Roskilde facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Roskilde

Town

Roskilde Cathedral

Seal	Coat of arms

Roskilde

Location in Denmark

Roskilde

Location in Denmark Region Zealand

Country

Denmark

Region

Zealand (Sjælland)

Municipality

Roskilde

Established

980s

Area

• Urban

21.2 km² (8.2 sq mi)

Population

(1 January 2024)

• Urban

52,974

• Urban density

2,499/km² (6,472/sq mi)

• Gender

25,591 males and 27,383 females

Demonym(s)

Roskildenser

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postal code

DK-4000 Roskilde

Website

www.roskilde.dk

Roskilde is a city in Denmark, located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of Copenhagen on the island of Zealand. It's a busy place for business and education, with a population of over 52,000 people as of 2024. This makes it the 10th largest city in Denmark.

Roskilde has a very long and interesting history, going back to the Viking Age. Its famous Roskilde Cathedral, a Gothic church, was finished in 1275. This cathedral is special because it holds the tombs of 39 Danish kings and queens.

Today, Roskilde is a hub for travel, especially by train. It also has important companies like BEC (an IT firm) and DLF (a seed company). The Risø research center is also a big employer, focusing on green energy. The city is home to Roskilde University, the historic Roskilde Cathedral School, and the Danish Meat Trade College. Roskilde also has a large hospital that has been growing since 1855.

Many visitors come to Roskilde each year to see the cathedral and the Viking Ship Museum. The museum displays five well-preserved Viking ships from the 11th century. Roskilde is also popular for shopping, with two main streets full of shops and restaurants. The city has its own football team, FC Roskilde, a rugby club, and a rowing club.

History of Roskilde

Roskilde is one of Denmark's oldest cities. It grew from a Viking trading center over a thousand years ago. From the 11th century until 1443, it was even the capital of Denmark! During the Middle Ages, it became a very important city in Scandinavia, supported by kings and bishops.

The name Roskilde might come from the legendary King Roar, who may have lived there in the 6th century. It means 'Ro's spring'.

According to old stories, Harald Bluetooth founded Roskilde in the 980s. He built a wooden church and a royal home. In 1020, King Canute made Roskilde a bishopric, which gave it high status. Later, Bishop Absalon had a brick church built in 1170, which eventually became the grand cathedral we see today.

By the time of the Danish Reformation in 1536, Roskilde had 12 churches and five monasteries. However, the Reformation stopped the city's growth. Most religious buildings disappeared, though the cathedral remained the burial place for Danish monarchs.

For the next 300 years, Roskilde faced many challenges. These included wars, the plague in 1710-1711, and several fires in the 1730s. Things started to get better in 1847 when the railway connected Roskilde to Copenhagen.

With the railway, Roskilde became an important link to Copenhagen. In the late 1800s, the harbor grew, bringing in factories for tobacco, iron, and machines. In the 1970s, the city benefited from a new motorway to Copenhagen and the opening of Roskilde University. Since the 1980s, service jobs have become the main type of work, replacing manufacturing.

Geography of Roskilde

Roskilde is in the middle of Zealand, at the southern end of Roskilde Fjord. This fjord is a part of the larger Isefjord. By road, Roskilde is about 35.6 kilometers (22 miles) west of downtown Copenhagen.

The city center, around the cathedral, is about 40 meters (130 feet) above sea level. It's about 1300 meters (0.8 miles) south of the fjord. There are several natural springs on the slope leading down to the harbor. The historic part of town includes the main streets Skomagergade and Algade, and the squares Stændertorvet and Hestetorvet.

Two parks, Byparken and Folkeparken, are just north of the old town and stretch down towards the fjord.

Nearby areas include Himmelev, Hyrdehøj, Musicon, Sankt Jørgensbjerg, and Trekroner. Boserup Skov, a forest next to Roskilde Fjord, is about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) northwest of the city center. It's mostly beech trees and is beautiful in spring with wild flowers. You can hear many songbirds there in early summer.

People and Government

Roskilde Municipality (Q32014)
Country of birth	Population
Denmark	76,545
Turkey	1,724
Iraq	463
Poland	437
Afghanistan	411
China	361
Lebanon	342
Germany	338
Iran	227
Norway	196
United Kingdom	192
Sweden	184

In 1070, Roskilde was already called "Zealand's largest town." In 1536, it had about 6,000 people. But wars, fires, and diseases caused the population to drop to only 1,550 by 1753. By the 1900s, it grew to about 9,000. By 1970, there were almost 45,000 people. The population has continued to grow, reaching over 47,000 by 2014. This makes Roskilde Denmark's tenth largest city.

