View source for Horsens

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
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<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                   = Horsens
| official_name          =
| other_name             =
| native_name            =  <!-- if different from the English name -->
| nickname               =
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| image_skyline          =Horsens old center.JPG
| imagesize              =
| image_caption          =Street in the old town
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| image_seal             = Horsens segl 1421.jpg
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| pushpin_map            = Denmark#Denmark Central Denmark Region
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in Denmark
| pushpin_mapsize        =
<!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type       = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name       = {{flag|Denmark}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of Denmark|Region]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Mid Jutland Region|Mid Jutland (''Midtjylland'')]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[Municipalities of Denmark|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Horsens Municipality|Horsens]]|
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| established_title      = Founded
| established_date       = 12th century
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude          =
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|area_urban_km2          = 29.8
|area_land_km2           = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion-->
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of        = 1 January 2025
|population_footnotes    =<ref name="pop1">{{cite web|title=BY3: Population 1. January by urban areas, area and population density|url=https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY3?lang=en|website=statbank.dk|publisher=Statistics Denmark|access-date=21 April 2021}}</ref>
|population_note         =
|population_urban        = 64,418<!-- urban area, as opposed to the municipality-->
|population_density_urban_km2  = auto
|population_density_sq_mi=
|population_blank1_title       = Gender <ref>[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY1?lang=en BY1: Population 1. January by urban areas, age and sex] The Mobile Statbank from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref>
|population_blank1         = 32312 males and 32106 females
|population_demonym        = Horsensianer
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| coordinates            = {{coord|55|51|30|N|09|51|00|E|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type       = Postal code
| postal_code            = DK-8700 Horsens
| area_code              = (+45) 7
| website                = {{URL|www.horsens.dk}}
| footnotes              =
}}

'''Horsens''' ({{IPA|da|ˈhɒːsn̩s}}) is a city on the east coast of the [[Jutland]] region of Denmark. It is the seat of the [[Horsens municipality]]. The city's population is 64,418 (1 January 2025) and the municipality's population is 97,921 ({{as of|2025|01|01|lc=on}}), making it the [[List of cities and towns in Denmark|7th largest city in Denmark]].<ref name="pop1" />

Horsens is best known for its culture and entertainment events. Horsens New Theatre is a cultural centre which holds over 200 events annually. It has managed to draw major names such as [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[One Direction]], [[Paul McCartney]] and [[The Rolling Stones]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Disse verdenskendte kunstnere har optrådt i Horsens|url=https://www.visithorsens.dk/horsens/oplevelser/begivenheder/disse-stjerner-har-besoegt-horsens|access-date=2021-03-11|website=VisitHorsens|language=da}}</ref>

__TOC__

==Etymology==
It is believed the name Horsens derives from the [[Danish language|old Danish]] words ''hors'' (horse) and ''næs'' (naze, headland). The name ''Horsens'' has been in use since the 12th century.

==History==
{{Unreferencedsect|date=December 2024}}
The earliest traces of a city are remains of a pagan burial site and houses dating back to the 9th century. In the 12th century, the kings [[Sweyn III of Denmark|Sweyn III]] and [[Valdemar I of Denmark|Valdemar I]] issued coins in the city. In the 13th century the city got its own legal code.

Excavations have shown that the city was expanded around 1300, with a moat going around the city and its harbour. Industrialization started from the middle of the 19th century.  The population rose dramatically when people from the countryside moved to the city to work in the factories. The first Danish iron foundry outside of [[Copenhagen]] was opened as well as tobacco and textile factories.

In 1992, Horsens celebrated its 550th anniversary as a market town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vikings in Horsens |url=https://www.viking.no/e/info-sheets/denmark/horsens.htm |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=www.viking.no}}</ref>

==Geography==
Horsens lies at the end of [[Horsens Fjord]] in eastern Jutland. The city is surrounded by typical [[moraine]] landscape with low hills and valleys created by glaciers during the last ice ages. Horsens is {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of [[Aarhus]] and {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of [[Vejle]], and approximately {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Copenhagen]].

==Economy==
{{Unreferencedsect|date=December 2024}}
The city is currently undergoing a positive development with new industry moving to Horsens, or expanding their activities already in Horsens. A lot of electronics and graphical companies are based there. Horsens also has the only Industrial Museum in Denmark. The city is also home to [[VIA University College]] which brings a lot of international students to move to this town.

==Culture==
[[File:Horsens - gågaden.jpg|thumb|A pedestrian zone]]
{{Unreferenced|section|date=January 2022}}
In recent years, much effort has been made to expand and improve cultural events. Several internationally known artists, such as [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Metallica]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Joe Cocker]], [[Elton John]], [[The Beach Boys]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]], [[Bryan Adams]], [[David Bowie]], [[José Carreras]], [[Helmut Lotti]], [[Westlife]], [[R.E.M.]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Robbie Williams]], [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Dolly Parton]], [[AC/DC]], [[U2]], [[Rammstein]] and [[Snow Patrol]] have performed, or have performances planned in Horsens.

