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Vordingborg (Danish pronunciation:[ˌvɒːte̝ŋˈpɒˀ]) is a market town and old ferry town on the south coast of the island of Zealand in Denmark. Because of three large estates surrounding the town, a coherent urban development has not been possible, which is the reason why three satellite towns (former villages) have emerged around the town. Within the ring of estates, the town has a population of 12,397 (1 January 2024),[1] and a population of 18,286 when including the three satellite towns of Ørslev, Nyråd, and Stensved, situated 1, 3 and 5 kilometres, respectively, from the town of Vordingborg. Vordingborg is located in Vordingborg Municipality in Region Zealand. Vordingborg Municipality (Kommune) has a population of 45,751.
Vordingborg is situated on the southern coast of the island of Zealand. It lies adjacent to the Storstrømmen, a strait separating the island of Zealand from the island of Falster.
It is uncertain when the oldest castle was built on the castle hill in Vordingborg, but King Valdemar the Great built a castle on the site in 1157. From Valdemar the Great's founding of the castle until King Valdemar Atterdag's death in 1375, the kings often stayed at the castle and Vordingborg was at the center of Denmark's foreign policy. King Valdemar the Great died at his castle in Worthing in 1182.
The town of Vordingborg itself probably emerged at the beginning of the 12th century, but only gained significant importance with the construction of the castle. In 1415, during the reign of Eric of Pomerania, Vordingborg was given the status of a market town.
Vordingborg Municipality is home to 9,500 jobs.[2] Companies headquartered in Vordingborg include Vordingborg Køkkener, a kitchen manufacturer.[3] Udbetaling Danmark, a public institution under ARP, has one of its five regional centres in the town.[4]
The Goose Tower (Gåsetårnet) spire in Vordingborg, Denmark. (2005)
The ruins of Vordingborg Castle, the old royal castle which was built around 1364, is the town's most famous attraction. The only fully remaining part of the castle, the 26 meter tall Goose Tower (Gåsetårnet), is the symbol of the city. It is the largest of King Valdemar Atterdag's nine main castle towers. The name comes from the golden goose perched on top of the tower's spire. Legend has it that Valdemar Atterdag used the symbol to taunt the Hanseatic League. The current goose was put there in 1871. It is not certain what was on top of the tower before 1871 and maybe it was just a weather vane made of gold.[6] The tower was transferred into the national trust on 24 December 1808 and is thus the first protected historic monument in Denmark.
A historic garden is also located on the site of the ruin.
Vordingborg is the home of the South Zealand Museum (Sydsjællands Museum).
The city holds an annual festival, Vordingborg Fest Week (Vordingborg Festuge) in July.
Jacob Baden (1735 in Vordingborg – 1804) a philologist, pedagogue, critic and academic
N. F. S. Grundtvig (1783 in Udby near Vordingborg – 1872) a Danish pastor, author, poet, philosopher, historian and politician
Martin Hammerich (1811 - 1881 in Iselingen) an art historian, educator, author and translator.
Frederik Christian Kielsen (1774-1850), a Danish schoolmaster, published copiously illustrated books on natural history; he lectured at the Latin School in Vordingborg from 1819 to 1833
Carl Lange (1834 in Vordingborg – 1900), a physician, worked on neurology, psychiatry and psychology
Julius Lange (1838 in Vordingborg – 1896), a Danish art historian and critic
