Bollnäs

Bollnäs
Bollnäs Missionskyrka
Bollnäs
Coordinates: 61°21′N 16°24′E
Country	Sweden
Province	Hälsingland
County	Gävleborg County
Municipality	Bollnäs Municipality
Area
• Total	12.87 km2 (4.97 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2010)
• Total	12,842
• Density	998/km2 (2,580/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Bollnäs is a locality and the seat of Bollnäs Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 12,842 inhabitants in 2010.

History

In written sources Bollnäs is traced from 1312, by a vicar named Ingemund who referred to it as Baldenaes, which means "the large isthmus," referring to the isthmus into a nearby lake.

Before becoming known as Bollnäs, its name was Bro By (lit. Bridge Village).

Bollnäs became a city in 1942, nowadays an honorary title without administrative significance. Bollnäs has a station along the Northern Railline (Norra Stambanan), which was connected to it in 1878. The town became a main base for further expanding the railroad northwards, and in 1884 it became a large primary maintenance and repair workshop for the railroad. The railroad was the largest employer of the town for the greater part of a century, up until the 1990s when it was finally closed down after being under threat of such for decades already because of its no longer optimal location.

Bollnäs is twinned with Shepton Mallet, England.

Sports

Bandy is the most popular sport. Bollnäs GIF play in the highest division Elitserien. In 2010 they reached the Swedish final for the 1st time since 1956. In 2011 they also reached the finals but lost in overtime after a controversial offside penalty.

Points of interest

Bollnäs church.

• Bollnäs church was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. One opening is known to have taken place November 3, 1468, probably concerning the church tower. Later alterations include the addition of the north and south transepts, built 1753-1755.

The church holds a larger collection of wooden medieval sculptures than any other parish church in the Nordic countries. Three of the altarpieces are major works of art from the late 15th century or early 16th century, including an altarpiece dedicated to Virgin Mary, made by Haaken Gulleson c. 1520. Also dating from late 15th century or early 16th century is the most valuable eucharistic chalice, with its paten.

Notable people

• Orienteering competitor Emma Engstrand (b. December 14, 1977) was born in, and grew up in, Bollnäs.
• Ice hockey player Anders Eriksson (b. January 9, 1975) was born in, and grew up in, Bollnäs.
• Jazz clarinetist Åke "Stan" Hasselgård (October 4, 1922 - November 23, 1948) grew up in Bollnäs, where his grave can be found.
• Former politician C H Hermansson was born in Bollnäs on December 14, 1917.
• Swimmer Anna-Karin Kammerling, grew up in Bollnäs.
• Finnish writer Timo K. Mukka (1944-1973) was born in Bollnäs, to which his family had been evacuated from the Lapland region during the Lapland War.
• Table tennis player Thomas von Scheele was born in Bollnäs on March 13, 1969.
• Super model Victoria Silvstedt, grew up in Bollnäs.
• Ski jumper Per-Inge Tällberg was born in Bollnäs on June 14, 1967.
• Ski jumper Staffan Tällberg was born in Bollnäs on April 17, 1970.
• Ski jumper Jan Boklöv lived in Bollnäs during the 1990s.
• Vocalist Charles Rytkönen was born in Bollnäs on December 3, 1968.
• LPGA Golfer Pernilla Lindberg was born, and grew up, in Bollnäs.

References

Bollnäs is one of 133 places with the historical city status in Sweden.