Roskilde is governed by the local council of Roskilde Municipality. The mayor is Joy Mogensen from the Social Democrat party.

Roskilde's Economy

In the 1890s, much of Roskilde's economy was based on crafts and manufacturing. Today, most jobs are in the service sector, like IT and healthcare.

Companies in Roskilde

One of the biggest employers in Roskilde is BEC (Bankernes EDB Central), which provides IT services for banks. Sonion, a company that makes tiny parts for hearing aids, is also here. Top-Toy A/S, a large toy importer, is based near Roskilde Airport. DLF-Trifolium A/S, a company that produces seeds for farms, has its main office in Roskilde.

Other companies include GPI (Glim Plastic Industri), which makes plastic pipes, and Roskilde Galvanisering A/S, a leading company for galvanizing metals. Vestergaard Company A/S, an American firm that makes de-icing equipment for planes, has offices in Roskilde. The new Musicon area has attracted many businesses in culture and creative arts, creating over 1,000 jobs.

Several food companies are also in Roskilde, such as Chr. Hansen A/S (dairy cultures), DanÆg (eggs), and Stryhns (meat paste).

Research and Innovation

Roskilde is home to several research centers. Risø, which is now part of The Technical University of Denmark, focuses on sustainable energy. This research facility is growing and aims to create many new jobs in clean technology. The CAT (Center for Avanceret Teknologi) research park also works on wind energy and biotechnology.

Tourism in Roskilde

Tourism is a big part of Roskilde's economy, bringing in a lot of money each year. The cathedral and the Viking Ship Museum attract over 100,000 visitors annually.

Roskilde is also known as a great place for shopping. In 2012, it won Denmark's Best Shopping City Award. You can find many shops and restaurants on its two main pedestrian streets, Algade and Skomagergade. There's also a large shopping center called RO's Torv with 70 stores.

Roskilde has many nice places to eat and stay. The Raadhuskælderen restaurant is in a building from 1430! There are also hotels like Hotel Prindsen, which has been a hotel for over 100 years, and Scandic Hotel Roskilde.

City Layout

Roskilde viewed from the west

The old part of Roskilde is centered around the main square, Stændertorvet, just south of the cathedral. The original street layout is still there in streets like Skomagergade and Algade. However, most buildings were rebuilt after big fires in the 1700s. North of the old town are two large parks, Byparken and Folkeparken, which go down to Roskilde Fjord.

South of the old town, you'll find the railway and main station, with commercial buildings and apartments beyond them. Residential areas like Himmelev and Veddelev have grown around older villages. Further east, near Roskilde University, the Trekroner district is developing with many new houses.

Sankt Jørgensbjerg, one of the city's most exclusive areas, is a hilly neighborhood to the northwest, by the fjord. It was once a fishing village from the Viking era.

Roskilde Municipality is also developing the Musicon area, a creative quarter south of the city. This area, where a cement factory used to be, now hosts creative businesses and housing for young people. A large rock music museum called "Ragnarock" opened there in 2016.

Famous Landmarks

Roskilde Cathedral

Roskilde Cathedral

The Roskilde Cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th centuries on the site of an older wooden church. It was the first Gothic cathedral in Scandinavia made of brick, and this style then spread across northern Europe. It is still the burial place for Danish kings and queens, with 39 royal tombs. Since 1995, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting many tourists each year. The cathedral also has a museum and hosts concerts.

Roskilde Palace

Next to the cathedral is Roskilde Palace, built between 1733 and 1736. It was used by the royal family when they visited the city or attended funerals. Today, it is home to the Museum of Contemporary Art. During the English siege of Copenhagen in 1807, it was used as the headquarters for General Wellesley, who later became the Duke of Wellington.

Roskilde Convent

Roskilde Convent

Roskilde Convent is on the site of an old monastery from the 1200s. After the Danish Reformation, it became a private home, and then in 1699, it became a convent for women of high social standing. This was the first of its kind in Denmark. The building now has a collection of 150 paintings and old furniture.

Roskilde Museum

The Sugar House

Roskilde Museum tells the history of the local area. Its main building is in two historic buildings: Sukkerhuset (the Sugar House) and Liebes Gård (Liebe House). The Sugar House was once a sugar refinery. The museum shows exhibits from ancient times, through the Viking Age and Middle Ages, up to modern times. There's also a separate Museum of Tools that shows tools used by craftsmen from about 1850 to 1950.

