Hundested (Zealand Island Denmark)

Hundested is a port town on Zealand Island (at the tip of Halsnaes Peninsula) in eastern Denmark (Hovedstaden Region) with population around 9,000. Zealand (Sealand/Sjaelland) is the country's largest and most populous island (excluding the remote from the mainland-Denmark Greenland and Disko Island), with land area 7031 km2 (2715 mi2) and population around 2,32 million. The island's highest elevation point (Kobanke) is 123 m (403 ft) above sea level.

The settlement was founded as a fishing village in the 16th century, first mentioned (as Hundested) in the late-17th-century and registered in 1844. Hundested started to develop as Zealand's largest fishing port in the 19th century, following the construction of Laemolen (the breakwater, in 1862) and Lynaes Harbour (1872). In 1916 was opened the railway connection between Hundested and Hillerod (part of Nordbanen/North Line - one of the 6 radial S-train lines (urban-suburban trains) connecting Copenhagen's downtown with its northern suburbs and Zealand (Hillerod, Birkerod, Allerod).

Since 1927, regularly scheduled daily ferries connect to Rorvig Havn (similarly sounds Rorvik Norway). Between 1934-1996, daily ferries also linked Hundested with Grenaa (seaport on Jutland Peninsula/mainland-Denmark). The Hundested-Rorvig ferry travel takes 25 minutes. The service is provided by the company Hundested-Rorvig Faergefart AS.

Hundested Havn's main businesses were commercial fishing (homeporting the fleet, also fish auctions), coal import, food processing (canned food factory), fishing boat engine manufacturing (Hundested Motor Factory). The Port further expanded in the 20th century by building new facilities - ferry terminal (1967), cargo terminal (1987), container terminal (1995).

Hundested's current-day economy is largely based on tourism - with arts-and-crafts-themed activities, art galleries, workshops, annual events Beddingen (handicrafts market, in June) and Sand Sculpture Festival (in May). Port Hundested is a member of the "Cruise Copenhagen Network" (1992-founded port- and destination-marketing organization promoting the Danish cruise industry). As cruise port, Hundested is visited by smaller-sized vessels, including from the fleets of Saga UK, Fred Olsen, Phoenix Reisen.

The town is also a popular destination for leisure boating, sports fishing, yachting. The boats are docked/moored at Hundested Harbour (in downtown) and Lynaes Harbour (to the south, near the entryway into the Roskilde Fjord/branch Isefjord).