retail organization MMM-Klubben that
is behind the award. In 2009, the center won the "best parking spaces"
category in a similar competition. In addition, Rosengårdcentret was
nominated for the best shopping center in the Nordics in 2009.
Tarup Center is also a shopping center in Odense.
In recent years, Odense has grown as a student city as the city's
educational institutions can offer more courses that were previously
only offered in Aarhus or Copenhagen. Every year, the city attracts
students both from Denmark and abroad, for example from Asia and the
former Eastern Bloc countries Lithuania, Poland and Russia. Today,
approx. 13,000 young people on the campus in Odense, which makes it one
of the largest in Denmark; as a result, you can find many concerts,
events, discos and cafes in Odense's nightlife.
The University of
Southern Denmark, one of Denmark's largest universities, is located i.a.
in Odense. A branch of University College Lillebælt is located in
Odense.
The Lillebælt Business Academy is made up of the
educational institutions Tietgen, Syddansk Erhvervsskole Odense-Vejle,
Kold College and Vejle Handelsskole. The academy's schools offer short
and medium-term practical higher education, i.a. diploma programs and
professional bachelor's programs.
Among high schools that offer
matriculation exams, Sct. Knuds Gymnasium and Tornbjerg Gymnasium, while
Odense Tekniske Gymnasium offers HTX. In addition, there is Dalum
Landbrugskole, Den Sociale Højskole, The Funen Art Academy, Odense
Technical School and the Southern Danish Conservatory of Music.
Odense Cathedral School was founded in 1283 and is among the country's
oldest schools. Other schools include Odense Free School, Ejerslykke
School, Mulernes Legat School, Sankt Albani School, Henriette Hørlück
School, Sct. Hans School, Giersings Realskole and Ådal School. The many
students have a number of dormitories; 4. May College in Odense, Bikuben
College Odense, Blangstedgård College, Carl Nielsen College, Christmas
Møllers College, Glanshatten, H.C. Ørsted College, Hans Tausenkollegiet,
Kaj Munk College, Langelinie College, Rasmus Rask College, Slotsgade
College, Technical College, Thomas B. Thriges College, Tornbjerg College
and Åløkke College.
Population growth in Odense has been stagnant for many years, but has
been increasing again since 2007.
The vast majority of the
population – around 75 per cent – live outside postal district 5000
Odense C, which includes the city center and part of the surrounding
neighbourhoods. Odense has been called "the city of villa quarters" for
the same reason.
The infrastructure is characterized by the location at Odense Kanal,
which connects Odense Harbor with Odense Fjord. It was built around 1800
and provides access from the water to the city centre. In addition, it
has had an impact on the infrastructure at the location of the combined
heat and power plant Fynsværket and the former landfill on Stige Ø.
Odense was one of the first cities to get electricity in 1891.
Traffic
Odense's central location on Funen, between the Great
Belt Bridge and the new and old Little Belt Bridge, means that both cars
and trains between Jutland and Zealand pass through Odense. In June
2009, the municipality adopted a "Traffic and Mobility Plan", which aims
to improve traffic within Ring 2 through a focus on walking, cycling and
public transport. The municipality has set aside DKK 250 million. DKK to
implement the plan, which is expected to be completed in 2018. The plan
is carried out by closing Thomas B. Thriges Gade by Albani Kirke, so
that traffic is instead directed around the center by a parking search
route and by the canal link (including Odin's Bridge), which will be
completed in 2014. At Thomas B. Thriges Gade, large underground parking
facilities will be established, so that it is still possible to drive
into the city. In addition, public transport will be supplemented with
the Odense Light Rail, which will open on 28 May 2022.
Took
Regional traffic goes through Odense Banegård, which also serves as the
terminus of the Svendborg Railway. There is thus frequent frequency to
Copenhagen (1h10m.), Stockholm (7h55m.), Hamburg (3h25m.), Esbjerg
(1h20m.), Aarhus (1h30m.) and Svendborg (45m).
In addition to
Odense Banegård, the stations Odense Sygehus, Fruens Bøge and Hjallese
serve the city.
Ways
The Fynske Motorvej runs through the
southern part of Odense, and there is a lot of traffic from the six
exits (no. 48 to 53). This contributes to the fact that especially the
southern access roads are characterized by a lot of traffic from
commuters.
In June 2009, the last stage of the Svendborg motorway
opened, which runs from Odense to Svendborg and is part of primary route
9. The motorway relieves the old country road, where there was a lot of
traffic.
Fynske Motorvej south of Odense and a stretch from
Motorvejkryds Odense to Kertemindevej make up Odense's outer ring road,
which is called Ring 3. There are no concrete plans to complete this
with a western and northern part, but in the municipality's Traffic and
Mobility Plan it has been adopted , that land must be secured for the
western part so that it can be built when the need arises.
Cycling
Odense has tried to promote cycling through several projects.