[[Metallica]] has performed several times in Horsens.

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal band [[Pretty Maids]] is from Horsens.

One of the largest cultural events in Denmark is the annual European [[Medieval]] Festival on the last Friday and Saturday in August. The town centre of Horsens is transformed into the largest medieval market town in Northern Europe with activities and entertainment for families and children of all ages.
[[File:European Medieval Festival Horsens 1997.png|thumb|left|European Medieval Festival]]
Every March, Horsens hosts a [[Crime Fiction]] Festival. The ''Crime Festival'' – in Danish called ''Krimimessen'' – is an event for literary crime, mysteries and thrillers. The Crime Festival is organized by Horsens Public Library. Every year, many well-known crime writers visit Horsens.

The city is home to ''Horsens Industrimuseum'', a museum showing the history of the industrial society. The museum shows technological development and developments in living conditions for workers.

Peter Sørensen from the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] is mayor of Horsens.

[[Vitus Bering]], the famous [[Russian Navy]] captain, was born here.

Horsens also has a wide variety of street art, including Sculpture Alley, murals, and gable paintings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skulpturalléen {{!}} Boulevard of Sculptures in Horsens |url=https://www.kystlandet.com/coastal-land/plan-your-trip/boulevard-sculptures-horsens-skulpturalleen-gdk1137496 |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Destination Kystlandet |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mural paintings in Horsens {{!}} Street art in the city centre |url=https://www.kystlandet.com/coastal-land/plan-your-trip/mural-paintings-horsens-gdk1141030 |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Destination Kystlandet |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:VBI Park Horsens.jpg|right|thumb|VIA University College]]
The largest educational institution in Horsens is [[VIA University College]], which offers a wide range of engineering, technical and business programmes for Danish and International students. In the summer of 2020, VIA University College accepted 1066 new students. That was 2.1% more than the number of students that were accepted to the university the year before.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-28|title=Fortsat fremgang: 1066 studerende optaget på VIA i Horsens|url=https://hsfo.dk/artikel/fortsat-fremgang-1066-studerende-optaget-p%C3%A5-via-i-horsens|access-date=2021-03-11|website=hsfo.dk|language=da}}</ref>

==Sport==
Horsens is the home to professional football club [[AC Horsens]] who play in the [[Danish Superliga]]. Their home ground is the 10,400 capacity [[CASA Arena Horsens]].

From 2015 to 2018, the CASA Arena hosted [[motorcycle speedway]], when it held the [[Speedway Grand Prix of Denmark]], taking over as host from the [[Parken Stadium]] in Copenhagen, which had held the [[Speedway Grand Prix]] event from 2003 to 2014. Frederikslyst Speedway was another speedway venue located approximately 8 kilometres south west of the town, off the Frederikslystvej in the forest ({{coord|55|48|47|N|9|43|23|E|}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://speedwaylife.com/danish-tracks/frederikslyst-speedway/ |title=Frederikslyst Speedway | website=Speedway Life |access-date=17 February 2024}}</ref> It held the final of the [[Danish Individual Speedway Championship]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmdanii.php |title=Individual Speedway Norwegian Championship | website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego |access-date=17 February 2024}}</ref>

Horsens is also home to professional basketball team [[Horsens IC]] who play in [[Basketligaen]]. The team plays at [[Forum Horsens]] which has a capacity of 3,300. The team has won the league 6 times most recently in 2014–15 and 2015–16 as well as winning the [[Danish Men's Basketball Cup]] 3 times most recently in the 2014–15 season.

==Transportation==

===Rail===
[[File:Denmark-Horsens_train_station.jpg|thumb|Front facade of [[Horsens railway station]].]]
Horsens is served by [[Horsens railway station]]. It is located on the [[Fredericia–Aarhus railway line]] and offers direct [[InterCity]] services to [[Copenhagen]], [[Hamburg]], [[Aarhus]] and [[Aalborg]] as well as [[regional train]] services to [[Fredericia]] and [[Aarhus]].<ref name=DSBHorsensStation>{{cite web|url=https://www.dsb.dk/kundeservice/stationer/horsens/|title=Horsens Station|publisher=DSB|language=da|accessdate=4 May 2021}}</ref>

===Road===
[[European route E45]] runs by the city of Horsens.

==Prison==
From 1853 to 2006,  the city housed the [[Horsens Statsfængsel]] prison, which held prisoners serving longer sentences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Horsens Prison Museum |url=https://www.historyhit.com/locations/horsens-prison-museum/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=History Hit |language=en-GB}}</ref> A notable prisoner was former [[Justice Minister of Denmark|minister of justice]] [[Peter Adler Alberti]].

