View source for Bornholm

{{Short description|Danish island}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{for-multi|the town in [[Western Australia]]|Bornholm, Western Australia|other uses}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Bornholm
| image_name       = Wybrzeże Bornholmu.JPG
| image_caption    = 
| image_size       = 
| image_flag       = 
| flag_alt         = 
| map_image        = Denmark location bornholm.svg
| map_caption      = 
| native_name      = 
| native_name_link = 
| nickname         = 
| location         = [[Baltic Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{Coord|55|8|N|14|55|E|scale:1000000_region:DK|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      = 
| total_islands    = 
| major_islands    = 
| area_km2         = 588.36 
| highest_mount    = [[Rytterknægten]]
| elevation_m      = 162
| country          = [[Denmark]]
| country_admin_divisions_title   = [[Regions of Denmark|Region]]
| country_admin_divisions         = [[Capital Region of Denmark|Capital Region]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[List of municipalities of Denmark|Municipality]]
| country_admin_divisions_1       = Bornholm
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = 
| country_admin_divisions_2       = 
| country_capital_city            = 
| country_largest_city            = [[Rønne]]
| country_largest_city_population = 13,772 (2020)
| country_leader_title            = 
| country_leader_name             = 
| population       = 38,967
| population_as_of = January 2025
| density_km2      = 66.85
| ethnic_groups    = 
| additional_info  = 
}}

'''Bornholm''' ({{IPA|da|pɒːnˈhʌlˀm}}) is a [[List of islands of Denmark|Danish island]] in the [[Baltic Sea]], to the east of the rest of [[Denmark]], south of [[Sweden]], northeast of [[Germany]] and north of [[Poland]]. 

Strategically located, Bornholm has been fought over for centuries. It has usually been ruled by Denmark, but also by Sweden and by [[Free City of Lübeck|Lübeck]]. The ruin of [[Hammershus]], at the northwestern tip of the island, is the largest medieval fortress in [[northern Europe]], testament to the importance of its location. Bornholm and [[Ertholmene]] comprise the last remaining Danish territory in [[Skåneland]] east of [[Øresund]], having been [[Treaty of Roskilde|surrendered to Sweden in 1658]], but [[Treaty of Copenhagen (1660)|regained by Denmark in 1660]] after [[Bornholm uprising|a local revolt]].

The island is known as {{lang|da|solskinsøen}} ("sunshine island") because of its weather and {{lang|da|klippeøen}} ("rock island") because of its geology, which consists of [[granite]], except along the southern coast. The heat from the summer is stored in the rock formations and the weather is quite warm until October. As a result of the climate, a local variety of the [[common fig]], known as Bornholm's Diamond (''Bornholms Diamant'') (''Ficus carica 'Bornholm' ''), can grow locally on the island.  The island's topography consists of dramatic rock formations in the north (unlike the rest of Denmark, which is mostly gentle rolling hills) sloping down towards pine and deciduous forests (greatly affected by storms in the 1950s), farmland in the middle and sandy beaches in the south.<ref>{{cite book| last = Blecher| first = Lone Thygesen|author2=George Blecher| title = Swedish Folktales & Legends| date = August 2004| publisher = University of Minnesota Press| isbn = 978-0-8166-4575-6| pages = xvi }}</ref>

The island is home to many of Denmark's [[Nordic round churches|round churches]]. Occupying an area of {{convert|584.59|km2|sqmi}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.noegletal.dk/ |title=Economy and Interior Ministry: Municipal Key Figures |access-date=5 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208230627/http://www.noegletal.dk/ |archive-date=8 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the island had a total population of 38,966 {{as of|2025|01|lc=y}}.

== History ==
=== Medieval ===
[[File:Lilleborg asv2024-07 img4.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Lilleborg, Bornholm|Lilleborg]] ruin]]
[[File:GudhjemMill.JPG|thumb|upright|Windmill in Gudhjem]]
In [[Old Norse]] the island was known as ''Burgundaholmr'', and in [[History of Danish|ancient Danish]] especially the island's name was ''Borghand'' or ''Borghund''; these names were related to Old Norse ''borg'' 'height' and ''bjarg/berg'' 'mountain, rock' because it is an island that rises high from the sea.<ref>[[J. P. Mallory|Mallory, J.P.]] and [[Douglas Q. Adams|D.Q. Adams]]. ''[[Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture]]''. London: [[Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers]], 1997: p. 269</ref> Other names known for the island include ''Burgendaland'' (9th century), ''Hulmo'' / ''Holmus'' (''[[Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum]]''), ''Burgundehulm'' (1145), and ''Borghandæholm'' (14th century).<ref>Politikens Nudansk Ordborg (1993), 15th edition, entry "Bornholm" {{in lang|da}}</ref> The Old English translation of Orosius uses the form ''Burgenda land''.<ref>King Alfred's Anglo-Saxon version of Orosius, London, 1859, edited by J. Bosworth</ref> There are scholars who believe that the [[Burgundians]] are named after Bornholm. The Burgundians were a [[Germanic peoples|Germanic people]] who were settled in the [[Rhone]] region by the Romans, and who the region of [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]] in [[France]] is named after.<ref>{{citation|encyclopedia=Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde| volume=4| edition=2| editor1-first=Heinrich |editor1-last=Beck|editor2-first= Dieter |editor2-last=Geuenich |editor3-first= Heiko |editor3-last=Steuer|year=1981| isbn=978-3-11-006513-8 |title=Burgunden}}</ref>

=== Modern ===
[[File:Bornholm-arsdale-windmill.jpg|thumb|upright|An 1877 windmill at [[Aarsdale]]]]

Bornholm was pawned to [[Free City of Lübeck|Lübeck]] by [[Frederick I of Denmark]] for 50 years starting in 1525, in payment for its support in his acquisition of the Danish throne.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Lübecker time |url=https://www.bornholm.net/holiday-bornholm-bornholms-history-1321-1525.html |website=Lubeck.net |access-date=5 April 2025}}</ref> Its first militia, [[Bornholms Milits]], was formed in 1624. Swedish forces conquered the island during the [[Torstenson War]] in 1645, but returned the island to Denmark in the [[Second Treaty of Brömsebro (1645)|following peace settlement]]. After the war in 1658, Denmark ceded the island to Sweden under the [[Treaty of Roskilde]] along with the rest of the [[Skåneland]], [[Bohuslän]] and [[Trøndelag]], and it was occupied by Swedish forces.
[[Bornholm uprising|A revolt broke out the same year]], culminating in Villum Clausen's shooting of the Swedish commander [[Johan Printzensköld]] on 8 December 1658.<ref name=Museum>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bornholmsmuseum.dk/sekundaer-menu/forside.aspx |title=Bornholm Museum |access-date=20 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221145429/http://www.bornholmsmuseum.dk/sekundaer-menu/forside.aspx |archive-date=21 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the revolt, the inhabitants handed back their island to the Danish kings.

