Vejle
Encyclopedia
Vejle (ˈʋɑɪ̯lə) is a town in Denmark
, in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula
at the head of Vejle Fjord
, where the Vejle and Grejs Rivers and their valleys converge. It is the site of the councils of Vejle Municipality
(kommune
) and the Region of Southern Denmark. The city itself has a population of 51,341 (1 January 2011), making it the 9th largest city in Denmark, and the Municipality has a population of 107,218 (2011).
Vejle Municipality is part of the East Jutland metropolitan area
with some 1.2 million inhabitants. The city is also part of an informal region called the Trekantområde (Triangle Area), which consists of Vejle and the neighbouring cities of Kolding
and Fredericia
.
Vejle is most known for its forested hills, fjord, harbour, shopping, pedestrian mall, and iconic windmill.
The word "Vejle" derives from the Old Danish word wæthel, meaning "ford
" or "wading place" due to its location at a busy crossing over Vejle River. During Viking
times, the wetlands around Vejle had to be crossed at the Ravning Bridge, a nearly half-mile wooden boardwalk. The first recorded mention of the town is from 1256, and the first known merchant town privileges were issued by King Valdemar III
in 1327.
In Vejle's twelfth century church are the oldest known frescoes (wallpaintings) in the country, and the first king and queen of Denmark are buried in the churchyard.
Archaeological digs near St. Nicolai Church in downtown Vejle have shown that there were residences in the area as far back as 1100. The king's castle, Castrum Wæthel, was located where Vejle Transit Centre is today.
During the Middle Ages
, Vejle was important as a market town
, and developed along those lines up to the mid-17th century, trading with cities such as Lübeck
and Flensburg
, in what is now Germany
.
In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Vejle's population was diminished as a consequence of plague and war. In 1796, though, Vejle was made the seat of the newly founded Vejle County
, and the town expanded throughout the 19th century, benefiting from improvements such as a new harbour on the fjord, a railroad station, and modern utilities.
From the mid-19th century into the 20th century, Vejle developed from a provincial market town into a busy industrial centre, eventually becoming known as the "Manchester
of Denmark" for its many cotton mill
s.
in Vejle River remaining from a hill formed during the last ice age
.
For a country where the highest natural elevation is only about 170 m (558 ft) above sea level, Vejle is known for the forested hills that rise to the north and south of the town and fjord
.
The two valleys that converge at Vejle are both unique in Denmark: Vejle River Valley (Vejle Ådal) is the longest tunnel valley
in Denmark, and the Grejs Valley (Grejsdalen) is the largest ravine
in Denmark. Both empty into Vejle Fjord
, which connects Vejle by water through the Little Belt
strait to the Baltic Sea
, and through the Kattegat
and Skagerrak
straits to the Atlantic Ocean
.
Vejle's neighbourhoods include:
, Vejle was known as the "Manchester of Denmark" due to its extensive textile mill
s. The local rivers provided water power to mills, including the extensive facilities of De Danske Bomuldsspinderier (The Danish Cotton Mills). In the first half of the 20th century, Vejle was something of a behemoth within the Danish textile industry, with some 25% of the city's workers employed in the industry.
Despite the decline in the industry in Denmark, the last cotton mill in Vejle remained open until 1993. Today, many of the old mill buildings are used for art studios, office space, and, more recently, apartments.
Later on, newer industries took root in Vejle. The city is home to one of the largest chewing gum factories in the world, producing Stimorol
brand chewing gum.
The Tulip slaughterhouses were also an important employer in the city. Today, Tulip has closed its factory at the harbour, but still maintains production in northern Vejle.
Today, Vejle's economy is shifting out of the industrial sector and into the high-tech sector, with a number of software companies operating out of the city.
, developing new public art and architecture, and uncovering and beautifying Grejs River, which until recently ran in a culvert underneath downtown.
Two new shopping centres, Bryggen and Mary's, have also recently opened, offering more shopping and restaurants, etc.
Christian Jacobsen became Vejle's first elected mayor in 1919, the town has been a stronghold for the Social Democrats and trade unions. The longest serving Social Democratic mayor was Willy Sørensen, a union leader who joined the city council in 1937 and held the mayor's post for 31 years, from 1946 until his death in 1978.
In 1993, the Social Democratic dynasty was broken, when a candidate from a coalition of opposition parties, Flemming Christiansen, became mayor. In 2009, the Social Democrats were out of power again when Liberal
candidate Arne Sigtenbjerggaard won the elections.
Several natives of Vejle have also made a career in national politics, including the current Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Liberal), the current Minister of the Treasurey Troels Lund Poulsen (Liberal), former Minister of Health Torben Lund (Social Democrat), and former Minister of Transportation Flemming Hansen (Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|Conservative).
