Editing Assens, Denmark

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{expand Danish|date=January 2023|topic=geo}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name              = Assens
| native_name       = 
| native_name_lang  = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
| settlement_type   = Town
| image_skyline     = AssensBybillede.JPG
| imagesize         = 
| image_alt         = 
| image_caption     = 
| image_seal        = Assens segl.jpg
| image_shield      = Coat of arms of Assens.svg
| image_map         = 
| map_alt           = 
| map_caption       = 
| pushpin_map       = Denmark#Denmark Region of Southern Denmark
| coordinates       = {{coord|55|16|N|9|54|E|region:DK_source:dewiki_type:city(6060)|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint     = 
| subdivision_type  = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name  = [[Denmark]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Denmark|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Region of Southern Denmark|Southern Denmark (''Syddanmark'')]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Municipalities of Denmark|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Assens Municipality|Assens]]
| area_urban_km2    = 4.7
| population_urban  = 6,001
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_as_of  = 2024
| population_footnotes         =
<ref name="BY3"/>
| 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            =
2904 males and 3097 females
| timezone1                    =
[[Central European Time|CET]]  
| utc_offset1                  =
+1
| timezone1_DST                =
[[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST              =
+2
| postal_code_type             =
Postal code
| postal_code                  =
DK-5610 Assens
}}

'''Assens''' ({{IPA|da|ˈæsn̩s|lang}}) is a town with a population of 6,001 (1 January 2024)<ref name="BY3">[https://m.statbank.dk/TableInfo/BY3?lang=en BY3: Population 1. January by rural and urban areas, area and population density] The Mobile Statbank from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref> on the west coast of the island of [[Funen]] on the eastern side of the [[Little Belt]] in central [[Denmark]]. By road, Assens is located {{convert|41.2|km}} southwest of [[Odense]], {{convert|34|km}}  northwest of [[Faaborg]], and {{convert|33.34|km}} southeast of [[Middelfart]].<ref>{{Google maps | url=https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=55.266667,9.9&q=55.266667,9.9&hl=en&t=h&z=12| access-date =12 July 2014}}</ref> Assens is the municipal seat of [[Assens Municipality]] in [[Region of Southern Denmark]]. It was the birthplace of sculptor [[Jens Adolf Jerichau]] who married the well-known portraitist [[Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann]]; both artists' works are exhibited at the local art museum, [[Vestfyns Kunstmuseum]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kulturarv.dk/kid/SoegMuseumKunstnere.do?museumId=262 |title=Artists represented in Museerne Vestfyn |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Kulturstyrelsen |access-date=3 February 2013}}</ref>

==Etymology==
In the [[Danish Census Book]] from the 13th century, Assens is listed with the name ''Asnæs'', which means a [[promontory]] overgrown with [[ash trees]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Politikens Nudansk Ordbog|edition=XV|year=1992|chapter=Assens|language=da}}</ref>

==History==
Assens is located on the site of an old [[ferry landing]] linking Funen and the south of [[Jutland]]. A bay provided a natural harbour while the Little Belt encouraged trade and transport. It probably became a [[market town]] in the 13th century. The ferry, which probably originated in the [[Middle Ages]], became particularly significant in the 16th century with sizeable cattle exports. The town was hard hit by the [[Dano-Swedish War (1657–58)|Swedish Wars]] in the 17th century, causing a reduction in trade. It nevertheless continued to be the main ferry link between Jutland and Funen.<ref name=dcfb>{{cite web|url=http://dendigitalebyport.byhistorie.dk/koebstaeder/by.aspx?koebstadID=2|title=Assens|publisher=Dansk Center for Byhistorie|access-date=11 July 2014 |language=da}}</ref>

Prosperity returned at the end of the 18th century, increasing in the 19th century after a new harbour was completed in 1822. However the railway to [[Middelfart]] in 1865 provided considerable competition but the town suffered above all from the discontinuation of the ferry service after [[Southern Jutland]] was lost to the Germans in 1864.<ref name=dcfb/>

At the end of the 19th century, there were few industries in Assens, the main source of income still being trade and crafts. In 1884, however, the railway to [[Tommerup]] linked Assens to [[Odense]] and in 1885, the harbour was extended with a new dock. A sugar factory was established, providing over 300 jobs by the end of the century. There was also a marked increase in population.<ref name=dcfb/>

With reunification after the [[First World War]], the ferry to Southern Jutland was reopened and ran until 1972. The sugar factory remained the main source of employment but a number of smaller metal foundries and food companies were established. Like most of Funen's other towns, Assens remained in the shadow of Odense, recording only modest growth. Its population grew only slightly, from around 4,600 in 1901 to 5,800 in 2004.

