xNordfyn Municipality is a municipality (Danish: kommune) in Region of Southern Denmark on the north coast of the island of Funen in central Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 452.30 km2 and has a total population of 29,549 (2021). It borders Odense Municipality to the east and south, Assens Municipality to the south and Middelfart Municipality to the west. To the east, Odense Fjord separates Nordfyn Municipality and Kerteminde Municipality. The mayor of the municipality is Morten Andersen, a member of the Venstre political party. The seat of the municipality is the town of Bogense.
The municipality includes the inhabited islands of Æbelø, as well as the uninhabited islands and islets of Dræet, Ejlinge, Vigelsø, Skalø, Dørholm, Pludderholm, Gersø, Kyholm, Leammer, Trindelen, Ægholm, Drættegrund, Drætlingen, Lindholm and the islet group of Mågeøerne.
The municipality was formed in 2007 as a result of the 2007 Municipal Reform, where the municipalities of Bogense, Otterup and Søndersø were merged. It was originally planned that the new municipality should have used the existing name of Bogense Municipality but a local referendum preferred the name Nordfyn and this decision was approved by the Danish Interior Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, in June 2006.
History
Bogense was established as a mercantile center around 1200, built around a ferry dock with access to Klakring in Jutland. The first merchant privileges were given to Bogense in the later half of the 1200s, though it may have received them even earlier. The ferry service was an important industry, as was their exports of grain and cattle. The town grew to a large and wealthy town, but a fire in 1575 burnt down most of the town. The town began shrinking and became the smallest market town on Fyn. In 1672 only 438 people lived in Bogense. After the 1800s the town slowly recovered, though the ferry service was completely shut down in 1854. The town got a railway connection to Odense in 1882, and the harbour was expanded several times throughout the years.
The area around Bogense were part of the hundreds called Skovby Hundred. The rest of the modern territory of Nordfyn Municipality were part of the hundreds of Lunde and Skam. Until 1662 Skovby Hundred was a part of Rugård Fief while Lunde and Skam were part of Odensegård Fief. In 1662, Denmark’s administrative divisions were changed. Fiefs (Danish: Len) were dissolved and the country split into counties. Rugård Fief became Rugård County and Odensegård Fief became Odensegård County. These counties merged with Assens County and Hindsgavl County in 1793 to form Odense County. This county lasted until 1970 when it merged with Svendborg County to form Funen County. In the 2007 Municipal Reform, the counties were dissolved and regions implemented. All of Funen County came under the Region of Southern Denmark.
The hundreds, market towns and birks were dissolved in the municipal reform of 1970 and split Denmark into 277 municipalities. Bogense Municipality was formed by merging five parish municipalities and Bogense Market Town Municipality. Otterup Municipality was formed by merging nine parish municipalities and Søndersø Municipality was formed by merging seven parish municipalities. In the 2007 Municipal Reform, the three municipalities of Bogense, Otterup and Søndersø merged to form Nordfyn Municipality.
Historical divisions
The table below shows the historical municipal subdivisions of Nordfyn Municipality.
| Historical municipal divisions of Nordfyn Municipality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1970 | 1966 | 1925 | 1921 | 1869 | 1842 | 1838 | 1200 | Towns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nordfyn Mun. | Bogense Mun. | Bogense Parish Mun. | Bogense Market Town Mun. | Bogense Market Town | Bogense | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ore Parish Mun. | Ore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skovby Parish Mun. | Skovby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guldbjerg-Nørre Sandager Parish Mun. | Gyldensteen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Klinte Parish Mun. | Klinte-Grindløse Parish Mun. | Nørreby | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grindløse Parish Mun. | Grindløse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Otterup Mun. | Otterup Parish Mun. | Otterup Parish Mun. | Skeby-Otterup Parish Mun. | Otterup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skeby Parish Mun. | Hessum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Norup Parish Mun. | Hasmark | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Krogsbølle Parish Mun. | Krogsbølle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Østrup Parish Mun. | Østrup-Hjadstrup Parish Mun. | Østrup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hjadstrup Parish Mun. | Kappendrup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nørre Nærå-Bederslev Parish Mun. | Bederslev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Uggerslev-Nørre Højrup Parish Mun. | Uggerslev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lunde Parish Mun. | Lunde | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Søndersø Mun. | Søndersø Parish Mun. | Hårslev Parish Mun. | Hårslev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Veflinge Parish Mun. | Veflinge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vigerslev Parish Mun. | Morud | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bredbjerg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Søndersø Parish Mun. | Søndersø | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skamby Parish Mun. | Skamby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ejlby-Melby Parish Mun. | Ejlby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Særslev Parish Mun. | Særslev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Towns
The harbours in Bogense.
