Struer, Denmark
Struer is the main town of the kommune of Struer, Region Midtjylland, Denmark with a population of 9,893.
The town of Struer owes its growth to the railroad, which arrived in 1865 with Jutland's first railroad line from Århus/Randers over Viborg to Skive and Struer. Before its arrival Struer was a little town, that primarily functioned as a harbour for the residents of Holstebro; but after its arrival the town grew explosively into a big town, and eventually became one of Denmark's most important railway connection points. Although the station has been expanded several times, the central part of the wellmaintained building is one of Denmark's oldest stations. One of the oldest station buildings now house the administration and science labs of Struer statsgymnasium, one of the few Danish schools that offer the International Baccalaureate program.
Struer received privileged status as a merchant town in 1917.
Until the end of the 1960s Struer station served as the headquarters for the central West Jutland administration of DSB, Danske Statsbaner. More than 300 DSB employees still work in Struer today.
Bang & Olufsen, Denmark's only radio/TV manufacturer today, is the town's most important business, and they employ almost a third of the town's population. The business started in 1925 in Svend Olufsen's old family farm, Quistrup, just south of the town. At the Struer Museum, there is a new large exhibition, where old and new B&O products are displayed together with many pieces of famous Danish design furniture.
Notable people
- Svend Olufsen a Danish electrical engineer, co-founded Bang & Olufsen with Peter Bang
- Peter Bang a Danish engineer and entrepreneur
- Janne Mark a Danish vocalist and composer
- Alex Vanopslagh politician, brought up in Struer
Sport
- Harald Agger a hammer thrower, competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics
- Arne Høyer a sprint canoer, team bronze medallist at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Jens Jørgen Hansen a former footballer, 417 club caps for Esbjerg fB and 39 caps with Denmark
- Morten Andersen a Danish former American football kicker elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, raised in Struer
- Morten Dons a Danish racing driver currently competing in the European Le Mans Series
- Mikkel O. Pedersen, a Danish racing driver
Vessel
- Marilyn Anne is a three-masted schooner, sold to Sweden in 1938 and later to Denmark and in 1968 to an American owner when she was renamed Marilyn Anne. She was then sold to the Struer Municipality and in 1977 she became a training ship for disadvantaged Danish children