Highway E45 passes
close to downtown Vejle on the Vejle Fjord Bridge. Vejle is also located on Primary Route 28, and the Mid-Jutland Highway (Midjyske Motorvej, Primary Route 18) from Herning
is scheduled to open around 2013.
Vejle Station, also known as Vejle Transit Centre (Vejle Trafikcenter), provides 9 city bus
lines to various neighbourhoods, as well as national and international coach and train services. Vejle Station first opened in 1868, and is today a central station in the Danish train network
. However, the station is currently the subject of political debate, due to a desire on the part of some politicians to reduce train travel time between Odense
and Århus to one hour. This may mean that a second bridge will be built over Vejle Fjord, bypassing Vejle Station.
Vejle Harbour, in its current location, was inaugurated in 1827. In the years following World War II
, it grew to become the second largest port in Denmark
after the Port of Copenhagen
. Up until 1932, the steamboat
s Hvidbjerg (named after a local seaside community) and Jeppe Jensen (named after the harbour's founder) plied the waters between Vejle Harbour and Munkebjerg, Tirsbæk, Ulbækhus, and Fakkegrav.
The harbour is currently profitable, although there are plans to convert the northern section of the harbour into a park and residential area, which would reconnect the town with the fjord. The fjord is also the site of the hypermodern apartment complex of Bølgen ("The Wave"), which is the most expensive residential construction project in the history of Western Denmark.
Vejle Municipality is part-owner of Denmark's second-largest airport, Billund Airport
, located near the Lego Group
's headquarters some 30 km. (18 mi.) from downtown Vejle. Airport buses run regularly to Billund Airport from Vejle Transit Centre.
, which is then composted in the city dump. To this end, residents must place all household trash into either black or green bags.
Vejle Municipality has also begun a range of nature restoration projects. The most ambitious of these has been the restoration of the Kongens Kær wetlands around the Vejle River just outside the city limits. The city has also undertaken a project to establish two new public beaches for swimming, Albuen and Tirsbæk Strand.
Adult and professional education is available in Vejle through the Region of Southern Denmark, the Folkeuniversitet (Adult Education Centre), the Idrætshøjskole (Athletics Professional College), and Skolen for Gastronomi, Musik & Design (School for Gastronomy, Music, and Design).
On the secondary education
level, Vejle offers several options: Vejle Handelsskole (Vejle Business School) offers business and professional programs; Vejle Tekniske Gymnasium (Vejle Technical School) offers vocational and technical education; and Rødkilde Gymnasium (on the fjord) and Rosborg Gymnasium offer academic programs
with concentrations in language and science.
On the primary level, Vejle has 11 regular primary schools (folkeskoler), 2 independent schools (friskoler), and 4 private schools (privatskoler) – one secular, one Protestant, one Catholic
, and one Waldorf-Steiner method school – as well as 2 schools for special needs
students. Unique to Vejle is a special program for athletically talented students starting in late primary school and continuing through Vejle Handelsskole.
The city's traditional football (football
) club, Vejle Boldklub
(Vejle Football Club), has won the Danish Superliga
Championships five times and the Danish Cup
six times. Vejle Boldklub has trained many talented football players, among others one of Danish football history's few international stars: Allan Simonsen
, who in 1977 became the first Danish player to win the European Footballer of the Year
award. Today, Vejle Boldklub is in a ramping-up period, with the goal of bringing the club back to the top of Danish football. To this end, new Vejle Stadium was opened in spring 2008.
Vejle's largest indoor sports facilities are mostly housed in the DGI-Huset recreational centre in western Vejle. In the past, the facility has housed several high-profile events, including the European Women's Handball Championship
and the Danish Open
in badminton
.
Former Swiss cycling
star Tony Rominger
was born in Vejle, and cycling star Bjarne Riis
has a house in Vejle. Denmark's answer to the Tour de France
, Danmark Rundt
, includes a stretch through Vejle which is known as the hardest stage in the race, including a loop that requires the riders to climb the hillsides of Vejle several times. The race's winner is usually determined in the Vejle stage.
, who wrote the Tango Jalousie. Other artists include athor Ulrik Gräs, priest and historial Anders Sørensen Vedel
, author Karl Bjarnhof, poet Inger Christensen
, artist Albert Bertelsen
, and actress Bodil Jørgensen
.
. In 1933, Munkebjerg Casino boasted Europe
's longest wooden escalator
, carrying guests from the fjord-side beach up to the hilltop casino
. Munkebjerg still exists as a hotel and conference centre.