The last execution in peacetime in Denmark happened in the prison in 1892 when Jens Nielsen was decapitated in the courtyard.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Carl August Lorentzen was a safe cracker who became famous for his escape from the prison in 1949 when he dug a tunnel from his cell and out to freedom. When the guards discovered he was missing, they found a note from him with the words "Where there is a will there is a way". Lorentzen was captured a few days later on a nearby farm.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

The old run-down buildings were not fit for a modern prison. In 2006 the prison was closed and the newly built [[State Prison of East Jutland]] was opened. The new prison, which is placed near Horsens, held the mass murderer [[Peter Lundin]] for a period.<ref>{{Cite news|publisher=[[TV 2 (Denmark)|TV 2]]|language=da|date=29 September 2008|access-date=10 March 2009|url=http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/krimi/article.php/id-16106945.html |title=Peter Lundin hemmeligt gift}}</ref>

Since its closure as a prison, Horsens Statsfængsel has housed a crime and [[Prison Museum|prison museum]], and conference and business facilities. The prison grounds have been used for concerts.<ref name=CNNprison>{{cite web|title=10 prison's now open to travelers |date=13 March 2013 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/world-famous-prisons/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=18 August 2016}}</ref> It was considered as the venue of the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2014]], along with two other cities in Denmark.

VisitHorsens (the local tourist office) moved to the Prison in 2013 and in 2015 a hotel called SleepIn has opened in the Prison.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

== Notable people ==
[[File:Hans Svane 2.jpg|thumb|140px|Hans Svane]]
[[File:Vitus Bering.jpg|thumb|140px|Vitus Bering]]

=== Public thinking and politics ===
* [[Peder Skram]] (ca.1500-1581) a Danish Admiral and naval hero.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Skram, Peder | volume= 25 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| pages = 194&ndash;195 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Jens Bang]] (ca.1575–1644) a wealthy Danish merchant, built [[Jens Bang's House]] in Aalborg
* [[Hans Svane]] (1606–1668) a Danish statesman and ecclesiastic.<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Svane,_Hans |volume= 26 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain|page=175|short=x}}</ref> 
* [[Vitus Bering]] (1681–1741), naval officer and explorer, the [[Bering Strait]] was named after him.<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Bering,_Vitus |volume= 03|page=775|short=x}}</ref>
* [[Poul Vendelbo Løvenørn]] (1686–1740) a Danish military officer, diplomat and landowner
* [[Ove Høegh-Guldberg]] (1731–1808) statesman and ''de facto'' Prime Minister of Denmark
* [[Catherine Antonovna of Brunswick]] (1741–1807) & [[Elizabeth Antonovna of Brunswick]] (1743–1782) daughters of [[Duke Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick]] lived under house arrest in Horsens
* [[Adelbert Heinrich Graf von Baudissin]] (1820-1871), writer
* [[Hedevig Rosing]] (1827–1913), author, educator, school founder; first woman to teach in Copenhagen's public schools
* [[Andreas Bang-Haas]] (1846–1925) a Danish [[entomologist]] and insect dealer
* [[Hans G. Jensen]] (1856–1922) a Norwegian trade unionist, politician and tailor
* [[Ellen Broe]] (1900–1994) a Danish nurse who established educational and training initiatives 
* [[Lilli Gyldenkilde]] (1936–2003) a Danish politician, a member of the Folketing and an [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]]
* [[Lars Hedegaard]] (born 1942) a Danish historian, journalist and author
* [[Peter Landrock]] (born 1948) a Danish cryptographer and mathematician
* [[Jens Nørskov | Jens Kehlet Nørskov]] (born 1952), professor
* [[Jan Trøjborg]] (1955–2012), politician, Mayor of Horsens 2005–2012, served in the Folketing 1987–2005, was Govt. Minister 
* [[Jens Nielsen]] (born 1962), professor
* [[Anders Samuelsen]] (born 1967) a Danish politician and [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)]] 
* [[Peter Fibiger Bang]] (born 1973) a Danish comparative historian