[[File:Rønne Østergade asv2024-07 img1.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Rønne]]]]
Bornholm attracted many famous artists at the beginning of the 20th century, forming a group now known as the [[Bornholm school of painters]]. In addition to [[Oluf Høst]], they include [[Karl Isaksson]] (1878–1922) from Sweden, and the Danes [[Edvard Weie]] (1879–1943), [[Olaf Rude]] (1886–1957), [[Niels Lergaard]] (1893–1982), and [[Kræsten Iversen]] (1886–1955).<ref>[http://www.visitdenmark.com/en-us/bornholm/art/bornholms-culture-and-heritage "Bornholm's culture and heritage"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503105849/http://www.visitdenmark.com/en-us/bornholm/art/bornholms-culture-and-heritage|date=3 May 2013}}, Visit Denmark. Retrieved 13 November 2012</ref>

=== World War II ===
In the early morning of 9 April 1940, [[Wehrmacht|German forces]] [[German invasion of Denmark (1940)|occupied Denmark]] and began the invasion of Norway ([[Operation Weserübung]]). 

On 22 August 1942 a [[V-1 flying bomb]] crashed on Bornholm during a test – the warhead was a dummy made of concrete. The wreckage was photographed and sketched by the Danish Naval Officer-in-Charge on Bornholm, Lieutenant Commander Hasager Christiansen. When reported to British Intelligence, it was one of the first signs of Germany's aspirations to develop flying bombs and rockets, which were to become known as V-1. The Bornholm rocket turned out to be from [[Peenemünde]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mindling |first1=George |title=U.S. Air Force Tactical Missiles, 1949-1969: The Pioneers |last2=Bolton |first2=Robert |date=2011 |publisher=[[Lulu.com]] |pages=4}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Lulu.com is an online print-on-demand, self-publishing, and distribution platform.|date=July 2025}}

The Soviet bombing of the two main towns on 7-8 May 1945 prepared the [[Landing at Bornholm|landing of Soviet troops at Bornholm]]. 
Danish radio was not allowed to broadcast the news because it was thought it would spoil the liberation festivities in Denmark.<ref>{{cite book |title=En Ø i krig |trans-title=An island at war |first=Børge |last=Kure |year=181 |publisher=Bornholmeren |isbn=87-88134-00-8 |language=da }}</ref> 
8 May 1945 was the [[Victory in Europe Day]]. 
On 9 May, Soviet troops landed at Bornholm, and after a short fight, the German garrison (about 12,000 strong<ref>{{cite web |date=11 May 1945 |title=Soviet Information Bureau report |url=http://eng.9may.ru/eng_inform/m9004261 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720160020/http://eng.9may.ru/eng_inform/m9004261 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |access-date=2007-09-17}}</ref>) surrendered.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bornholm during World War II |url=http://www.bornholm.info/Historie/482we.aspx?langId=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928023108/http://www.bornholm.info/Historie/482we.aspx?langId=2 |archive-date=28 September 2007|access-date=2007-09-06}}</ref> Soviet forces would leave the island on 5 April 1946.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stalin's Danish Mystery |url=https://www.historytoday.com/miscellanies/stalin%E2%80%99s-danish-mystery |publisher=History Today}}</ref>

Later research found that the Soviet bombing of Bornholm resulted in approximately three thousand Danish civilians in [[Rønne]] becoming homeless, while damaging a majority of the houses in [[Nexø]], fully destroying roughly one-tenth. Ten Danes were killed and thirty-five wounded, considered a low number, because many civilians were evacuated to shelters on the outskirts of the respective towns before the worst raids hit. It was not until 5 April 1946, that Soviet troops finally left Bornholm. After the war, Bornholm received aid from Sweden to rebuild Rønne and Nexø.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Naimark |first=Norman |title=[[Stalin and the Fate of Europe: The Postwar Struggle for Sovereignty]] |date=2019 |publisher=[[Harvard University Press]] |isbn=9780674242920 |pages=42–43 |chapter=The Bornholm Interlude}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Jensen |first=Bent |title=Den lange befrielse: Bornholm besat og befriet, 1945-1946 |publisher=Udgivelsesar |year=1996 |location=Odense |pages=122–126 |language=da |isbn=87-7838-182-7 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The final liberation of Bornholm |url=https://www.kb.dk/en/inspiration/liberation/final-liberation-bornholm |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=kb.dk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Cold War ===
After the evacuation of their forces from Bornholm, the Soviets took the position that the stationing of foreign troops on Bornholm would be considered a declaration of war against the Soviet Union, and that Denmark should keep troops on it at all times to protect it from such foreign aggression. This policy remained in force after [[NATO]] was formed, with Denmark as a founding member. The Soviets accepted the stationing there of Danish troops, which were part of NATO but viewed as militarily inferior elements of the alliance, but they strongly objected to the presence of other NATO troops on Bornholm, US troops in particular.<ref>[https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/ACFB01.pdf Vojtech Mastny, "NATO in the Beholder’s Eye: Soviet Perceptions and Policies, 1949–56". Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102012302/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/ACFB01.pdf |date=2 November 2013 }} Retrieved 10 November 2012</ref>

On 5 March 1953, the day of [[Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin|Stalin's death]], Polish pilot [[Franciszek Jarecki]] defected from the Eastern Bloc and landed a [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15|MiG-15]] fighter on the island. He was later granted asylum and rewarded for providing Western intelligence with the then-newest Soviet jet fighter.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rubentein |first1=Joshua |title=The Last Days of Stalin |date=31 May 2016 |publisher=Yale University Press |edition=Kindle}}</ref>

In 2017, Denmark's [[Danish Defence Intelligence Service|Defence Intelligence Service]] decided to build a listening tower near [[Østermarie]], almost 90 meters high, to intercept radio communications across the Baltic Sea and in parts of Russia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cold War Returns As NATO Member Denmark Builds Spy Station to Capture Russia Intelligence |url=https://www.newsweek.com/cold-war-returns-nato-member-denmark-builds-spy-station-capture-russia-718758 |publisher=Newsweek |date=21 November 2017}}</ref>

