Norrköping

Norrköping
Seal
Nickname(s):  Peking, Little Manchester
Country	Sweden
Province	Östergötland
County	Östergötland County
Municipality	Norrköping Municipality
Area
• Total	34.78 km2 (13.43 sq mi)
Population  (2005-12-31)
• Total	83,561
• Density	2,403/km2 (6,220/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Website	norrkoping.se

Norrköping [ˈˈnɔrɕøːpɪŋ] is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 83,561 inhabitants in 2005, out of a municipal total of 127,059, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest municipality.

The city is situated by the mouth of the river Motala ström, at Bråviken, an inlet of the Baltic Sea. Water power from the Motala ström and the good harbour were factors that facilitated the rapid growth of this once industrial city, known for its textile industry. It has several nicknames such as: "Sweden's Manchester" , "Peking" and "Surbullestan" (Surbulle was a local nickname for the textileworkers, and stan´ is short for Staden, which means The City or The Town in Swedish)

History

Norrköping depicted as a Star fort before it was burnt in 1719. Contemporary engraving by Jan van den Aveelen.

The city has medieval foundations by settlers around the Norrköping twin city with Linköping Motala stream estuary, who used the falls and rapids to power their mills. The stream was also full of fish such as salmon. Exact dates are uncertain, but there are mentions of a church in the 12th century. It was dedicated to Saint Olaf, Norway's patron.

The first trace of the city's name is from 1283, when Sofia of Denmark - wife of Valdemar I of Sweden - donated her rights of salmon fishing to the Skänninge monastery. The town is estimated to have received city status in the early 14th century, although no written documents exist prior to a document from 1384. This document, signed by Albrekt of Sweden is stored in the city archive today.

The city was the location of several battles in the ensuing centuries. As a consequence, nothing of the medieval Norrköping remains today. During the Northern Seven Years' War (1563-1570), the entire southern part of Norrköping was burnt. It was rebuilt by John III of Sweden ,who designed the current street pattern.

In 1618, a weapon industry was established by supervision of Gustavus Adolphus. The harbour also attracted ships due to its proximity to the industries of Finspång. In addition to the weapon industry, a large scale industry of textile was also initiated. An important benefactor was the industrial man Louis De Geer (1587-1652). At De Geer's death, Norrköpings had 6,000 inhabitants and was Sweden's second largest city.

The city again burnt in 1655, and again in 1719 during the Great Northern War when the Russians burnt it to the ground. Stones from the Johannisborg castle were used to build new houses, and today only a few stones remain.

During the 18th century it was rebuilt and several industries soon got a stronghold: In the 1740s, Norrköping boosted three sugar refineries; in the 1750s the large scale influential snuff industry was established. From this time stems the city churches of Saint Olof and Saint Hedvig, and several other old houses.

Motala ström runs through Norrköping

Norrköping's importance again flourished. In 1769 the Swedish Riksdag assembled there. In 1800 the king Gustav IV of Sweden was crowned in the Church of Saint Olof.

The city again suffered fires in 1822 and 1826. Thereafter wooden houses were banned. In 1841 a ship industry was initiated as a branch of Motala Verkstad in Motala. In 1850 the industry had over 600 employees making it Sweden's largest ship industry at the time. During the remaining 19th century, the industries kept expanding. The area by the Motala Stream was developed further with the construction of a cotton refinery, and a paper mill was constructed in 1854, specializing in newspaper, and is still today exporting to customers around the world.

The industry, including textile manufacturers, also expanded into the 20th century. In 1950 a total of 54 factories had 6,600 employees in town. By 1956, however, 18 of them had been closed due to competition from countries abroad with lower wages, such as Italy and Japan. In 1970 only 10 factories and 1,200 employees remained. In that year, the renowned Holmen paper mill, with its 350 years long history, announced closure, and another 900 people were let go. To counter the effects, several governmental authorities were relocated to Norrköping from Stockholm. See also Braviken Paper Mill.

As of 2002, Norrköping is now seeing a revival, as a center of culture and education. The Norrköping symbol represents the "new" Norrköping.

Tourism

There are a lot of things within and around Norrköping that is worth seeing. Within the centre of Norrköping, there are a lot of stores, restaurants and cafes.

Within a short walk from the shops, there is a nice parade alongside Strömmen, the so called river that flows through the city. In connection to this nice parade is the industrial landscape. This is the place where the old textile industries once where situated.

In the summer, there is a cactus plantation in Carl Johans Park. 25 000 cactuses are planted there every summer.

What is really worth visiting is Kolmårdens Djurpark. That is a zoo located 30 km north of Norrköping. Almost all animals can be seen there. In connection to the big outdoor zoo, there is also Tropicariet an aquarium, where for example snakes, crocodiles and sharks can be seen.

The archipelago 50 km away from Norrköping is worth a visit. There are the opportunities to bath, rent a kayak or go by the ferries between the different islands, such as S:t Anna or Gryt.

If you are visiting Norrköping in the winter, Yxbacken offers downhill skiing.

Sights

A campus of Linköping University, its own symphonic orchestra, an airport called Kungsängen with 170,000 traveling (2006), a high-tech industry park called Norrkoping Science Park, and Petroglyphs from the Nordic Bronze Age.

• 
  The renowned public library, built in the modern style
• 
  The characteristic Museum of Labour (Arbetets museum) in the midst of Motala ström.
• 
  The Norrköping tramway is one of three such systems in Sweden
• 
  Statue of Moa Martinson
• 
  The Church of Saint Olof, built circa 1750
• 
  Old water tower in Norrköping
• 
  The Holmen Paper headquarters in Norrköping
• 
  Statue of king Charles XIV John

Notable natives

• Hannes Alfvén - physicist, Nobel Prize winner
• Moa Martinson - author
• Michael B. Tretow - producer and audio engineer
• Ture Nerman - poet and socialist politician
• Peter Harryson - actor, entertainer
• Pernilla Wiberg - alpine skier, double Olympic gold medalist
• Slagsmålsklubben - electronic popgroup
• Malin Baryard - horse rider
• Helena Lundbäck - horse rider
• Eldkvarn - music group
• Marduk - Black Metal band
• Amy Diamond - singer
• 23 Till - music group
• Måns Stenberg - gymnast of the Swedish national team

Sports

• IFK Norrköping (Association football)
• Norrköping Dolphins (Basket)
• HC Vita Hästen (Icehockey)
• Vargarna (Speedway)
• Norrköpings KK (Swimming)

Twin towns — sister cities

Norrköping is twinned with:

• Esslingen, Germany
• Klaksvík, Faroe Islands
• Kópavogur, Iceland
• Linz, Austria
• Odense, Denmark
• Riga, Latvia
• Tampere, Finland
• Trondheim, Norway

External links

• Norrköping - Official site
• Norrköping Tourism
• nkpg.nu Local event guide for Norrköping