Vejle's oldest extant building, St. Nicolai Church
, was built in the mid-13th century. On display in the church is the Haraldskær bog woman
, a body from the Iron Age
that was preserved with its skin intact in a local peat
bog
. Another feature of the church are 23 spherical indentations on the north transept – legend says these are imprints of the skulls of executed robbers from the Vejle area.
Museums include the Vejle Art Museum (Vejle Kunstmuseum), which includes some Rembrandt pieces, and the Vejle City Museum (Vejle Bymuseum), located in a renovated cotton mill.
Vejle also is situated close to several Jutland
attractions such as the original Legoland
, and the Viking Age
royal capital of Jelling
. Jelling's archaeological artifacts are considered a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
, and include two 10th century rune stone
s and two burial mounds, as well as a new exhibition centre.
Vejle is twinned with the following cities:
Schleswig, Germany
Mikkeli
, Finland
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
, France
Jelgava
, Latvia
Molde
, Norway
Borås
, Sweden
Mostar
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula
Jutland Peninsula
The Jutland Peninsula or more historically the Cimbrian Peninsula is a peninsula in Europe, divided between Denmark and Germany. The names are derived from the Jutes and the Cimbri....
at the head of Vejle Fjord
Vejle Fjord
Vejle Fjord is a fjord in Denmark. It is approximately 22 km in length, and stretches east from the town of Vejle at the head to the towns of Trelde Næs on the south side and Juelsminde on the north side at the mouth...
, where the Vejle and Grejs Rivers and their valleys converge. It is the site of the councils of Vejle Municipality
Vejle municipality
Vejle Municipality is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in southeast Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,055 km², and has a total population of 106,383...
(kommune
Municipalities of Denmark
This is a list of Municipalities of Denmark.-Region Hovedstaden:* Albertslund Municipality* Allerød Municipality* Ballerup Municipality* Bornholm Regional Municipality* Brøndby Municipality* Copenhagen Municipality* Dragør Municipality* Egedal Municipality...
) and the Region of Southern Denmark. The city itself has a population of 51,341 (1 January 2011), making it the 9th largest city in Denmark, and the Municipality has a population of 107,218 (2011).
Vejle Municipality is part of the East Jutland metropolitan area
East Jutland metropolitan area
East Jutland metropolitan area is a geographic term for an area in Jutland, Denmark.The term denotes a functional coherent urban area linked by both infrastructure and labour across municipal boundaries...
with some 1.2 million inhabitants. The city is also part of an informal region called the Trekantområde (Triangle Area), which consists of Vejle and the neighbouring cities of Kolding
Kolding
Kolding is a Danish seaport located at the head of Kolding Fjord in Region of Southern Denmark . It is the site of the council Kolding Municipality. It is a transportation, commercial, and manufacturing centre, and has numerous industrial companies, principally geared towards shipbuilding...
and Fredericia
Fredericia
Fredericia is a town located in Fredericia municipality in the eastern part of the Jutland peninsula in Denmark, in a sub-region known locally as Trekanten, or The Triangle...
.
Vejle is most known for its forested hills, fjord, harbour, shopping, pedestrian mall, and iconic windmill.
History
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
" or "wading place" due to its location at a busy crossing over Vejle River. During Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
times, the wetlands around Vejle had to be crossed at the Ravning Bridge, a nearly half-mile wooden boardwalk. The first recorded mention of the town is from 1256, and the first known merchant town privileges were issued by King Valdemar III
Valdemar III of Denmark
Valdemar III of Denmark was a king of Denmark from 1326 to 1329 briefly when underage, as well as in 1325–26 and from 1330 to 1364 Duke of Schleswig as Valdemar V. He was a rival king set up against the unsuccessful Christopher II and was widely opposed by his many subjects. His term was ended...
in 1327.
In Vejle's twelfth century church are the oldest known frescoes (wallpaintings) in the country, and the first king and queen of Denmark are buried in the churchyard.
Archaeological digs near St. Nicolai Church in downtown Vejle have shown that there were residences in the area as far back as 1100. The king's castle, Castrum Wæthel, was located where Vejle Transit Centre is today.
During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Vejle was important as a market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
, and developed along those lines up to the mid-17th century, trading with cities such as Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
and Flensburg
Flensburg
Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig...
, in what is now Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Vejle's population was diminished as a consequence of plague and war. In 1796, though, Vejle was made the seat of the newly founded Vejle County
Vejle County
Vejle Amt is a former county on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in southern Denmark. The county was abolished effective January 1, 2007, when it was divided between Region Midtjylland and Region of Southern Denmark...
, and the town expanded throughout the 19th century, benefiting from improvements such as a new harbour on the fjord, a railroad station, and modern utilities.