== Municipality ==
{{unsourced|section|date=December 2022}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right;"
|+Result of referendum 29 May 2001 on merger of municipalities with the county 1 January 2003
|- align="center"
! rowspan="2" |Municipality
! colspan="2" |Yes
! colspan="2" |No
|-
!Votes!!Percent!!Votes!!Percent
|-
|Allinge-Gudhjem
!3,590!!74!!1,287!!26
|-
|Hasle
!2,886!!70!!1,219!!30
|-
|Nexø
!3,218!!59!!2,252!!41
|-
|Rønne
!7,754!!85!!1,366!!15
|-
|Aakirkeby
!3,131!!74!!1,118!!26
|-
|Total:27821
!20,579!!74!!7,242!!26
|}
[[File:Færgeforbindelser fra Bornholm.jpg|thumb|right|Ferry routes to and from Bornholm]] 
[[File:Bornholms-Amt.png|thumb|180px|right|Bornholm and [[Christiansø]] hundreds and 5 municipalities (1970–2002) in green colour and 21 municipalities before 1 April 1970]] 
[[File:Bornholm municipality numbered.svg|thumb|180px|right|Parishes in [[Church of Denmark]] numbered]]
[[File:Flag of Denmark Bornholm.svg|right|thumb|180px|Unofficial [[flag of Bornholm]] (the tourist flag)]]
[[File:Flag Denmark Bornholmsflaget.svg|right|thumb|180px|Unofficial flag of Bornholm. The [[Flag of Denmark|Dannebrog]] is clearly visible with the green cross inserted in the white cross.]]
[[File:Coat of arms of Bornholm.png|right|thumb|180px|Old coat of arms of Bornholm.<ref>{{cite book |last=Svane |first=Erling |title=Det danske Rigsvåben og Kongevåben |year=1994 |publisher=Odense Universitetsforlag | pages = 169–179 |isbn=87-7492-915-1 }}</ref>]]

Bornholm Regional Municipality is the local authority ([[Danish language|Danish]], ''kommune'') covering the entire island. Its formal name is Bornholm Municipality. It is given the right in the law establishing it to be called Bornholm Regional Municipality. (For explanation read on). It is the [[:da:Folkeafstemningen om kommunesammenlægning på Bornholm 2001|result of a merger]] of the five former (1 April 1970 until 2002) municipalities on the island ([[Allinge-Gudhjem Municipality|Allinge-Gudhjem]], [[Hasle, Bornholm|Hasle]], [[Nexø]], [[Rønne]] and [[Aakirkeby]]) and the former [[Bornholm County]]. Bornholm Regional Municipality was also a county in its own right during its first four years from 1 January 2003 until 31 December 2006. From 1 January 2007 all counties were abolished, and Bornholm became part of the [[Capital Region of Denmark]] whose main responsibility is the health service. In the [[Bill (law)|bill]] (Danish ''forslag'') (''Bill of Law on merger of the municipalities of Bornholm'') presented 30 January 2002 by the Minister of Interior and Health to [[Folketinget]], it says in §1 that (1st sentence) "The 1st of January 2003 Bornholm Municipality is established by a merger of (names of municipalities mentioned, and county's name mentioned), and (2nd sentence) Bornholm Municipality is called Bornholm Regional Municipality". 

The island had 21 municipalities until March 1970, of which 6 were market towns and 15 parishes. In addition to supervising parish municipalities, which was the responsibility of the counties in ''all'' of Denmark, the market town municipalities of Bornholm were supervised by Bornholm County as well and not by the Interior Ministry as was the case in the rest of Denmark. The seat of the municipal council is the island's main town, Rønne. The voters decided to merge the county with the municipalities in a referendum 29 May 2001, effective from 1 January 2003. The question on the [[ballot]] was, "Do you want the six municipal entities of Bornholm to be joined to form one municipal entity as of 1 January 2003?" 73.9% voted in favour. The lowest percentage for the merger was in [[Nexø]] municipality (966 more people voting "Yes" than "No"), whose mayor, Annelise Molin, a Social Democrat, spoke out against the merger. It was required that each municipality had more "Yes" votes than "No" votes. Otherwise the merger would have to be abandoned altogether. The six municipal entities had up to 122 councillors (of which county clls were 18, from 1998 15), reduced to 89 in the municipalities from the 1990s, in the 1970s and the new regional municipality would have 27 councillors from the start 1 January 2003. They were reduced to 23 from 1 January 2018 ([[2017 Danish local elections|election November 2017]]). From 1 January 2003 until 31 December 2006 the 27 cllrs were called Regional Council (Danish ''Regionsråd''), from 1 January 2007 changed to Municipal Board (Danish ''Kommunalbestyrelse'') as is the usual term in almost all Danish municipalities. This was to avoid confusion with the Regional Council in Region Hovedstaden, and in the other regions

The merger was approved in a law by the [[Folketing]] 19 (and signature by [[Margrethe II of Denmark|the head of state]] 25) March 2002, transferring the tasks of the abolished county and old municipalities to the new Bornholm Regional Municipality. The first regional mayor in the first three years from 2003 until 2005 was Thomas Thors (born 28 July 1949), a physician and member of the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] and previously the last mayor of Rønne Municipality for five years from 1998 until 2002. He became a mayor again in 2021. Bjarne Kristiansen, who was the last mayor of [[Hasle, Bornholm|Hasle]] {{frac|2|1|2}} years from the summer of 2000 until 2002, representing the local Borgerlisten political party, served as mayor for four years from 1 January 2006 until 2009. From 1 January 2007, Bornholm became a part of the [[Capital Region of Denmark]]. From 1 January 2010 until 31 December 2020 the mayor was Winni Grosbøll, a high school teacher and a member of the [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] (''Socialdemokratiet'') [[Politics of Denmark|political party]]. The deputy mayor Morten Riis was mayor for a short interlude from 1 January until 4 January 2021. He is from the [[Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)|Red-Green Alliance]]. Thomas Thors, who was elected again in 2017, became mayor again from 4 January 2021. After the [[2021 Danish local elections]] Jacob Trøst became mayor from January 2022. He is from the [[The Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|Conservative party]]. This was after an agreement (''aftale om konstituering'') between the Red-Green Alliance, amongst whom Morten Riis will be deputy mayor, and the [[Danish People's Party]] with the Conservatives.

===Municipal council===
Bornholm's municipal council today consists of 23 members, elected every four years. In the first four local elections in the newly created municipality there were 27 members elected to the municipal council. The 2002 local election only took place on Bornholm. From the election in 2017 the number of councillors elected was reduced to 23 members, serving their [[term of office]] from 1 January 2018 until 31 December 2021.

Below are the election results to [[Municipalities of Denmark#Municipal Reform 2007|the new merged municipal council beginning with the first election 29 May 2002]].