Viking Ship Museum

Viking Ship Museum

A very popular attraction is the Viking Ship Museum (Vikingeskibsmuseet) by Roskilde Fjord. The museum's main treasures are the well-preserved remains of five 11th-century Viking ships. These ships were found in the fjord in the late 1960s. They were sunk there long ago to block a channel, protecting the city from attacks by sea. The museum also studies how Vikings built ships and how well they sailed. You can even see full-size Viking ships being built at the museum's boatyard.

Ragnarock Museum

The Ragnarock museum opened in April 2016. It is a museum for pop, rock, and youth culture. The museum shows and shares information about youth culture and rock music from the 1950s until today. It aims to help people from different backgrounds connect through music.

Roskilde Jars

The three huge Roskilde Jars (Roskildekrukkerne) are outside the main railway station. They are 5 meters (16 feet) tall and weigh about 24 tons together. These jars were made by Danish artist Peter Brandes and given to the city in 1998 to celebrate Roskilde's 1,000th anniversary.

Roskilde Festival

Roskilde Festival (2012)

The Roskilde Festival is a huge rock music festival held every year south of the city center. It started in 1971 and has become one of the biggest music festivals in Scandinavia, with about 80,000 people attending each year. It features many types of music, including rock, metal, hip-hop, and electronic music. All the money made from the festival goes to charities.

Education and Sport

Education

Roskilde University

Roskilde University (Danish: Roskilde Universitet, RUC) was founded in 1972. It is on the eastern edge of Roskilde. Many students from around the world study here. In 2013, the university had about 7,600 students.

Roskilde Cathedral School is possibly the oldest school in Denmark, started around 1020 to train priests. Today, it's a large school with over 1,300 students. The Danish Meat Trade College (Slagteriskolen), founded in 1964, teaches skills in meat processing, butchering, and cooking.

Sport

Roskilde Congress & Sports Centre

Roskilde has its own football club, FC Roskilde, which plays in Denmark's second-highest league. Their home stadium can hold 6,000 people. The city also has a rugby club, Roskilde Vikings RK, and a successful rowing club, Roskilde Roklub. The Roskilde Congress & Sports Centre hosts many sports events.

From 1960 to 1968, Roskilde had a motor racing track called the Roskilde Ring. It was built in an old gravel pit. The track was unusual because it had no straight sections, and all the corners were banked. Today, the site is a park.

Transportation

Roskilde railway station today

Roskilde is served by the Roskilde railway station. It's a main hub connecting western and southern Zealand, and other islands, to Copenhagen. Roskilde Station is the oldest railway station in Denmark that is still in use. The first train arrived from Copenhagen on June 26, 1847.

The main road through Roskilde is Danish national road 21, also known as Holbæk Motorway, which connects the city to Copenhagen.

The main airport for Roskilde is Copenhagen Airport. There is also a smaller local airport, Roskilde Airport, which opened in 1973. It mainly serves small planes for training and business. There are plans to make it bigger for larger aircraft. The airport also has a small Royal Danish Air Force group that provides helicopter search-and-rescue services.

Healthcare

The main hospital in Roskilde is Roskilde Sygehus, founded in 1855. It has been updated many times and has many specialized departments. The hospital works with Roskilde University on medical research.

Sankt Hans Hospital is a psychiatric hospital in Roskilde. It has a long history, starting in 1620. Today, it offers special care for mental health needs.

Notable People from Roskilde

Roskilde has been home to many interesting people over the years.

Business

Peter Heering (1792–1875), who started the famous cherry liqueur company.
Arnold Busck (1871–1953), a well-known bookseller and publisher.
Winnie Liljeborg, a co-founder of Pandora AS, the jewelry company.

Culture

L. A. Ring (1854–1933), a famous painter.
Lise Nørgaard (1917-2023), a writer known for her humorous stories about Danish life.
Thure Lindhardt (born 1974), an actor who grew up in Roskilde.
Natasha Thomas (born 1986), a pop singer-songwriter.

Sport

Oskar Nørland (1882–1941), a footballer who won two silver medals at the Olympics.
Tage Henriksen (1925–2016), a rower who won a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics.
Thomas Ebert (born 1973), a rower who won Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008.
Jan Magnussen (born 1973), a racing driver who used to race in F1.
Kevin Magnussen (born 1992), another racing driver, currently competing in Formula 1.