From the mid-19th century into the 20th century, Vejle developed from a provincial market town into a busy industrial centre, eventually becoming known as the "Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
of Denmark" for its many cotton mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
s.
Geography
Downtown Vejle was built on an island of glacial tillTill
thumb|right|Closeup of glacial till. Note that the larger grains in the till are completely surrounded by the matrix of finer material , and this characteristic, known as matrix support, is diagnostic of till....
in Vejle River remaining from a hill formed during the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
.
For a country where the highest natural elevation is only about 170 m (558 ft) above sea level, Vejle is known for the forested hills that rise to the north and south of the town and fjord
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
.
The two valleys that converge at Vejle are both unique in Denmark: Vejle River Valley (Vejle Ådal) is the longest tunnel valley
Tunnel valley
A tunnel valley is a large, long, U-shaped valley originally cut under the glacial ice near the margin of continental ice sheets such as that now covering Antarctica and formerly covering portions of all continents during past glacial ages....
in Denmark, and the Grejs Valley (Grejsdalen) is the largest ravine
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
in Denmark. Both empty into Vejle Fjord
Vejle Fjord
Vejle Fjord is a fjord in Denmark. It is approximately 22 km in length, and stretches east from the town of Vejle at the head to the towns of Trelde Næs on the south side and Juelsminde on the north side at the mouth...
, which connects Vejle by water through the Little Belt
Little Belt
The Little Belt is a strait between the Danish island of Funen and the Jutland Peninsula.The belt is about 50 km long and 800m to 28 km wide, the maximum depth is approximately 75 m, and contains numerous small Danish islands....
strait to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, and through the Kattegat
Kattegat
The Kattegat , or Kattegatt is a sea area bounded by the Jutland peninsula and the Straits islands of Denmark on the west and south, and the provinces of Västergötland, Scania, Halland and Bohuslän in Sweden on the east. The Baltic Sea drains into the Kattegat through the Øresund and the Danish...
and Skagerrak
Skagerrak
The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:...
straits to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Neighbourhoods
Many of Vejle's neighbourhoods began as separate towns or villages that merged with the city as it grew. Søndermarken, Nørremarken, and Grejsdalen, however, were all founded as extensions of the city onto the surrounding hillsides.Vejle's neighbourhoods include:
- Vejle centre
- Bredballe - east of downtown and north of Vejle Fjord; considered an affluent neighbourhood
- Grejsdalen - northernmost part of the city, located in the long, narrow valley of the same name
- Hover - west of Grejsdalen, closer to the centre
- Lille Grundet - north of downtown in the northwest corner of Nørremarken, relatively new
- Store Grundet - established in 2000, north of Lille Grundet
- Mølholm - southeast of the centre
- Nørremarken - northeast of the centre, including the North Woods (Nørreskoven) and Vejle Stadium
- Petersminde - on top of Uhrhøj, west of Grejsdalen
- Vestbyen (West Town) - western Vejle, including Skibet and Trædballe, and the scenic overlook of Himmelpind
- Vinding - southeast, next to Mølholm
- Søndermarken - to the southwest, located on land belonging to the former Petersholm manor
Economy
Vejle is the cultural and economic centre of Vejle Municipality and, as part of the unofficial Triangle Area (Trekantområde), is rich in industry, business, and the service sector. Historically speaking, industry has been very important for the city's development, while today more weight is placed on business and service, as well as high-tech firms.Industry
During the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, Vejle was known as the "Manchester of Denmark" due to its extensive textile mill
Textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution changed the nature of work and society. Opinion varies as to the exact date, but it is estimated that the First Industrial Revolution took place between 1750 and 1850, and the second phase or Second Industrial Revolution between 1860 and 1900. The three key drivers in...
s. The local rivers provided water power to mills, including the extensive facilities of De Danske Bomuldsspinderier (The Danish Cotton Mills). In the first half of the 20th century, Vejle was something of a behemoth within the Danish textile industry, with some 25% of the city's workers employed in the industry.
Despite the decline in the industry in Denmark, the last cotton mill in Vejle remained open until 1993. Today, many of the old mill buildings are used for art studios, office space, and, more recently, apartments.
Later on, newer industries took root in Vejle. The city is home to one of the largest chewing gum factories in the world, producing Stimorol
Stimorol
Stimorol is a brand of chewing gum, producer by the Danish company Dandy, founded in 1915 by Holger Sørensen, that produces chewing gum. It is based in Vejle, Denmark. It's one of the world's largest producers of chewing gum....
brand chewing gum.
The Tulip slaughterhouses were also an important employer in the city. Today, Tulip has closed its factory at the harbour, but still maintains production in northern Vejle.