{| class="wikitable" 
! rowspan="2" | Election
! colspan="12" | Party
! rowspan="2" | Total<br />seats
! rowspan="2" | Turnout
! rowspan="2" | Elected<br />mayor
|-
| style="background:#B5211D;" |'''[[Social Democrats (Denmark)|{{font color|white|A}}]]'''
| style="background:#843A93;" |'''[[Danish Social Liberal Party|{{font color|white|B}}]]'''
| style="background:#89A920;" |'''[[Conservative People's Party (Denmark)|{{font color|white|C}}]]'''
| style="background:#C9096C;" |'''[[Green Left (Denmark)|{{font color|white|F}}]]'''
| style="background:#EC7D14;" |'''[[Christian Democrats (Denmark)|{{font color|white|K}}]]'''
| style="background:#8B8989;" |'''{{tooltip|{{font color|white|L}}|Borgerlisten Bornholm}}'''
| style="background:#F4D44D;" |'''[[Danish People's Party|{{font color|white|O}}]]'''
| style="background:#8B8989;" |'''{{tooltip|{{font color|white|R}}|Regionslisten}}'''
| style="background:#254C85;" |'''[[Venstre (Denmark)|{{font color|white|V}}]]'''
| style="background:#8B8989;" |'''{{tooltip|{{font color|white|W}}|Bornholmerlisten}}'''
| style="background:#FF0000;" |'''[[Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)|{{font color|white|Ø}}]]'''
| style="background:#00FF00;" |'''[[The Alternative (Denmark)|{{font color|white|Å}}]]'''
|-
|[[2002 Bornholm local election|2002]]
|8
| rowspan="2" style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|1
|1
|9
|style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|8
| rowspan="3" style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
| rowspan="3" style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
| rowspan="4" style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
| rowspan="4" |27
|79.3%
|Thomas Thors (A)
|-
|[[2005 Danish local elections|2005]]
|7
|2
|3
|1
|2
|1
|5
|6
|78.0%
|Bjarne Kristiansen (L)
|-
|[[2009 Danish local elections|2009]]
|8
|1
|1
|4
|1
|3
|1
| rowspan="4" style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|8
|72.1%
| rowspan="3" |Winni Grosbøll (A)<br />Morten Riis (Ø)(1{{spaced ndash}}4 January 2021)<br/>Thomas Thors (A)(4 Jan{{spaced ndash}}Dec 2021)
|-
|[[2013 Danish local elections|2013]]
|12
|1
|2
| style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|1
| rowspan="3" style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|2
|6
|1
|2
|77.1%
|-
|[[2017 Danish local elections|2017]]
|8
| rowspan="2" style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
| style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|1
|1
|4
|5
|1
|2
|1
|rowspan="2"|23
|75.6%
|-
|[[2021 Danish local elections|2021]]
|4
|3
| style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|1
|4
|2
|2
|7
| style="background:#CDC9C9;" |
|72.91%
|Jacob Trøst (C)
|-
| colspan="99" |Data from [https://www.kmdvalg.dk/ KMDValg.dk]
|}

== Transport ==
{{unsourced|section|date=December 2022}}
Ferry services connect Rønne to [[Świnoujście]] ([[Poland]]), [[Sassnitz]] ([[Germany]]), [[Køge]], {{convert|45|km|abbr=off}} by road ({{convert|34|km|mi|disp=or|abbr=off}} as the crow flies) south of Copenhagen, [[Denmark]]; the destination to Køge replaced the nighttime route directly to and from Copenhagen (for both cargo and passengers) from 1 October 2004; and [[HSC Leonora Christina|catamaran]] services to [[Ystad]] ([[Sweden]]). [[Simrishamn]] ([[Sweden]]) has a ferry connection during the summer. There are also regular [[catamaran]] services between [[Nexø]] and the Polish ports of [[Kołobrzeg]], [[Łeba]] and [[Ustka]]. There are direct bus connections Ystad-Copenhagen, coordinated with the catamaran. There are also flights from [[Bornholm Airport]] to Copenhagen and other locations.

Because of its remote location Bornholm Regional Municipality has its own traffic company, [[BAT (transit agency)|BAT]], and is its own employment region, and also performs other tasks normally carried out by the regions in the rest of Denmark. In some respects the municipality forms a region of its own.

Bornholm Regional Municipality was not merged with other municipalities on 1 January 2007 in the nationwide [[Municipalities of Denmark#Municipal Reform 2007|Municipal Reform of 2007]].

==Towns and villages==
The larger towns on the island are located on the coast and have harbours. There is however one exception, centrally placed [[Aakirkeby]], which was also the name of the municipality from 1970 until 2002, but it included the harbour of Boderne, {{convert|5|km|abbr=off}} to the south. The largest town is [[Rønne]]; it is the seat, in the southwest on the westernmost point of the island. The other main towns (clockwise around the island) are [[Hasle, Bornholm|Hasle]], [[Allinge-Sandvig|Sandvig, Allinge]], [[Gudhjem]], [[Svaneke]] and [[Nexø]]. Monday morning 22 September 2014 it was documented by ''Folkeregistret'' in the municipality that the number of people living in the municipality that day were 39,922, the lowest number in over 100 years.<ref name="40k">[http://www.jyllands-posten.dk/indland/ECE7049169/der-bor-nu-under-40000-pa-bornholm/ Der bor nu under 40.000 på Bornholm]. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 25 September 2014.</ref>

{{As of|2018}}, [[Statistics Denmark]] gave the populations as follows:<ref>[http://www.statistikbanken.dk/statbank5a/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?Maintable=BEF44&PLanguage=1 "BY1: Population 1st January, by urban area, age, and gender"] database from [[Statistics Denmark]]. Retrieved 23 April 2018.</ref>

{|
|----- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[Rønne]]|| align="center" |12,887
|-
|[[Nexø]]|| align="center" |3,644
|-
|[[Aakirkeby]]|| align="center" |2,083
|-
|[[Hasle, Bornholm|Hasle]]|| align="center" |1,622
|-
|[[Allinge-Sandvig]]|| align="center" |1,489
|-
|[[Svaneke]]|| align="center" |1,078
|-
|[[Tejn]]|| align="center" |890
|}
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[Gudhjem]]|| align="center" |723
|-
|[[Snogebæk]]|| align="center" |715
|-
|[[Nyker]]|| align="center" |701
|-
|[[Klemensker]]|| align="center" |639
|-
|[[Sorthat-Muleby]]|| align="center" |519
|-
|[[Østermarie]]|| align="center" |486
|-
|[[Aarsdale]]|| align="center" |387
|}
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[Lobbæk]]|| align="center" |355
|-
|[[Østerlars]]|| align="center" |238
|-
|[[Balka]]|| align="center" |214
|-
|[[Vestermarie]]|| align="center" |256
|-
|[[Pedersker]]|| align="center" |242
|-
|[[Nylars]]|| align="center" |228
|-
|[[Listed, Bornholm|Listed]]|| align="center" |204
|}
| valign="top" width="15%" |<br /><br />
|}

The town of Rønne after the merger of the island's administrative entities 1 January 2003 reached a low point of 13,568 inhabitants 1 January 2014. 15,957 people in 1965 (date unknown;number not registerbased) lived in the two parishes that would become Rønne municipality from 1 April 1970.  In the table, numbers for Rønne are for the parish of Rønne, Rønne Sogn, alone. The year is unknown but sometime between 2000 and 2005. It does not include Knudsker Sogn, which was also part of Rønne Municipality. Other localities (with approximate populations, not updated) include [[Aarsballe]] (86), [[Arnager]] (151), [[Olsker]] (67), [[Rutsker]] (64), [[Rø]] (181), [[Stenseby]] (?) and [[Vang, Bornholm|Vang]] (92). In 2010 and 2018 10,297 and 9,111 respectively lived in rural districts, and 88 and 71 had no fixed address. A rural district is defined by Statistics Denmark as a settlement with less than 200 inhabitants.