Below are all settlements in the municipality with populations of at least 200 people (populations as of 2021).
| Otterup | 5,227 |
| Bogense | 3,976 |
| Søndersø | 3,319 |
| Morud | 1,828 |
| Veflinge | 858 |
| Særslev | 745 |
| Skamby | 437 |
| Uggerslev | 365 |
| Hårslev | 361 |
| Lunde | 331 |
| Kappendrup | 280 |
| Østrup | 266 |
| Bredbjerg | 224 |
Bogense
Bogense is located on the northern coast of Fyn, 24 km north-west of Odense. It is the seat of the municipality, although not the municipality’s largest settlement. In the southern part of the town is an industrial quarter. Centrally in the town is a camping ground Bogense Strand Camping, which serves as a popular tourist spot in the summer months with approximately 230 camping spots.
The town has two harbours: Bogense Harbour and Marina (Danish: Bogense Havn og Marina) and Bogense Fishery Harbour (Danish: Bogense Fiskerihavn). Around the two harbours are many facilities, such as cafés, restaurants, workshops and fish shops.
Located centrally in Bogense is a replica statue of Manneken Pis. It is occasionally dressed up in clothes. Also located in Bogense are Nordfyn Museum and Bogense Church. Dansk Sprognævn is located in Bogense.
Otterup
Otterup Rifle Factory.
Otterup is located in the eastern part of the municipality, approximately 10 km north of Odense. It is the largest settlement in the municipality, measured by population. Located centrally in the town are speciality shops and several facilities, including a library and a museum. In the southern part of town is an industrial quarter, as well as several market gardens.
Sights in Otterup include Otterup Church, Otterup Museum and Otterup Rifle Factory (Danish: Otterup Geværfabrik). The rifle factory today houses art exhibitions, having shut down rifle manufacturing in 1994.
Søndersø
Søndersø is located in the southern part of the municipality, 10 km south-west of Otterup, 13 km south-east of Bogense and 10 km north-west of Odense. Located in the southern part of the town is an industrial quarter that it home to the Danish factories of Orkla, including KiMs. Also located in the industrial quarter are companies specializing in plastic and metals.
Dallund Castle is located near Søndersø. Søndersø Church is located in Søndersø.
Villages
Bisons at Ditlevsdal Bison Farm in Morud.
With few large towns in the municipality, 35-40% of the citizens of Nordfyn Municipality live in smaller settlements, villages and rural areas. Many villages and small settlements have local councils that handle local matters.
Located at the northern border of Morud is the Ditlevsdal Bison Farm, the largest bison farm in Europe. It is open for activities with the bisons, and also sell the meat of the farm’s bisons.
In the small settlement of Hindevad, located in the southern part of the municipality, is the Kongsdal Open Gardens (Danish: Kongsdal Åben Have). It is an open garden, spanning 20,000 m2, with many different flowers, exotic plants and trees.
Beldringe is located on the south-eastern border of the municipality, next to the Hans Christian Andersen Airport. By the airport is a museum about the Nazi occupation of Denmark during World War II, with the museum specifically focussing on Fyn during the occupation.