Today, Vejle's economy is shifting out of the industrial sector and into the high-tech sector, with a number of software companies operating out of the city.
Shopping
Vejle is known regionally as a vibrant shopping town with a wide and varied offering of both chain and specialty shops, primarily located along the city's central pedestrian mall. Recently, in an effort to maintain its position as a premiere shopping destination, the town has invested in several public works projects to improve the city's appearance, including lengthening the pedestrian mallPedestrian mall
Pedestrian malls in the United States are also known as pedestrian streets and are the most common form of pedestrian zone in large cities in the United States. It is a street lined with storefronts and closed off to most automobile traffic...
, developing new public art and architecture, and uncovering and beautifying Grejs River, which until recently ran in a culvert underneath downtown.
Two new shopping centres, Bryggen and Mary's, have also recently opened, offering more shopping and restaurants, etc.
Politics
Ever since Social DemocratSocial Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
Christian Jacobsen became Vejle's first elected mayor in 1919, the town has been a stronghold for the Social Democrats and trade unions. The longest serving Social Democratic mayor was Willy Sørensen, a union leader who joined the city council in 1937 and held the mayor's post for 31 years, from 1946 until his death in 1978.
In 1993, the Social Democratic dynasty was broken, when a candidate from a coalition of opposition parties, Flemming Christiansen, became mayor. In 2009, the Social Democrats were out of power again when Liberal
Venstre (Denmark)
VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
candidate Arne Sigtenbjerggaard won the elections.
Several natives of Vejle have also made a career in national politics, including the current Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Liberal), the current Minister of the Treasurey Troels Lund Poulsen (Liberal), former Minister of Health Torben Lund (Social Democrat), and former Minister of Transportation Flemming Hansen (Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|Conservative).
Infrastructure
Historically speaking, Vejle's development has been guided by the city's central location in the country and its location on Vejle Fjord. Vejle's pedestrian mall today runs along the same course as some of the earliest paths through town – glass panels set into Torvegade allow pedestrians to see the historical market road a few meters under the current street surface.Highway E45 passes
European route E45
The European route E 45 goes between Sweden and Italy, through Denmark, Germany and Austria. With a length of about , it is the longest north-south European route...
close to downtown Vejle on the Vejle Fjord Bridge. Vejle is also located on Primary Route 28, and the Mid-Jutland Highway (Midjyske Motorvej, Primary Route 18) from Herning
Herning
Herning Municipality is a municipality in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in western Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,336 km² and a total population of 84,208...
is scheduled to open around 2013.
Vejle Station, also known as Vejle Transit Centre (Vejle Trafikcenter), provides 9 city bus
Transit bus
A transit bus , also known as a commuter bus, city bus, or public bus, is a bus used for short-distance public transport purposes...
lines to various neighbourhoods, as well as national and international coach and train services. Vejle Station first opened in 1868, and is today a central station in the Danish train network
Rail transport in Denmark
The rail transport system in Denmark consists of about 2,600 km of railway lines, of which only the Copenhagen S-train network and the main line Helsingør-Copenhagen-Padborg are electrified...
. However, the station is currently the subject of political debate, due to a desire on the part of some politicians to reduce train travel time between Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
and Århus to one hour. This may mean that a second bridge will be built over Vejle Fjord, bypassing Vejle Station.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it grew to become the second largest port in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
after the Port of Copenhagen
Port of Copenhagen
The Port of Copenhagen is the largest Danish seaport and one of the largest ports in the Baltic Sea basin, with a total annual traffic capacity of around 18.3 million tonnes of cargo.-Statistics:...
. Up until 1932, the steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s Hvidbjerg (named after a local seaside community) and Jeppe Jensen (named after the harbour's founder) plied the waters between Vejle Harbour and Munkebjerg, Tirsbæk, Ulbækhus, and Fakkegrav.
The harbour is currently profitable, although there are plans to convert the northern section of the harbour into a park and residential area, which would reconnect the town with the fjord. The fjord is also the site of the hypermodern apartment complex of Bølgen ("The Wave"), which is the most expensive residential construction project in the history of Western Denmark.
Vejle Municipality is part-owner of Denmark's second-largest airport, Billund Airport
Billund Airport
In addition to the scheduled airlines above, several charter airlines serve Billund airport: BH Air, Bulgarian Air Charter, Corendon Airlines, Jettime, Nesma Airlines, Onur Air, Sky Airlines and SunExpress.-Cargo airlines:...
, located near the Lego Group
Lego Group
The LEGO Group is a family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, and best known for the manufacture of Lego-brand toys.The company was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen...