== Population ==
On 22 September 2014 population numbers showed fewer than 40,000 inhabitants on the island for the first time in over 100 years. The ''Folkeregister'' in the municipality could document 39,922 inhabitants in the municipality on that date.<ref name="40k" />

{{historical populations
|title=Historical&nbsp;population
|1850|27927
|1901|40677
|1916|43445
|1925|45550
|1935|45819
|1945|47185
|1955|48475
|1965|48620
|1976|47242
|1981|47370
|1986|46919
|1990|45784
|1995|44823
|2000|44238
|2005|43347
|2010|41802
|2015|39842
|2020|39499
|2025|38967
|source = [http://www.statistikbanken.dk statistikbanken.dk] ''[http://www.dst.dk/pukora/epub/upload/14468/headword/dk/3.pdf Statistical Yearbook 2009: Area and population. Regions and inhabited islands]''
}}

== Language==
{{Main|Bornholmsk dialect}}

Many inhabitants speak the [[Bornholmsk dialect]], which is a [[Danish language#Dialects|dialect of Danish]].<ref>Peter Skautrup, ''Det Danske Sprogs Historie'', Gyldendal, 1968, vol. 4, p. 105ff (Danish)</ref>

== Religion ==
Most inhabitants are members of the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] [[Church of Denmark]] (''Folkekirken''). Various Christian denominations have become established on the island, most during the 19th century.
* [[Church of Denmark]] (1536)
* [[Baptist church]] (1843)
* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) (1850)
* [[Methodist church]] (1895)
* [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (1897)
* [[Roman Catholic Church]] (ca. 1150–1536, 1849)

== Sights and landmarks ==
Geological formations are immediately visible in Bornholm in a way not common elsewhere in Denmark. The still-operated  ''Stubbeløkken'' and ''Klippeløkken'' granite quarries in Knudsker parish just east of central [[Rønne]] are among the few remaining of many formerly active quarries on the island. The island's varied geography and seascapes attract visitors to its many beauty spots from the [[Hammeren]] promontory in the northwest to the [[Almindingen]] forest in the centre and the [[Dueodde]] beaches in the southeast. Of special interest are the rocky sea cliffs at [[Jons Kapel]] and [[Helligdomsklipperne]], the varied topography of [[Paradisbakkerne]] and rift valleys such as [[Ekkodalen]] and [[Døndalen]].<ref>[http://www.bornholmnatur.dk/ "Bornholms Natur"], BornholmNatur.dk. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 10 November 2012.</ref> [[Furongian]] (late [[Cambrian]] period) sediments of the [[Alum Shale Formation]] of Bornholm presented by all six superzones; three [[Agnostoidea|agnostoid]] and fourteen [[trilobite]] zones are defined by [[fossil]]s. 8502 specimens, most of which are disarticulated [[sclerite]]s, have been collected from these strata. Described gerena include ''[[Ctenopyge]]'', ''[[Eurycare]]'', ''[[Leptoplastus]]'', ''[[Olenus]]'', ''[[Parabolina]]'', ''[[Peltura]]'', ''[[Protopeltura]]'', ''[[Sphaerophthalmus]]'', ''[[Lotagnostus]]'' and ''[[Triangulopyge]]''.<ref name=Nielsen2021>{{cite journal|author=Arne Thorshøj Nielsen, Line Frigaard Andersen|year=2021|url=https://2dgf.dk/xpdf/bull69-123-213.pdf|title=Furongian (upper Cambrian) trilobites and agnostoids from the Alum Shale Formation of Bornholm, Denmark: revised taxonomy and biostratigraphy|journal=Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark|volume=69|pages=123–213|doi=10.37570/bgsd-2021-69-08|bibcode=2021BuGSD..69..123N |issn=2245-7070|lang=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026115100/https://2dgf.dk/xpdf/bull69-123-213.pdf|archive-date=2023-10-26|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bornholm's [[List of windmills on Bornholm|numerous windmills]] include the [[post mill]] of [[Egeby Mølle|Egeby]] and the well-kept [[Aarsdale Windmill|Dutch mill at Aarsdale]]. The lighthouse at [[Dueodde Lighthouse|Dueodde]] is Denmark's tallest, while [[Hammeren Lighthouse]] stands at a height of {{convert|85|m}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] and [[Rønne Lighthouse]] rises over the waterfront.<ref name=Bornholm>{{Cite rowlett|dnkb|access-date=2012-11-08}}</ref>

Examples of roads that have (very) steep [[Grade (slope)|climbs]] and descents are: (inland) [[Simblegårdsvej]] in [[Klemensker]], which begins by the village inn [[Klemens Kro]], and [[Slamrebjergvej]] just outside [[Nexø]] extending northward from the main road from [[Rønne]]. Along the coast there are several steep roads, which is also the case in some parts of [[Denmark]] as a whole, for instance in and around [[Vejle Municipality|Vejle]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.danskebjerge.dk/artikler-stejlesteveje2.htm|title=STEJLESTE DANSKE VEJE: TOP 20 - Danskebjerge.dk|publisher=danskebjerge.dk}}</ref>

[[File:Oesterlars Kirke Bornholm Denmark.jpg|thumb | right |[[Østerlars Church]], one of Bornholm's four [[round church]]es]]
[[File:Bornholm Hammershus asv2024-07 img3.jpg|thumb | right |Ruins of [[Hammershus]], a medieval fortress]]