The main project "Odense – Denmark's National Cycling City" had, among
other things, with the aim of increasing the number of cycle trips by
20% from 1996/97 to 2002. This was attempted to be achieved through a
series of improvements, including better parking options and detours for
cyclists. Odense's focus on cycling continues in the Traffic and
Mobility Plan, where it is a goal that the number of bicycle journeys
must grow by 25% until 2012, and by 35% until 2020. It must, among other
things, happen through the introduction of a modern bike-sharing
concept, significantly increase accessibility for cyclists and better
parking options.
In 2010, Odense participated at Expo 2010 in
Shanghai with a pavilion under the title Spinning Wheels to promote the
measures taken for cyclists in Odense. It was the first time that a
Danish city participated in a world exhibition.
It is possible to
borrow city bikes Archived August 31, 2017 at the Wayback Machine for
free for 24 hours.
Light rail
In inner Odense, much traffic
has previously passed through Thomas B. Thriges Gade. The street was
closed to car traffic in June 2014. The plan is to build a new urban
area with 1,100 underground parking spaces.[18] The traffic that does
not have an errand in the city center has since 2014 been routed via a
new canal connection over Odense Kanal, which completes Ring 2. As part
of the closure of Thomas B. Thriges Gade, a new 14.5 km long light rail
will be built, which will be led through the street and which will also
connect Tarup in northwestern Odense with Odense Stadium, further over
Odense Banegård and Thomas B. Thriges Gade in the city center and to the
Rosengårdcentret, SDU and new OUH in south-east Odense.
Airport
Hans Christian Andersen Airport is located near the small town of
Beldringe, approximately 10 kilometers northwest of Odense. Until
shortly after the opening of the Great Belt Bridge, there were scheduled
flights to Copenhagen. The airport no longer has any particular impact
on Odense's infrastructure, as there are only a few single scheduled
flights. Since 2006, however, the airport has offered charter flights,
which have seen strong growth in recent years and which from summer 2011
will reach 101 departures.
Ports
Yachts can sail to Odense
from the Kattegat, through Odense Fjord and Odense Canal. It takes about
an hour and a half.
There are guest berths in the Odense Sailing
Club and in the inner harbour. If you choose the inner harbour, you must
go under Odin's Bridge, which has special opening hours Archived 14
August 2020 at the Wayback Machine for pleasure craft. Odense Sailing
Club is located outside Odin's Bridge, five kilometers from the city
centre.
As Denmark's third largest city, Odense has many different cultural
offerings, and is the cultural center of Funen. Odense Theater was
founded in 1796 and is thus the second oldest theater in Denmark. Odense
Internationale Musikteater is a music drama theater in the city. The
Odense Symphony Orchestra is among the five national orchestras and has
its home in Odense Koncerthus. Every year several concerts and festivals
are held in the city. This includes e.g. Tinderbox in the Millennium
Forest, Jam Days with a focus on e.g. jazz, PHONO Festival with a focus
on electronic music, Carl Nielsen Festival with a focus on classical
music, Warehouse Festival and Generator Festival which is in the style
of Copenhagen Distortion. In addition, there is the film festival Odense
Internationale Film Festival, which is about short films and the
medieval market Odense Middelalderdage.
In 2022, the first Pride
Demonstration was held in Odense by the association Odense Pride.
Odense Zoo had around 350,000 visitors in 2016, making it not only
the city's most visited tourist attraction, but also the only attraction
in Odense that is among the most visited Danish tourist attractions. The
zoo has about 150 different animal species.
Odense Castle is
centrally located in the city, close to Odense Railway Station, and was
built with stone from Nyborg Castle, among other things.
Ramparts
from Næsbyhoved Castle lie next to Næsbyhoved Lake in the northern part
of the city.
Kulturbotanisk Have is a botanical garden with
around 9,000 different plant species. It was founded in 1949.
Odense City Museums has several museums in the city. The Carl Nielsen
Museum and Carl Nielsen's Childhood Home deal with the Danish composer
Carl Nielsen. H.C. Andersens Hus is the main museum for the fairytale
writer H.C. Andersen, while H.C. Andersen's Childhood Home is furnished
with an exhibition where the poet grew up. Combined, the two museums
have approximately 130,000 visitors annually. By his house is also
Lotzes Garden and close to the Rosengade facility.
In addition,
there is Den Fynske Landsby, an open-air museum on the southern edge of
the city, which receives around 120,000 visitors a year.
The city
museum Møntergården receives around 90,000 visitors, and it is housed in
an old half-timbered building from 1646. In addition, there is the Media
Museum, Thriges Power Station and the Children's Culture House Fyrtøjet,
all of which are part of the museum association.
The Odense
Bunker Museum is located below the Danhostel Odense in the southern end
of the city. Denmark's Railway Museum is also located in Odense. Until
2014, there was the Funen Art Museum, which today is part of Brandts,
which also includes Brandts Klædefabrik. On the outskirts of the city is
Galleri Galschiøt, which is an exhibition venue with works by Jens
Galschiøt. The art building Filosoffen is an art and culture center
with, among other things, showrooms.
Outside the city is the
trellis fortress Nonnebakken, which functioned as a defensive structure
in the Viking Age.