's headquarters some 30 km. (18 mi.) from downtown Vejle. Airport buses run regularly to Billund Airport from Vejle Transit Centre.
Environment
A central point of Vejle's environmental policy since 1985 has been the sorting of garbage into non-compostable and compostable wasteCompost
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming. At its most essential, the process of composting requires simply piling up waste outdoors and waiting for the materials to break down from anywhere...
, which is then composted in the city dump. To this end, residents must place all household trash into either black or green bags.
Vejle Municipality has also begun a range of nature restoration projects. The most ambitious of these has been the restoration of the Kongens Kær wetlands around the Vejle River just outside the city limits. The city has also undertaken a project to establish two new public beaches for swimming, Albuen and Tirsbæk Strand.
Education
Vejle is home to the headquarters of University College Lillebælt, which is a merger of several educational institutions in East Jutland and Funen.Adult and professional education is available in Vejle through the Region of Southern Denmark, the Folkeuniversitet (Adult Education Centre), the Idrætshøjskole (Athletics Professional College), and Skolen for Gastronomi, Musik & Design (School for Gastronomy, Music, and Design).
On the secondary education
Secondary education in Denmark
Secondary education in Denmark usually takes two to four years and is attended by students between the ages of 15 and 20. Secondary education is not compulsory, but usually free of charge, and students have a wide range of programmes to choose from...
level, Vejle offers several options: Vejle Handelsskole (Vejle Business School) offers business and professional programs; Vejle Tekniske Gymnasium (Vejle Technical School) offers vocational and technical education; and Rødkilde Gymnasium (on the fjord) and Rosborg Gymnasium offer academic programs
Gymnasium (Denmark)
The Danish Gymnasium offers a 3-year general academically-oriented upper secondary programme which builds on the 9th-10th form of the Folkeskole and leads to the upper secondary school exit examination...
with concentrations in language and science.
On the primary level, Vejle has 11 regular primary schools (folkeskoler), 2 independent schools (friskoler), and 4 private schools (privatskoler) – one secular, one Protestant, one Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, and one Waldorf-Steiner method school – as well as 2 schools for special needs
Special needs
In the USA, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International...
students. Unique to Vejle is a special program for athletically talented students starting in late primary school and continuing through Vejle Handelsskole.
Sports
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
) club, Vejle Boldklub
Vejle Boldklub
Vejle Boldklub is a Danish football club with proud traditions from the town of Vejle. The club has won the Danish championship five times and the Danish cup title six times....
(Vejle Football Club), has won the Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
Championships five times and the Danish Cup
Danish Cup
The Danish Cup is the official "knockout" cup competition in Danish football, run by the Danish Football Association. The cup has been contested annually since 1955...
six times. Vejle Boldklub has trained many talented football players, among others one of Danish football history's few international stars: Allan Simonsen
Allan Simonsen
Allan Rodenkam Simonsen is a former Danish footballer and manager. He most prominently played for German team Borussia Mönchengladbach, winning the 1975 and 1979 UEFA Cups, as well as for Barcelona from Spain, winning the 1982 Cup WInners' Cup...
, who in 1977 became the first Danish player to win the European Footballer of the Year
European Footballer of the Year
The "", literally translated as "the golden ball" and often referred to as the European Footballer of the Year award, was an annual association football award. It was presented to the player who had been considered to have performed the best over the previous calendar year...
award. Today, Vejle Boldklub is in a ramping-up period, with the goal of bringing the club back to the top of Danish football. To this end, new Vejle Stadium was opened in spring 2008.
Vejle's largest indoor sports facilities are mostly housed in the DGI-Huset recreational centre in western Vejle. In the past, the facility has housed several high-profile events, including the European Women's Handball Championship
European Women's Handball Championship
The European Women's Handball Championship is the official competition for senior women's national handball teams of Europe, and takes place every two years. In addition to crowning the European champions, the tournament also serves as a qualifying tournament for the World Championship...
and the Danish Open
Denmark Open
The Denmark Open, or formerly known as Danish Open, is an annual badminton tournament held in Denmark and organized by Danmarks Badminton Forbund.- History :...
in badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
.
Former Swiss cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
star Tony Rominger
Tony Rominger
Tony Rominger is a Swiss former professional road racing cyclist who won the Vuelta a España in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the Giro d'Italia in 1995.He began cycling late, allegedly spurred by competition with his brother...
was born in Vejle, and cycling star Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Lykkegård Riis , nicknamed The Eagle from Herning , is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France, and is now the team owner and manager of Danish UCI ProTour outfit Team Saxo Bank Sungard...
has a house in Vejle. Denmark's answer to the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, Danmark Rundt
Danmark Rundt
Danmark Rundt is a Danish stage race for professional road bicycle racers organized as a part of the UCI Continental Circuits. It is currently sponsored by the Danish national postal agency, Post Danmark, and the race is therefore also known as Post Danmark Rundt. Currently 15 teams, with 8 riders...
