page_title: Nykøbing Sjælland
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Nykøbing Sjælland / History
caption_attribution_description: Dansk: Kort over Holbæk Amt English: Map of Holbæk County in Denmark
context_page_description: Nykøbing Sjælland is a town in Denmark, located in northern Odsherred on the island of Zealand. Located on the Isefjord, it has a population of 5,095. It is located in Odsherred municipality which is part of Region Sjælland. The town is a popular seaside resort.
context_section_description: Nykøbing Sjælland is one of the oldest market towns in Zealand, first mentioned in the last part of the 13th century, although the local church dates from the first half of the 13th century. The town was destroyed by followers of Marsk Stig in 1290, and it has since been swept by several fires. The town and surrounding land was pawned by the crown to the Diocese of Roskilde in 1370 but was redeemed by Queen Margaret I. In the Middle Ages, the town was known for its harbour and its role in herring fishing. It received a charter in 1443, after which commerce replaced fishing as the main occupation. A school teaching in Latin was established in 1590, and replaced by a school which taught in Danish by 1740. At this time, the population was a mere 350, making it one of Zealand's smallest towns.
  The local courthouse was erected in 1868 on Holtets Plads near the church. This building also served as a city hall and prison. It has been a protected structure since 1991 and is now the home of Restaurant Madkunsten.
  In 1915 the Hospital for the Insane (in Danish "Sindsygehospitalet") was opened in Nykøbing Sjælland. After changing the name several times, the final name, The Psychiatric Hospital in Nykøbing Sjælland, was given in 2000. In addition being a general Psychiatric hospital it also contains Denmark's first (founded 4 November 1915) and to date only closed psychiatric ward (Sikringen) for the criminally insane and particular dangerous psychotic patients. Psychiatric Hospital had its own Chapel and cemetery, both now part of the Nykøbing Sj. Psychiatric Museum, known as "The Brainless Cemetery".
caption: Historic map of Nykøbing Sjælland, c. 1900.
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