The island hosts examples of 19th- and early-20th-century architecture, and about 300 wooden houses in [[Rønne]] and [[Nexø]], donated by [[Sweden]] after [[World War II]], when the island was repairing damage caused by the war.
The island is home to 15 [[list of Bornholm churches|medieval churches]], four of which are [[Nordic round churches|round churches]] with unique artwork and architecture.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Haagensen |first1=Erling |last2=Lincoln |first2=Henry |title=The Templar's secret island |location=London |year=2006 |isbn=9781900624374 }}</ref> The ancient site of [[Rispebjerg]] has remains of sun temples from the [[Neolithic]] and earthworks from the [[Iron Age]].<ref>[http://www.naturstyrelsen.dk/Naturoplevelser/Beskrivelser/Bornholm/Rispebjerg/ "Rispebjerg"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023084119/http://www.naturstyrelsen.dk/Naturoplevelser/Beskrivelser/Bornholm/Rispebjerg |date=23 October 2012 }}, Naturstyrelsen. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 1 November 2012.</ref>

There are 14 [[European bison]] near [[Åkirkeby]], attracting 100,000 visitors a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://naturstyrelsen.dk/lokale-enheder/lokale-nyheder/2016/jan/status-i-bisonskoven-januar-2016 |title=Status i Bisonskoven – januar 2016 |publisher=[[Danish Nature Agency]]}}</ref><ref>[http://naturstyrelsen.dk/media/179241/crt_rapport_den_imagemaessige_og_samfundsoekonomiske_effekt_af_bison_paa_bornholm.pdf Den imagemæssige og samfundsøkonomiske effekt af bison på Bornholm] {{in lang|da}} Center for Regional- og Turismeforskning, December 2015</ref>

== Education ==
Because of the dilapidated state of their buildings, all secondary educational facilities in Rønne, including adult evening classes, are being transferred to new facilities at Campus Bornholm in 2018.<ref>[http://docplayer.dk/710029-Uddannelser-paa-bornholm-uden-vand-intet-liv-uden-viden-intet-samfund.html Education on Bornholm] Retrieved 8 January 2018</ref> Campus Bornholm is a merger formed in June 2010 consisting of [[Bornholms Erhvervsskole]] (youth and adults), Bornholm High School (youth) and [[VUC Bornholm]] (adults), then occupying separate addresses. Learning institutions not part of this formalised collaboration will also be housed at Minervavej in Rønne. The building costs were over 300 million DKK (US$46.9 million (29 June 2018)). The [[A.P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal|A.P. Møller Foundation]] contributed a sum of 56 million DKK (US$8.76 million (29 June 2018)) to the project.<ref>{{cite web |title=UDDANNELSESMÆSSIGT KRAFTCENTER |url=https://www.apmollerfonde.dk/projekter/campus-bornholm/ |website=AP Møller Fonden |access-date=24 October 2021 |language=Danish |date=August 2018}}</ref>

==Economy==
Among Bornholm's chief industrial activities are dairy farming and arts and crafts industries such as [[glass production]] and pottery using locally worked clay.{{fact|date=September 2025}}
[[Jensen-Group]], an industrial washing and folding machine company, was founded on the island and has a factory in Rønne. It is headquartered in [[Belgium]].{{fact|date=September 2025}}

Tourism is also important during the summer months.{{explain|date=September 2025}}

== Electricity supply ==
Bornholm is also home to a large internationally funded demonstration project to test the viability of novel energy market mechanisms to regulate energy networks with a high prevalence of renewables (such as wind turbines and photovoltaics). 50% of the EcoGrid project is EU-funded, with the remainder coming mainly from large corporations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eu-ecogrid.net/ecogrid-eu |title=EcoGrid EU |publisher=eu-ecogrid.net |access-date=4 August 2021}}</ref>

==Military==
Almegårds Kaserne on Bornholm is home to the III Reconnaissance Battalion (III/GHR) from the [[Guard Hussar Regiment]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Almegårds Kaserne på Bornholm |url=https://www.forsvaret.dk/da/organisation/tjenestesteder/almegaards-kaserne/ |website=Forsvaret |access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref>

==Climate==
Bornholm has an [[oceanic climate]] relatively similar to southern Sweden and mainland Denmark, whose summer highs and winter lows are heavily moderated by its maritime and isolated position. Though intense heat is rare, the climate is sunny during summer and rainfall is generally sparse for a climate of this type. The winter of 2010 – 2011 was exceptionally extreme with snow depth reaching at least 146 [[centimeter|cm]] (58 [[inch]]es) and [[snowdrift]]s of six [[Metre|meters]] (20 feet), the highest in Northern Europe. Military assistance was needed to clear roadways. The [[Danish Meteorological Institute|DMI]] estimated the weight of snow to be 100 [[million]] [[ton]]s.

{{Weather box
|location = Bornholm (1971–2000)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 8.9
| Feb record high C = 9.7
| Mar record high C = 15.1
| Apr record high C = 26.6
| May record high C = 27.2
| Jun record high C = 31.7
| Jul record high C = 31.9
| Aug record high C = 32.0
| Sep record high C = 27.9
| Oct record high C = 20.2
| Nov record high C = 15.7
| Dec record high C = 11.0
|year record high C = 32.0
| Jan high C = 2.7
| Feb high C = 2.4
| Mar high C = 4.5
| Apr high C = 8.9
| May high C = 14.5
| Jun high C = 17.9
| Jul high C = 20.1
| Aug high C = 20.5
| Sep high C = 16.4
| Oct high C = 11.9
| Nov high C = 7.3
| Dec high C = 4.4
|year high C = 10.9
| Jan mean C = 0.9
| Feb mean C = 0.4
| Mar mean C = 2.1
| Apr mean C = 5.5
| May mean C = 10.5
| Jun mean C = 14.3
| Jul mean C = 16.8
| Aug mean C = 17.0
| Sep mean C = 13.4
| Oct mean C = 9.5
| Nov mean C = 5.4
| Dec mean C = 2.6
|year mean C = 8.2
| Jan low C = −1.1
| Feb low C = −1.7
| Mar low C = −0.4
| Apr low C = 2.1
| May low C = 6.6
| Jun low C = 10.7
| Jul low C = 13.3
| Aug low C = 13.4
| Sep low C = 10.5
| Oct low C = 6.9
| Nov low C = 3.2
| Dec low C = 0.5
|year low C = 5.3
| Jan record low C = −15.7
| Feb record low C = −17.7
| Mar record low C = −16.1
| Apr record low C = −7.0
| May record low C = −3.0
| Jun record low C = −0.2
| Jul record low C = 4.0
| Aug record low C = 5.4
| Sep record low C = −0.2
| Oct record low C = −5.7
| Nov record low C = −10.1
| Dec record low C = −14.1
|year record low C = −17.7
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 40.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 22.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 30.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 30.2
| May precipitation mm = 31.9
| Jun precipitation mm = 44.2
| Jul precipitation mm = 47.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 41.4
| Sep precipitation mm = 55.5
| Oct precipitation mm = 50.2
| Nov precipitation mm = 52.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 42.4
|year precipitation mm = 488.7
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 16.5
| Feb precipitation days = 12.9
| Mar precipitation days = 13.7
| Apr precipitation days = 11.2
| May precipitation days = 10.0
| Jun precipitation days = 11.0
| Jul precipitation days = 10.6
| Aug precipitation days = 10.8
| Sep precipitation days = 13.2
| Oct precipitation days = 14.5
| Nov precipitation days = 16.7
| Dec precipitation days = 16.1
|year precipitation days = 157.3
| Jan snow days = 5.6
| Feb snow days = 5.3
| Mar snow days = 4.0
| Apr snow days = 0.9
| May snow days = 0.1
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 1.8
| Dec snow days = 3.4
|year snow days = 21.2
| Jan sun = 35
| Feb sun = 53
| Mar sun = 112
| Apr sun = 190
| May sun = 284
| Jun sun = 266
| Jul sun = 276
| Aug sun = 252
| Sep sun = 155
| Oct sun = 102
| Nov sun = 46
| Dec sun = 31
|year sun = 1809
|source 1 = Danish Meteorological Institute<ref name = DMI1>{{cite web
| url = http://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Rapporter/TR/2002/tr02-12.pdf
| title = Danish Climatological Normals 1971–2000 for selected stations
| publisher = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]]
| access-date = 17 November 2015}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