, includes a stretch through Vejle which is known as the hardest stage in the race, including a loop that requires the riders to climb the hillsides of Vejle several times. The race's winner is usually determined in the Vejle stage.
Arts
In the arts, the most well-known personality from Vejle is composer Jacob GadeJacob Gade
Jacob Thune Hansen Gade was a Danish violinist and composer, mostly of orchestral popular music....
, who wrote the Tango Jalousie. Other artists include athor Ulrik Gräs, priest and historial Anders Sørensen Vedel
Anders Sørensen Vedel
Anders Sørensen Vedel was a Danish priest and historiographer. He translated the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus into Danish in 1575, and published the influential "Hundredvisebogen" in 1591.-Biography:...
, author Karl Bjarnhof, poet Inger Christensen
Inger Christensen
Inger Christensen was a Danish poet, novelist, essayist and editor considered the foremost Danish poetic experimentalist of her generation.-Life and work:...
, artist Albert Bertelsen
Albert Bertelsen
Albert Bertelsen is a Danish autodidact artist. He was born in Vejle. Bertelsen is primarily known for his landscape paintings and graphic works in green colours. His work often features the Faroe Islands, but France, Iceland and Norway have also provided him with inspiration. Bertelsen has also...
, and actress Bodil Jørgensen
Bodil Jørgensen
Bodil Jørgensen is a Danish film actress. She has appeared in 40 films since 1992. She starred in The Idiots, which was entered into the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.-Film:* Planetens spejle * Russian Pizza Blues...
.
Attractions
In the early and mid-20th century, Vejle had several popular cultural destinations such as Trædballehus in the western part of town and the Munkebjerg Casino south of the fjord. Trædballehus, an inn and music venue, which burned own in 1954, got its big breakthrough in the mid-1930s when it was featured on Danish National Radio in connection with the opening of the old Little Belt BridgeLittle Belt Bridge
The Little Belt Bridge , also known as The Old Little Belt Bridge, is a truss bridge over the Little Belt strait in Denmark. The first bridge to have been constructed over the strait, it spans from Snoghøj on Jutland to Kongebrogaarden on Funen. It is owned by the state and Banedanmark, the Danish...
. In 1933, Munkebjerg Casino boasted Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's longest wooden escalator
Escalator
An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.Escalators are used around the...
, carrying guests from the fjord-side beach up to the hilltop casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
. Munkebjerg still exists as a hotel and conference centre.
Vejle's oldest extant building, St. Nicolai Church
St. Nicolai Church
St. Nicolai Church is a Lutheran church in Vejle, Denmark dating to the 13th century. Originally built in late Romanesque style and dedicated to the patron saint of merchants and seafarers, the church is the oldest building in the community...
, was built in the mid-13th century. On display in the church is the Haraldskær bog woman
Haraldskær Woman
The Haraldskær Woman is an Iron Age bog body found naturally preserved in a bog in Jutland, Denmark. Labourers discovered the body in 1835 while excavating peat on the Haraldskær Estate...
, a body from the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
that was preserved with its skin intact in a local peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
. Another feature of the church are 23 spherical indentations on the north transept – legend says these are imprints of the skulls of executed robbers from the Vejle area.
Museums include the Vejle Art Museum (Vejle Kunstmuseum), which includes some Rembrandt pieces, and the Vejle City Museum (Vejle Bymuseum), located in a renovated cotton mill.
Vejle also is situated close to several Jutland
Jutland
Jutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
attractions such as the original Legoland
Legoland Billund
Legoland Billund, the original Legoland park, opened in 1968 in Billund, Denmark. The Park is located next to the original Lego factory and Denmark's second busiest airport Billund Airport. 1.6 million guests visited the park in 2007 and over the years more than 40 million guests have been through...
, and the Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
royal capital of Jelling
Jelling
Jelling is a village in Denmark with a population of 3,248 , located in Jelling Parish approx. 10 km northwest of Vejle. The city lies 105 metres above sea level.-Location:...
. Jelling's archaeological artifacts are considered a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, and include two 10th century rune stone
Rune stone
A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition began in the 4th century, and it lasted into the 12th century, but most of the runestones date from the late Viking Age...
s and two burial mounds, as well as a new exhibition centre.
