Aalborg (Denmark)

Aalborg is a North Sea port city in Denmark, located on Jutland Peninsula's north-eastern coast. By population (around 112,000) it is ranked the country's 4th largest - after Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense. By road, the city is approx 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Frederikshavn, approx 120 km (73 mi) north of Aarhus and approx 410 km (255 mi) northwest of Copenhagen (Denmark's capital).

Port Aalborg handles over 60% of Denmark's shipping trade with Greenland. The port has 4 harbours - Marina Fjordparken (closest to downtown), Skudehavnen (used mainly by fishing boats and Sejlklubben Limfjorden / sailing club), Vestre Badehavn (adjacent to Skudehavnen / ~1 km from downtown) and Ostre Havn (Eastern Harbor, residential and commercial district, site of the former Aalborg Shipyard). Private ports are Aalborg Portland (serving the cement plant) and Vattenfall (serving the power station).

The town was established in the early-11th century, making it one of Denmark's oldest. Its strategic location (at Limfjorden's narrowest point) made it an important harbor port which later developed into a major industrial centre. The town is best-known for its half-timbered houses. Aalborg's current economy is based mainly on export shipping (grain, cement, coal, feedstuffs, fertilizers, spirits, oil cargoes), green-energy sectors (including production of rotors for wind turbines), information technologies, health support systems. City's largest companies and employers are Siemens Wind Power (turbine rotors), Aalborg Industries (manufacturer of marine boilers, burners, heat exchangers, inert gas systems), Aalborg Portland (cement producer), Telenor Denmark (telecommunications), Danisco (Danish Distillers, owned by Arcus ASA / Norway's largest wholesaler of wine and liquor).

Tourism is another fast-growing industry, with an increasing number of overnight tourists. The city is served by Aalborg Airport (civilian/military) located in Norresundby, approx 7 km (4 mi) northwest of Aalborg. The airport serves domestic and international flights linking to Amsterdam, UK (London), Norway (Oslo), Spain (Barcelona, Malaga). Seasonal flights connect to Turkey (Antalya), Greece (Crete, Cyprus), Spain (Mallorca, Gran Canaria), Faroe Islands (Vagar), Sweden (Bornholm).

Among city's most popular landmarks are Budolfi Catedral (15th-century), Aalborg Kloster (15th-century monastery), Alborghus Slot (16th-century castle), Aalborg Historiske Museum (with Viking relics), marine museum, military museum, Kunsten Museum (modern art), zoo, large nature parks, Tivoliland (theme park).

2019 was Aalborg cruise port's record season with handled 35 ship calls and ~30,000 tourists. For 2020 were projected min 45 ship calls and ~36,000 tourists.

Aalborg cruise terminal