== Sports ==
{{unsourced|section|date=December 2022}}
Bornholm's geography as an island and moderate climate makes Bornholm an ideal location for sailing and other water-based sports. Bornholm has also become an internationally recognised venue for 'match racing', a sailing sport where two identical yachts are raced in one-on-one events on the water. The [[Danish Open (yachting)|Danish Open]] event was held in Bornholm in September 2010 at the port town of Rønne on the western coast of Bornholm. The five-day Danish Open is a key event in the [[World Match Racing Tour]] calendar which is one of only 3 events awarded 'special event' status by the [[International Sailing Federation]]. The Tour is the world's leading professional 'match racing' series and features a nine-event calendar which crosses three continents during the series. Points accrued during the Danish Open contribute directly to the World Match Racing Tour championship with the winner of the season finale at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia claiming the ultimate match racing title ISAF World Match Racing Champion.

There are two small stadiums: [[Nexø Stadion]], in [[Nexø]], where [[NB Bornholm]] [[association football]] club play; and the slightly larger multi-use stadium [[Rønne Stadion Nord]] in [[Rønne]], which serves the [[Non-FIFA international football|Bornholm national football team]], multi-section club most well known for [[sport of athletics|athletics]] IK Viking, and several local football clubs. The [[DBU Bornholm]] is the local branch governing football on the island.

== Cultural references ==
[[File:Bornholm luftaufnahme.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Aerial view of Bornholm]]
[[File:Bornholm2021OSM.png|thumb|right|150px|Enlargeable, detailed map of Bornholm]]

* Russian writer [[Nikolay Karamzin]] in his 1794 short story "[[The Island of Bornholm]]" ("{{Lang|ru-Latn|Ostrov Borngolm|italic=no}}") depicts formidable rocks and green meadows of the island. This story about forbidden love is considered one of the first Russian [[gothic tale]]s.
* The [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning 1987 [[Bille August]] film ''[[Pelle the Conqueror]]'', an adaptation of [[Martin Andersen Nexø]]'s four volume novel by the same name, is set and was shot on the island.
* A considerable part of the Second World War spy thriller ''[[Hornet Flight]]'' by [[Ken Follett]] takes place on Bornholm, depicting the island under German occupation.
* ''[[Megaheavy]]'' by Danish filmmaker [[Fenar Ahmad]] is set on Bornholm in the 1980s. It won the Grand Prix at the 2010 Odense Film Festival.
* The 2006 film ''[[Tempelriddernes Skat]]'' (The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar) takes place on Bornholm.
* Bornholm has an appearance in a ''[[Roblox]]'' game titled Dynamic Ship Simulator 3, made by CaptainMarcin and his dev team, Badyacht.
* Minor planet [[4453 Bornholm]] is named after the island.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-540-29925-7_4398 |title=(4453) Bornholm In: Dictionary of Minor Planet Names |chapter=(4453) Bornholm |publisher=Springer |date=2003 |pages=383 |isbn=9783540299257 |doi=10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_4398}}</ref>
* The 1933 work, ''Folkeliv og Indstiftelser paa Bornholm'', describes the culture and history of the island.<ref>Dam, Ph. R. (1933). [http://www.bornholmerting.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Folkeliv-og-Indstiftelse-paa-Bornholm-1-og-2-del-1933-Ph-R-Dam-optimeret.pdf ''Folkeliv og Indstiftelser paa Bornholm.''] Aarkirkeby.</ref>
* In the [[webcomic]] [[Stand Still, Stay Silent]] by [[Minna Sundberg]], Bornholm is the last remaining inhabited area of Denmark after the world is ravaged by a pandemic, and the southernmost area known to still be inhabited by humans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stand Still. Stay Silent - webcomic, page 66 |url=https://sssscomic.com/comic.php?page=66 |website=sssscomic.com}}</ref>

== Notable residents ==
[[File:Kristian Zahrtmann.jpg|thumb|140px|Kristian Zahrtmann]]
[[File:Selvportræt, 1902 - Michael Ancher.jpg|thumb|140px|Michael Ancher, self-portrait 1902]]
[[File:PiaRanslet.jpg|thumb|140px|Pia Ranslet]]

