Halmstad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Halmstad
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 Halmstad
Location in Sweden Halland
Halmstad
Location in Sweden
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| Country | Sweden | |
| Province | Halland | |
| County | Halland County | |
| Municipality | Halmstad Municipality | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 37.99 km2 (14.67 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) | |
| Population
(31 December 2020)
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| • Total | 71,422 | |
| • Density | 1,880.02/km2 (4,869.2/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
30x xx
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| Area code(s) | (+46) 35 | |
Halmstad is a lively city on Sweden's west coast. It sits right where the Nissan river meets the sea. This city is a busy port, a place for learning with its university, and a fun spot for recreation.
Halmstad is the main town of Halmstad Municipality. It is also the capital of Halland County. In 2020, about 71,422 people lived in the city. Halmstad is the 19th largest city in Sweden. It is located between Gothenburg and Malmö, two other big Swedish cities.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Halmstad's History
Halmstad first became a city in 1307. At that time, it was part of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 2007, the city celebrated its 700th birthday!
The oldest parts of the first town are found upstream on the Nissan river. You can still see parts of an old church there today. In the 1320s, the town moved to where it is now. During the 15th century, the beautiful St. Nikolai church was built.
Halland, the area where Halmstad is, saw many battles. Swedish troops often fought for control of this region.
The Kalmar Union and Fortifications
From 1397 to 1523, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark were united. This was called the Kalmar Union. Halmstad was an important meeting place during this time. It was here that the king of the Union was chosen.
At the end of the 1500s, King Christian IV of Denmark ordered Halmstad to be made stronger. In the early 1600s, a crescent-shaped fort was built. The Nissan river became part of its defenses.
Key Events in the 1600s
The year 1619 was very important for Halmstad. In March, King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden and King Christian IV met at the castle. They celebrated a payment that had been made between their countries. Later that year, a big fire destroyed much of Halmstad.
In 1645, Halland became part of Sweden for 30 years. This happened after a peace agreement called the Treaty of Brömsebro. In 1658, the Treaty of Roskilde made this change permanent. Sweden won a battle against Denmark near Halmstad in 1676. Two years later, a big meeting of the Swedish parliament was held in Halmstad.
Modernizing the City
In 1734, it was decided that the city's old forts should be taken down. Some parts of these old defenses still remain, like Norre Port. This was one of the city's four main gates. For a while, the old fort areas were even used to grow tobacco!
Halmstad began to grow with new industries. The first major factory, Wallbergs Factory AB, opened in 1823. Breweries like Appeltofftska (now Krönleins) started in 1836. Other companies like AB Malcus Holmquist and Nordiskafilt AB also began in the early 1900s.
The city's port was greatly improved between 1837 and 1840. In 1850, a steamship company started in Halmstad. It offered trips between Gothenburg and Copenhagen. The first railway line, connecting Halmstad to Värnamo, opened in 1877.
Halmstad continued to grow rapidly in the late 1800s. The city's population increased from 12,000 to 15,000 people in just ten years. Many people moved to Halmstad for work.
The first workers' union in Halmstad was formed in 1885. In 1897, the first May Day demonstration in Sweden took place here. Halmstad became the central town of its municipality in 1971. Its population has continued to grow steadily since then.
Halmstad's Climate
Halmstad has a climate typical for southern Scandinavia. It has warm summers and winters that are often around freezing point. It tends to be quite rainy throughout the year.
Learning in Halmstad
Halmstad offers many schools for young people.
Primary Schools
- Brunnsåkersskolan
- Centrumskolan
- Frennarps Byskola
- Furulundsskolan
- Linehedsskolan
- Nyhemsskolan
- Slottsjordsskolan
- Sofiebergsskolan
- Stenstorpsskolan
- Östergårdsskolan
Secondary Schools
- Kattegattgymnasiet
- Sturegymnasiet
- Sannarpsgymnasiet
Halmstad University
Halmstad University was founded in 1983. It is a public university where students can earn bachelor's and master's degrees. The university also offers advanced Ph.D. programs. These programs focus on areas like Information Technology and Health Science. In 2013, over 9,000 students attended Halmstad University. This included many students from other countries.
Getting Around Halmstad
Halmstad is an important hub for travel. It is located on the West Coast Line for trains. It is also the start of the Halmstad-Nässjö railway line.
You can catch regional trains from Halmstad to cities like Gothenburg and Copenhagen. There are also high-speed trains to Stockholm.
For road travel, Halmstad is the starting point for national roads 25 and 26. It is also located along the major E6/E20 motorways.
Sports and Fun in Halmstad
Halmstad is a great place for sports and big events!
Hosting Major Events
In September 2007, Halmstad hosted the 2007 Solheim Cup. This is a big golf tournament. It was played at the Halmstad Golfklubb. In 2011, Halmstad was the final stop for the Tall Ships' Races. This is a famous sailing event with many large ships. The city also hosted the 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships.
Local Sports Teams
Halmstad has many local sports teams for different interests:
- American Football: Halmstad Eagles
- Association Football (Soccer):
- Halmstads BK
- IS Halmia
- Alets IK
- BK Astrio
- IF Centern
- IF Leikin
- Snöstorp/Nyhem FF
- IS Örnia
- Badminton: Halmstad Badmintonklubb
- Bowling: BK 91:an Halmstad, BK Hallandia, BK Nyhem, BK Pantern, BK Safir, BS Tylön, Halmia BS, IF Tre Hjärtan, Team Halmstad BF
- Dancing: Laxbuggarna
- Fencing: Halmstads Fäktsällskap
- Figure Skating: Halmstads konståkningsklubb
- Golf: Halmstad GK, Bäckavattnets GK, Garnisonen GK, Holms GK, Ringenäs GK, Haverdals GK
- Gymnastics: Halmstad Frigymnaster, Halmstad Kvinnliga GF, Halmstad Rytmiska GF, Nissaflickorna
- Ice Hockey: Halmstad Hammers HC, Halmstad Ungdom HC, Sannarps HC
- Swimming: SK Laxen
- Table Tennis: Halmstad BTK
- Team Handball: HK Drott, Halmstads HP
- Tennis: Söndrums TK
- Track & Field: IFK Halmstad
- Cricket: Halmstad Cricket club
Notable Residents
- Luai Ahmed (born 1993), a journalist and writer from Sweden.
See also
In Spanish: Halmstad para niños
