Ribe

Ribe () is a town in south-west Jutland, Denmark, with a population of 8,367 (2025). It is the seat of the Diocese of Ribe. Until 1 January 2007, Ribe was the seat of both a surrounding municipality and county. It is now part of the enlarged Esbjerg Municipality in the Region of Southern Denmark. It is the oldest town in Denmark.

Key facts

Settlement.official_name: Ribe
Settlement.settlement_type: Town
Settlement.image_skyline: RibeVue.jpg
Settlement.image_caption: Ribe seen from Riberhus
Settlement.image_shield: Coat of arms of Ribe.svg
Settlement.pushpin_map: Denmark#Denmark Region of Southern Denmark
Settlement.pushpin_label_position: bottom
Settlement.pushpin_map_caption: Location in Denmark
Settlement.subdivision_type: Country
Settlement.subdivision_name: Denmark
Settlement.subdivision_type1: Region
Settlement.subdivision_name1: Southern Denmark (Syddanmark)
Settlement.subdivision_type2: Municipality
Settlement.subdivision_name2: Esbjerg
Settlement.area_urban_km2: 7.4
Settlement.population_as_of: 2025
Settlement.population_urban: 8,367
Settlement.population_density_urban_km2: auto

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Population: 8051
Elevation: 5
Image: Ribe - udsigt mod øst.jpg

Show 8 more facts

Commons gallery: Ribe
Commons category: Ribe
postal code: 6760
streaming media URL: balticlivecam.com/cameras/denmark/ribe/ribe-embankment
native label: Ribe
time of earliest written record: 0860-00-00
inception: 0800-00-00
P8168: Q153560

Sources (5)

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Article

16 sections

Contents

History
Demographics
Notable sites
Education
Schools
Transport
Notable people
The arts
Politicians, clergy, and officials
Science and business
Sport
Twin cities and towns
See also
References
Sources
External links

==History== thumb|Street in Ribe The town was a center of commercial activity in the early 8th century, and this may have been where the riches in Denmark originated, including with royal influence. Coins may have been struck there in 720. Whichever king was involved in the digging of the Kanhave Canal may have been involved in the establishment of Ribe also. Trade contacts were mostly with Frisia and England. Of the over 300 sceatas found in Denmark, 216 come from in or around Ribe, most of them were of the Frisian Wodan type, and these were likely minted in Ribe in the early eighth century. The Ancient Diocese of Ribe was established in 948 with the consecration of Leofdag of Ribe as its first bishop.