Frederikssund

Sister cities

• Aurskog-Høland Municipality
• Sipoo
• Ramsgate
• Kumla Municipality
• Catoira

History

There is evidence of communities dating right back to the Stone Age with a number of burial sites in the area. It seems probable that there was a small settlement at the present location of Frederikssund in the Middle Ages but the development of the town probably began in the 12th century with the construction of a church at what was then known as Ude Sundby or Sundby Færge (Sundby Ferry). Located at a narrow point on Roskilde Fjord, Sundby Færge became the harbour for the nearby market town of Slangerup. In 1809–10, the status of market town was transferred from Slangerup to Frederikssund, named after King Frederik III. In 1868, a pontoon bridge linking Frederikssund to Hornsherred was opened. This was replaced by today's Kronprins Frederik Bridge in 1935. Frederikssund's rapid expansion from a small town at the end of the 19th century is due in large part to the railway connection with Ballerup in 1879 which was upgraded to a frequent suburban service to Copenhagen in 1989. Frederikssund was also attacked under World War II, as Kalvø was attacked by the germans in 1940.

Geography

Frederikssund is located on the east coast of Roskilde Fjord, about 45 km north-west of Copenhagen, 20 km south of Hillerød and 30 km north of Roskilde. It is less than an hour from Copenhagen by either road or rail. S-trains (suburban commuter trains) leave about once every 10 minutes. Copenhagen Airport can be reached by road or rail in about an hour. The low hills on which Frederikssund lies are formed of moraines from the last ice age. The shallow Roskilde Fjord which separates Frederikssund from Hornsherred originated in the same period. The fertile land surrounding Frederikssund is used for mixed farming - with an emphasis on cereals, root crops and pigs.