The city contains several churches, including
Fredens Kirke, Sct. Knud's Church (Odense Cathedral) and Church of Our
Lady. Assistens Kirkegård contains the first pagan burial ground in
Denmark.
Over time, Odense has left its mark on Danish top sports. The city
has both the facilities and the good sportsmen. In Odense, there is thus
both a volleyball stadium, an athletics stadium, a cycling track, a
multi-arena, a cricket stadium and an ice hockey stadium. Every year,
the Adventure Race is organized in the city by Odense Athletics/Odense
Gymnastics Association. There is also IF Stjernen Odense, which is a
sports association.
Odense Friluftsbad is an outdoor swimming
pool in the western end of the city.
Fyens Racecourse is a horse
racing track located in the western part of the city. It is used both
for galloping and trotting.
Football
In football, several
clubs have marked the best Danish ranks. The five clubs Odense Boldklub,
B1909, B 1913, OKS and Odense KFUM have each achieved good results, and
there have been several plans for cooperation and mergers. In 1980,
there were even thoughts of creating a joint team with the best players
from the five clubs. Odense Boldklub remained independent and is today
in Denmark's best league and the city's leading football club. B1909 and
B1913 have made an alliance and play in the 1st division (season
2009/2010) under the name FC Fyn, while OKS and Odense KFUM are no
longer to be found in the best ranks.
Odense Sports & Events
At the turn of the year 1990/91, professional football in OB was
separated into Odense Boldklub A/S. This company merged with Odense
Congress Center in 2006, and thereby the new company Odense Sport &
Event was created. In addition to the congress centre, this company
advised on the newly built Arena Fyn and Odense Stadium, for which the
company has entered into a lease agreement with Odense Municipality
until 2033, which gives the first right to use this stadium. The company
owns the main grandstand, which was most recently modernized in 2005,
expanding the VIP facilities.
In addition to all OB's home
matches, the company has the opportunity to hold international sporting
events with these facilities. Thus, e.g. EC in trampoline, Denmark Open
in badminton, World Cup in dressage and Nordea Danish Open in tennis. In
addition, the handball club GOG plays a number of matches in the
multiarena. Odense handball community is an association of GOG Svendborg
TGI and Handball Club Odense.
Cycling
Odense has great
traditions in cycling. Denmark's oldest and the world's third-oldest
bicycle race has been run on Funen since 1894. It has a start and finish
in Odense and is of international class. The outdoor Odense Cykelbane
was opened in 1948 and is still the place where the track department of
the local cycling club Cykling Odense has its home. The track has also
hosted the Danish track championships as recently as 2004. In a
public-private partnership, a new covered cycling track was built with
athletics facilities in the middle. On 16 January 2015, the track was
inaugurated under the name Thorvald Ellegaard Arena Odense, named after
the six-time sprint world champion, Thorvald Ellegaard.
Several
of the best Danish cyclists come from Odense. Thus, the current Olympic
silver winners Casper Jørgensen and Alex Rasmussen cycled as children in
Odense. The former sprint world champion and current board member of the
International Cycling Union (UCI) is also from Funen. In addition, the
elite team Team Energi Fyn is based in Odense.
ice Hockey
Odense Ishockey Klub (OIK) and their elite team Odense Bulldogs are in
the country's best ranks. The club has never won the Danish
championship, but were cup champions in 2008/2009 and in 2015/2016.
Speedway
Nicki Pedersen was born in Odense and has won several
world championships. The speedway driver Hans N. Andersen is also from
Odense, and had his debut in Sanderum Knallertklub. The two, like the
former Danish world champion from Funen Jan O. Pedersen, started their
careers at the speedway track in Fjelsted west of Odense.
Swimming
There are several Danish elite swimmers from Odense: Both
Louise Ørnstedt and Rikke Møller Pedersen have won many medals. H2Odense
is with approx. 2200 members are Funen's largest association for water
sports. The association was formed in 2016 by the merger of Odense
Swimming and Lifesaving Association (OSLF) and Odense Swimming Club
(OSK). The association offers swimming lessons, exercise swimming, water
polo, synchronized and elite swimming.
Odense lies in a climate zone characterized by the influence of the
warm Gulf Stream. This means that Odense is approx. 5 degrees warmer
than the city's latitude otherwise dictates. At the same time, the city
is also located in an area where Atlantic low pressure typically passes
by. This means that the weather in all four seasons is relatively
unstable with changing periods of rain and sun.
Rainfall is
moderate throughout the year with a small peak from June to August. Snow
falls mainly from Christmas to early March, but it rarely stays for
long. Rain in January and February is as common as snow, and the average
temperature for these two winter months is just above freezing.
Spring can be compared to continental Europe, but delayed by about a
week due to the cold surrounding seawater. In the same way, the water
insulates in autumn, so the climate in Odense is milder for a little
longer than usual. In the period from mid-October to February, one or
two storms (or even hurricanes) may appear. Storms in summer are
unusual.
Summer, like the other seasons, is often a mixture of
mild south-westerly, windy and rainy low pressure systems and periods of
stable high pressure that bring sunny and relatively warm weather.