==Economy==
Today the town still has a small shipyard, a few metallurgical and chemical factories and the Vestfyen brewery. The sugar factory was closed in 2006. In 2007, the public sector benefited from Assens position as the seat of the new Assens Municipality.<ref name=dcfb/> Companies headquartered in Assens Municipality include the [[Carl Hansen & Søn]] furniture manufacturer in Aarup.

==Landmarks==
[[File:Nordenskirker_Assens(01).jpg|thumb|Assens Church]]
[[Church of Our Lady, Assens|Assens Church]] (''Vor Frue Kirke'') is the second largest church building on the island of Funen. Built in the 15th century on the site of a former [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] church, the red-brick building was comprehensively restored in the 19th century. It bears the influence of north German [[Gothic architecture]]. The tower with its octagonal base and spire is {{convert|48|m|abbr=on}} in height.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitdenmark.dk/da/danmark/vor-frue-kirke-i-assens-gdk614309|title=Vor Frue Kirke|publisher=Visit Denmark|access-date=12 July 2014 |language=da}}</ref> The [[altarpiece]] and [[pulpit]] are from the 17th century.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Fyn/Assens|title=Assens|encyclopedia=Den Store Danske|access-date=12 July 2014 |language=da}}</ref>

Willemoesgården, one of the oldest houses in the town, was the birthplace of [[Peter Willemoes]] (1783–1808) who became a celebrity after heroic action in the [[Battle of Copenhagen (1801)|Battle of Copenhagen]]. The building is now a museum with exhibits on the history of the town and its seafaring heritage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museumvestfyn.dk/forskellige-oplevelser/museets-udstillingssteder/willemoesgaarden.html |title=Willemoesgården |publisher=Museum Vestfyn |access-date=12 July 2014 |language=da |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714220807/http://www.museumvestfyn.dk/forskellige-oplevelser/museets-udstillingssteder/willemoesgaarden.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>

Assens Marina with 600 berths including a quay for visitors is located next to the local camping facility and sports centre with shops and a restaurant. It is open from May until the end of August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitdenmark.com/denmark/assens-marina-gdk614284|title=Assens Marina|publisher=Visit Denmark|access-date=12 July 2014 }}</ref>

== Notable people ==
[[File:Portrait of J. A. Jerichau, c. 1846.jpg|thumb|140px|JA Jerichau, 1846]]
[[File:Peter Brandes.jpg|thumb|140px|Peter Brandes, 2014]]
* [[Peder Lauridsen Kylling]] (c. 1640 in Assens – 1696) a Danish botanist 
* [[Christian Thomsen Carl]] (1676 in Assens - 1713) a Danish naval officer
* [[Hans Næss (architect)|Hans Næss]] (1723 in Næs – 1795) a Danish [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] architect of manor houses
* [[Steen Andersen Bille (1751–1833)|Steen Andersen Bille]] (1751 in Assens – 1833) a Danish naval officer, became an Admiral
* [[Peter Willemoes]] (1783 in Assens – 1808) a Danish naval officer, said to be of indominitable good cheer, courage and good looks
* [[Hans Brøchner Bruun]] (1793-1863) merchant and politician, chaired Town Council 1839/1857
* [[Carl Christian Rafn]] (1795 in Brahesborg, near Assens – 1864) a historian, translator and antiquarian.<ref>{{Cite Appletons'|wstitle= Rafn, Karl Christian |volume = V |pages = 159-160 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Benny Cederfeld de Simonsen]] (1865 in Brahesborg, near Assens – 1952) a Danish peace activist.
* [[John Eriksen]] (1957 in Assens – 2002) a Danish footballer, 479 caps and 17 caps for [[Danish national football team|Denmark]]
=== The Arts ===
* [[Jes Bundsen]] (1766 in Assens – 1829) a Danish landscape painter and etcher
* [[Dankvart Dreyer]] (1816 in Assens – 1852) a landscape painter of the Copenhagen School
* [[Jens Adolf Jerichau]] (1816 in Assens – 1883) a sculptor, moved away from [[Neoclassicism]] 
* [[Thorvald Niss]] (1842 in Assens – 1905) a landscape painter, joined the [[Skagen Painters]]
* [[Kirsten Passer]] (1930 in Nårup – 2012) a Danish film actress<ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0664855/   IMDb Database] retrieved 09 May 2020 </ref>
* [[Peter Brandes]] (born 1944 in Assens) a painter, sculptor, ceramic artist and photographer
* [[Anne Øland]] (1949 in Assens – 2015) a Danish concert pianist and educator

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.assens.dk Assens municipal & City]
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=55.266809,9.892330&spn=0.060094,0.081050&t=k&hl=en Satellite map from Google Maps]

{{Assens Municipality}}
{{Funen}}
{{Municipal seats of Denmark}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Assens Municipality]]
[[Category:Municipal seats of the Region of Southern Denmark]]
[[Category:Municipal seats of Denmark]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in the Region of Southern Denmark]]
[[Category:Populated places in Funen]]