Hvidovre Municipality

Hvidovre Municipality
Municipality

Coat of arms
Country Denmark
Region Capital Region
Seat Hvidovre
Government
  Mayor Helle Moesgaard Adelborg (S)
Area
  Total 24.85 km2 (9.59 sq mi)
Population (1 April 2014)
  Total 52,027
  Density 2,100/km2 (5,400/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Municipal code 167
Website www.hvidovre.dk/Borger.aspx

Hvidovre Kommune is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Region Hovedstaden near Copenhagen on the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 22 km², and has a total population of 52,027 (1 April 2014). Its mayor is Helle Moesgaard Adelborg, a member of the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) political party.

The main town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Hvidovre. Other towns in the municipality are Avedøre and Friheden.

Neighboring municipalities are Copenhagen to the east, Rødovre to the north, and Brøndby to the west. Part of its eastern border are the waters of Kalveboderne, and to the south is Køge Bay (Køge Bugt). The southern-most section of the municipality, known as Avedøre Holme, juts out into Køge Bay and forms part of the entryway into Kalveboderne, the waters of which separate the island of Zealand from neighboring Amager. Avedøre Holm houses two harbours.

History

The parish of Hvidovre originally covered the villages of Hvidovre, Valby, and Vigerslv. The civil parish of Hvidovre ('Hvidovre Sognedistrikt' or 'Hvidovre Sognekommune') was formed in 1803. In 1841, it was merged with Frederiksberg under the name HvidovreFrederiksberg Sognekommune ("civil parish of HvidovreFrederiksberg) but the two were again split in 1858 and Valby and Vigerslev was transferred to Copenhagen in 1901.[1]

Hvidovre Municipality was established with the 1970 Danish Municipal Reform, covering the parishes of Hvidovre, Risbjerg Parish, Strandmark, Avedøre was transferred from Glostrup to Hvidovre in 1974.[2]

Hvidovre municipality was not merged with other municipalities by January 1, 2007 as the result of nationwide Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007).

Parks and green spaces

Vestvolden follows the western border of Hvidovre Municipality. Avedøre Airfield from 1917 is Denmark's oldest preserved airfield.[3] Strandengen ("The Beach Meadow") is grazed by cattle and sheap in the summer time.[4] Other green spaces include Kystagerparken, Lodsparken, Mågeparken and Rebæk Søpark.

The town of Hvidovre

The town is a suburb to Copenhagen, located ca. 10 km. southwest of the capital's center. It got its name from the fact that a white church could be seen in Hvidovre— hvid means "white" in Danish. This same naming principle also applies to neighboring Rødovre municipality where a red church could be seen— rød means "red" in Danish.

The city is well known for its football team, Hvidovre IF, where famous Danish football players such as Peter Schmeichel, Kenneth Brylle, and Michael Manniche have played.Stephan Andersen with a past in Charlton, have played for the club too. It is also the birthplace of young Liverpool defender Daniel Agger and Thomas Kahlenberg.

Film production camp Filmbyen (founded by Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen's company Zentropa) is located in Hvidovre.

Twin towns — sister cities

The municipality is twinned with:[5]

References

  1. "Hvidovre Sognekommune" (in Danish). Hvidovre Kommune. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  2. "Hvidovre Kommune" (in Danish). Gyldendal. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  3. "Avedøre Flyveplads". Kulturstyrelsen. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
  4. "Strandengen" (in Danish). Hvidovre Kommune. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
  5. "Hvidovre Kommune - Venskabsbyer". Hvidovre.dk. 2006-11-20. Retrieved 2012-10-19.

Coordinates: 55°39′N 12°29′E / 55.650°N 12.483°E / 55.650; 12.483

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