Twin Towns
Schleswig, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Mikkeli
Mikkeli
Mikkeli is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in what used to be the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France between Monaco and Menton. The name was changed from Roquebrune to differentiate the town from Roquebrune-sur-Argens in the neighboring Var Department.-History:In pre-Roman times the area was settled by the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Jelgava
Jelgava
-Sports:The city's main football team, FK Jelgava, plays in the Latvian Higher League and won the 2009/2010 Latvian Football Cup.- Notable people :*August Johann Gottfried Bielenstein - linguist, folklorist, ethnographer...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
Molde
Molde
is a city and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Romsdal region. The municipality is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Borås
Borås
Borås is a locality and the seat of Borås Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 63,441 inhabitants in 2005.- Geography :Borås is located at the point of two crossing railways, among them the railway between Gothenburg and Kalmar, and is often considered the Swedish city gaining the...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
Famous people from Vejle
- Albert BertelsenAlbert BertelsenAlbert Bertelsen is a Danish autodidact artist. He was born in Vejle. Bertelsen is primarily known for his landscape paintings and graphic works in green colours. His work often features the Faroe Islands, but France, Iceland and Norway have also provided him with inspiration. Bertelsen has also...
(*1921), painter - Inger ChristensenInger ChristensenInger Christensen was a Danish poet, novelist, essayist and editor considered the foremost Danish poetic experimentalist of her generation.-Life and work:...
(1935–2009), poet - Thomas GravesenThomas GravesenThomas Gravesen is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He has played for teams such as Hamburger SV, Everton F.C., Real Madrid CF and Celtic F.C.....
(*1976), footballer - Jacob GadeJacob GadeJacob Thune Hansen Gade was a Danish violinist and composer, mostly of orchestral popular music....
(1879–1963), composer of Tango Jalousie 1925 - Lene HauLene HauLene Vestergaard Hau is a Danish physicist. In 1999, she led a Harvard University team who, by use of a superfluid, succeeded in slowing a beam of light to about 17 metres per second, and, in 2001, was able to momentarily stop a beam.In 1989, Hau accepted a two-year appointment as a postdoctoral...
, physicist - Nicolai KielstrupNicolai KielstrupNicolai Kielstrup is a young singer who participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2005.In 2003, he was at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, as he knew one of the participants....
, singer/songwriter - Lars Løkke RasmussenLars Løkke RasmussenLars Løkke Rasmussen is a Danish politician who served as Prime Minister of Denmark from April 2009 to October 2011. He is the leader of the centre-right liberal party, Venstre....
, prime minister of Denmark - Lars-Henrik SchmidtLars-Henrik SchmidtLars-Henrik Schmidt is a Danish idea-historian and philosopher, born 1953 in Vejle. Since the early eighties the pivotal point of his writings has been the development of a specific philosophical perspective termed Social Analytics.- Career :...
(1953), philosopher - Allan SimonsenAllan SimonsenAllan Rodenkam Simonsen is a former Danish footballer and manager. He most prominently played for German team Borussia Mönchengladbach, winning the 1975 and 1979 UEFA Cups, as well as for Barcelona from Spain, winning the 1982 Cup WInners' Cup...
(*15 December 1952), footballer - John SivebækJohn SivebækJohn Sivebæk is a Danish former football defender, who most notably won the 1984 Danish championship with Vejle Boldklub and played for English club Manchester United...
(*25 October 1961), footballer - Anders Sørensen VedelAnders Sørensen VedelAnders Sørensen Vedel was a Danish priest and historiographer. He translated the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus into Danish in 1575, and published the influential "Hundredvisebogen" in 1591.-Biography:...
(1542–1616), author and translator of Gesta DanorumGesta DanorumGesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history... - Jens Jacob Asmussen WorsaaeJens Jacob Asmussen WorsaaeJens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae was a Danish archaeologist, historian and politician, who was the second director of the National Museum of Denmark . He played a key role in the foundation of scientific archaeology. Worsaae was the first to excavate and use stratigraphy to prove C.J...
(1821–1885), archeologist - Tony RomingerTony RomingerTony Rominger is a Swiss former professional road racing cyclist who won the Vuelta a España in 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the Giro d'Italia in 1995.He began cycling late, allegedly spurred by competition with his brother...
(*27 March 1961), cyclist
External links
- Vejle municipality (In Danish)
- Vejle Kommuneatlas (Municipal Atlas) (In Danish)
- Vejle-Egnens Touristbureau (Vejle Area Tourist Bureau) (In English)
- Vejle Byhistoriske Arkiv & Stadsarkiv (City Historical Archive) (In Danish, some English)
- Vejle Amts Folkeblad (regional newspaper) (In Danish)
- Vejle Idrætshøjskole (In Danish)