=== Arts ===
* [[Kristian Zahrtmann]] (1843 in [[Rønne]] – 1917) painter, favoured [[naturalism (arts)|naturalism]] and [[Realism (arts)|realism]]
* [[Michael Ancher]] (1849 in [[Rutsker]] – 1927) [[Realism (art movement)|realist]] artist, painted fishermen in [[Skagen]]
* [[Mathias Bidstrup]] (1852 in [[Rønne]] – 1929) architect of many buildings on Bornholm, schools, churches (including [[Gudhjem]] Church), train stations and the post office in [[Rønne]]
* [[Hans Henny Jahnn]] (1894–1959), German playwright, novelist, and organ-builder, lived in [[Rutsker]] from 1934 to 1950.
* [[Janus Laurentius Ridter]] (1854 in [[Aakirkeby]] – 1921) painter and illustrator of topographical watercolours
* [[Julius Folkmann]] (1864 in [[Rønne]] – 1948) a Danish photographer and cinematographer <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5085881/  Julius Folkmann, IMDb Database] retrieved 28 April 2020</ref> 
* [[Vilhelm Herold]] (1865 in [[Hasle, Bornholm|Hasle]] – 1937) operatic tenor, voice teacher, and theatre director 
* [[Oluf Høst]] (1884 in [[Svaneke]] – 1966) Expressionist painter, the only native member of the [[Bornholm school of painters]]
* [[Else Højgaard]] (1906–1979) ballerina and an actress of stage and screen, noted for her fiery temperament and edgy intensity <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0406057/ Else Højgaard, IMDb Database] retrieved 27 April 2020</ref>
* [[Gustaf Munch-Petersen]] (1912–1938) writer and painter, moved to Bornholm in 1935
* [[Gertrud Vasegaard]] (1913 in [[Rønne]] – 2007), a ceramist remembered for her [[stoneware]], in 1933 she moved to Bornholm whence her family originated and opened a studio in [[Gudhjem]].<ref>[http://www.skoletjenesten.dk/Grundskolen/~/media/EducationOffers/Designmuseum%20Danmark/Undervisningsmateriale/05_gertrud_vasegaard.pdf "Gertrud Vasegaards testel 1956"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227103238/http://www.skoletjenesten.dk/Grundskolen/~/media/EducationOffers/Designmuseum%20Danmark/Undervisningsmateriale/05_gertrud_vasegaard.pdf |date=27 December 2015 }}, Skoletjensten Kunstindustrimuseet. (Danish) Retrieved 25 January 2013.</ref>
* [[Arne Ranslet]] (1931–2018) sculptor and ceramist, moved to Bornholm in 1955
* [[Tulla Blomberg Ranslet]] (born 1928) Norwegian painter, moved to Bornholm in 1955
* [[Heather Spears]] (1934–2021), Canadian poet, artist, and novelist, moved to Bornholm in 1962
* [[Ursula Munch-Petersen]] (born 1937 in [[Rønne]]) ceramist
* [[Bente Hammer]] (born 1950) textile artist and fashion designer, moved to Bornholm in 1987, opened a workshop and boutique
* [[Pia Ranslet]] (born 1956 in [[Allinge]]) painter and sculptor
* [[Klaus Bondam]] (born 1963 in [[Aakirkeby]]) actor and ex-politician <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0094067/  Klaus Bondam, IMDb Database] retrieved 27 April 2020</ref>
* [[Sofie Stougaard]] (born 1966 in [[Svaneke]]) actress <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0832831/  Sofie Stougaard, IMDb Database] retrieved 27 April 2020</ref>
* [[Jonas Jeberg]] (born 1975 in Rønne) a songwriter and music producer, lives in Los Angeles <ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8987879/  Jonas Jeberg, IMDb Database] retrieved 28 April 2020</ref>
* [[Engelina]] Andrina Larsen (born 1978) singer and songwriter 
* [[Aura Dione]] (born 1985) pop singer and songwriter, resident on Bornholm since age seven

=== Science ===
* [[Peder Olsen Walløe]] (1716–1793) [[Denmark-Norway|Dano-Norwegian]] [[Arctic]] explorer, explored the former [[Norsemen|Norse]] settlements on [[Greenland]]
* [[Peter Schousboe]] (1766 in [[Rønne]] – 1832) botanist and Danish consul general in Tangier
* [[Johan Nicolai Madvig]] (1804 in Svaneke – 1886) a Danish [[philologist]] and [[Kultus Minister of Denmark]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Madvig, Johan Nicolai |volume= 17 |page=296 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Peter Ludvig Panum]] (1820 in [[Rønne]] – 1885) [[physiologist]] and [[pathologist]] 
* Dr. [[Lilli Nielsen]] (1926 in [[Rønne]] – 2013) psychologist, taught blind children and those with multiple disabilities

=== Business ===
* [[Hans Peder Kofoed]] (1743 in [[Svaneke]] – 1812) a Danish brewer, merchant and shipowner traded with [[Danish West Indies]]
* [[M.P. Möller]] (1854 in [[Østermarie]] – 1937), a pipe-organ builder and manufacturer, moved to the United States in 1872 <ref>[http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/H%C3%A5ndv%C3%A6rk/Orgelbygger/M._M%C3%B8ller "M. Møller" ''Den Store Danske'']</ref>
* [[Christian Schmiegelow]] (1859 in [[Rønne]] – 1949) a Danish businessman, co-founder of [[Dampskibsselskabet Torm]]
* [[Nicolai Nørregaard]] (born 1979 in [[Svaneke]]) chef and restaurateur

=== Public affairs ===
* [[Jørgen Landt]] (1751–1804 in [[Olsker]]) a Danish priest, botanist and author
* [[Johan Peter Andreas Anker]] (1838 in Knudsker Sogn – 1876) a Danish military officer
* [[Johanne Münter]] (1844 in [[Rønne]] – 1921) a Danish women's rights activist and writer
* [[Martin Andersen Nexø]] (1869–1954) socialist writer, moved to the island aged 8 and adopted the city name
* [[Vilhelm Grønbech]] (1873 in [[Allinge]] – 1948) cultural historian and professor of the history of religion at the [[University of Copenhagen]]
* [[Mogens Glistrup]] (1926–2008) controversial politician, lawyer and tax protester 
* [[Flemming Kofod-Svendsen]] (born 1944 in [[Aakirkeby]]) an ordained minister in the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] [[Church of Denmark|Church]] and politician
* [[Lea Wermelin]] (born 1985 in [[Rønne]]) a Danish politician, [[Minister for the Environment (Denmark)|Minister for the Environment]]
* [[Peter Kofod Poulsen]] (born 1990 in [[Snogebæk]]) a Danish politician, [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] since 2019

=== Sport ===
[[File:Magnus Cort.JPG|thumb|Magnus Cort]]
* [[Hans Colberg]] (1921 in [[Klemensker]] – 2007) football player, over 200 pro appearances
* [[Allan Kuhn]] (born 1968 in [[Rønne]]) a Danish association football coach and former player. 
* [[Julie Houmann]] (born in [[Rønne]] 1979) badminton player 
* [[Lisbet Jakobsen]] (born 1987 in [[Nexø]]) rower, competed at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Magnus Cort]] (born 1993) professional road bicycle racer  
* [[Mathias Christiansen]] (born 1994) badminton player
* [[Amir Hadžiahmetović]] (born 1997 in [[Nexø]]) a Bosnian professional footballer

== See also ==
{{Commons category|Bornholm}}
* [[Bornholm disease]]
* [[Battle of Bornholm (disambiguation)]]
* ''[[Dromaeosauroides|Dromaeosauroides bornholmensis]]'', the first dinosaur found in Denmark
* [[Arts and Crafts movement]]
* [[List of islands of Denmark]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bornholm Denmark}}
{{Denmark islands}}
{{Islands in the Baltic Sea}}
{{Municipalities of Denmark}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Bornholm| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities in the Capital Region of Denmark]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Denmark]]
[[Category:Danish islands in the Baltic]]
[[Category:Islands of Denmark]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 2003]]