=== The arts ===
[[File:Ludovica Thornam, Self-Portrait, 1885.jpg|140px|thumb|Ludovica Thornam, 1885]]
[[File:Anna Bloch in 1904.jpg|140px|thumb|Anna Bloch, 1904]]
* [[Anton Dorph]] (1831–1914) a Danish painter who painted altarpieces and fishermen
* [[Frederikke Federspiel]] (1839–1913) first female pro photographer, ran a photo. studio in [[Aalborg]]
* [[Ludovica Thornam]] (1853–1896) a Danish portrait and genre painter
* [[Alfred Schmidt (artist)|Alfred Schmidt]] (1858–1938) a Danish illustrator, caricaturist and painter
* [[Anton Rosen]] (1859–1928) a Danish architect, furniture designer and decorative artist
* [[Albert Edvard Wang]] (1864-1930) a Danish landscape painter
* [[Anna Bloch]] (1868–1953) a Danish actress
* [[Emanuel Gregers]] (1881–1957) a Danish actor, screenwriter and film director<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339548/   IMDb Database] retrieved 01 June 2020</ref>
* [[Christian Arhoff]] (1893–1973) a Danish stage and film actor and member of [[National Socialist Workers' Party of Denmark]]<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0034635/   IMDb Database] retrieved 01 June 2020</ref>
* [[Knud Holmboe]] (1902–1931) a Danish journalist, author and explorer
* [[Vagn Holmboe]] (1909–1996), a Danish composer and teacher who wrote in a [[Neoclassicism (music)|neo-classical]] style
* [[Poul Borum]] (1934–1996) writer, poet and critic, was raised in Horsens
* [[Manon Rasmussen]] (born 1951) a Danish costume designer<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0711377/   IMDb Database] retrieved 01 June 2020</ref>
* [[Kristian Halken]] (born 1955), film actor<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355227/   IMDb Database] retrieved 01 June 2020</ref>
* [[Søren Sætter-Lassen]] (born 1955) a Danish stage, film and television actor<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0845310/   IMDb Database] retrieved 01 June 2020</ref>
* [[Michael Kvium]] (born 1955) a Danish multifaceted artist
* [[Anne Louise Hassing]] (born 1967), actress<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0368482/   IMDb Database] retrieved 01 June 2020</ref>
* [[Emmy Thornam]] (1852–1935), flower painter and writer
* [[Ludovica Thornam]] (1853–1896), portrait and genre painter
* [[Barbara Zatler]] (1980-2019) an actress, TV personality, model and comedian<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2349137/   IMDb Database] retrieved 01 June 2020</ref>
* [[Pretty Maids]] (formed 1981) a Danish hard rock/heavy metal band from Horsens 
* [[Peter Bjørnskov]] (born 1981) a Danish singer, songwriter and record producer

=== Sport ===
[[File:Bent Schmidt Hansen (1969).jpg|thumb|140px|Bent Schmidt Hansen, 1969]]
* [[Ernst Schultz]] (1879 – drowned, 1906) sprinter, bronze medallist at the [[1900 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Thyge Petersen]] (1902–1964) an amateur boxer, silver medallist at the [[1924 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Helge Muxoll Schrøder]] (1924–2012) rower, team silver medallist at the [[1948 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Bent Schmidt-Hansen]] (1946–2013) a footballer, over 350 club caps and 8 for [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] 
* [[Anja Hansen]] (born 1973) handball player, team gold medallist at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Anne Dot Eggers Nielsen]] (born 1975) a former footballer, won 118 caps for the [[Denmark women's national football team|Danish national women's team]]
* [[Søren Jochumsen]] (born 1976) a retired football goalkeeper, 521 caps with [[AC Horsens]]
* [[Brian Priske]] (born 1977) retired footballer, 468 club caps and 24 for [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]]
* [[Karen Brødsgaard]] (born 1978) a Danish former handball player, twice team gold medallist at the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000]] and [[2004 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Simon Kjær]] (born 1989), footballer over 390 club caps and captain of [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] with 95 caps
* [[Anne-Marie Rindom]] (born 1991) a Danish sailor, gold medallist at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Alexandra Bøje]] (born 1999) a Danish badminton player
* [[Jeppe Kjær (footballer, born 2004)|Jeppe Kjær]] (born 2004) a Danish footballer who plays for Bodø/Glimt

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Denmark}}

Horsens is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
* {{flagicon|ISL}} [[Blönduós]], Iceland
* {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chengdu]], China
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Karlstad]], Sweden
||
* {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Moss, Norway]] 
* {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Nokia, Finland]]
|}

==See also==
* [[Chronicle of the Expulsion of the Grayfriars#Chapter 15 Concerning the Friary at Horsens]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Horsens}}
{{commons category|Horsens}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Horsens |volume= 13 | page = 726 |short= 1}}
*[http://www.horsenskom.dk/ The Municipality of Horsens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815093247/http://www.horsenskom.dk/ |date=15 August 2016 }} (In Danish and English)
*[http://www.visithorsens.dk/ Horsens city official tourist website] (In Danish/English)

{{Horsens Municipality}}
{{Municipal seats of Denmark}}
{{30 most populous cities of Denmark}}
{{50 most populous urban settlements of Scandinavia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Horsens| ]]
[[Category:Municipal seats of the Central Denmark Region]]
[[Category:Municipal seats of Denmark]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in the Central Denmark Region]]
[[Category:Horsens Municipality]]