In addition to these villages, there are a number of smaller settlements in the municipality. These are all the settlements with populations of less than 200 people:
| Abildro |
| Agernæs |
| Alléhuse |
| Almindehuse |
| Andebøllemose |
| Askeby |
| Ballemose |
| Banggårde |
| Bare Brøndstrup |
| Bastrup |
| Bederslev |
| Beldringe |
| Bjerrumhuse |
| Bladstrup |
| Blæsbjerg |
| Bogø Huse |
| Bolmerod |
| Brageland |
| Brandsby |
| Bredstrup |
| Bregnebjerg |
| Brøndstrup Huse |
| Burskov Huse |
| Bækkegårde |
| Bårdesø |
| Bårdesø Strand |
| Egeby |
| Egense |
| Egensemark |
| Ejlby |
| Ejlby Lunde |
| Ejlinge |
| Ejlskov |
| Elverod |
| Emmelev |
| Enemærket |
| Engeldrup |
| Eskilstrup |
| Farbjerg |
| Farsbølle |
| Farstrup |
| Farstrup Hede |
| Fjederløkken |
| Fjællebro Huse |
| Flintebjerg |
| Flodmålene |
| Fogense |
| Fremmelev |
| Fælleden |
| Gamby |
| Gerskov |
| Gersø Huse |
| Glavendrup |
| Grevelshøj |
| Grindløse |
| Grydhøj |
| Grønløkke |
| Gudskov |
| Guldbjerg |
| Guleløkke |
| Gundstrup |
| Gungerne |
| Gyldensteen |
| Gyngstrup |
| Gyrup |
| Hals Huse |
| Harritslev |
| Hasmark |
| Hasmark Bomose |
| Hasmark Strand |
| Hedeboerne |
| Heden |
| Hessum |
| Himmelstrup |
| Hindevad |
| Hjadstrup |
| Hjortebjerg Huse |
| Holemarken |
| Holmene |
| Horsebækgyde |
| Hugget |
| Høved |
| Høvedskov |
| Jersore |
| Jullerup |
| Jullerup Enghave |
| Jørgensø |
| Jørgensø Strand |
| Kalvehave |
| Kattebjerg |
| Kelleby |
| Kelstrupskov |
| Kildehave |
| Kile |
| Kile Mosehuse |
| Klemstrup |
| Klinte |
| Klintebjerg |
| Kolshave |
| Koløkke |
| Kom-igen |
| Korshøj |
| Kosterslev |
| Krogsbølle |
| Kronborg |
| Kronsbjerg |
| Kræmmerkrog |
| Kvindevad Gyden |
| Kærby |
| Købeskov |
| Labølle |
| Lammesø |
| Langager |
| Langehede Huse |
| Lillebro Huse |
| Lillemose |
| Lindebjerg |
| Lindø |
| Lisbjerg |
| Lunde-Dalskov |
| Lundeshuse |
| Lundsbjerg |
| Løkkemarken |
| Lådne Brøndstrup |
| Låge |
| Maderup |
| Maderupskov |
| Marbæk |
| Mejlskov |
| Melby |
| Melby Ender |
| Moderup |
| Mosehuse |
| Møllegyde |
| Møllerled |
| Nellerud |
| Nellerud Brohuse |
| Nordskov |
| Norup |
| Noruphøje |
| Nymark |
| Nørre Esterbølle |
| Nørre Højrup |
| Nørre Nærå |
| Nørreby |
| Nørreby Hals |
| Nørreløkke |
| Ore |
| Paddesø |
| Profitten |
| Præstehuse |
| Pugholm |
| Pythuse |
| Reveldrup |
| Ringe |
| Roerslev |
| Rosenlund |
| Rosenvænget |
| Rostrup |
| Rue |
| Rue Hede |
| Rue Lundsgårde |
| Rækkehuse |
| Sasserod |
| Sasserod Kohave |
| Serup |
| Siveagre |
| Skeby |
| Skeldam |
| Skovby |
| Skovby Nymark |
| Skovby Sand |
| Skovhuse |
| Skovsgårde |
| Skæregårde |
| Skårup |
| Skåstrup |
| Slagstrup |
| Slevstrup |
| Smidstrup |
| Stavelsager |
| Stensby |
| Stillebæk |
| Stormose |
| Strandager |
| Svendstrup |
| Særslev Hede |
| Sømark |
| Sønder Esterbølle |
| Sønderby |
| Søndersø Skovhuse |
| Tevringe |
| Toderup |