Technological and environmental enterprises have replaced the earlier heavy industries, and in recent years, local government has restored the town.

The area of the current town of Nakskov was settled during the neolithic period and has been continuously inhabited since.

This changed gradually as overland traffic was enabled by a railway to the neighboring island of Falster in 1875.

[4] The connection to Sjælland and Copenhagen over the Storstrømsbroen bridge in 1937[5] shifted goods from the port of Nakskov.

Subsequently, Nakskov turned to commerce and trade, and technological and environmental enterprises replaced the earlier heavy industries.

[6] Until 1 January 2007, "Nakskov" was also the name of a municipality (Danish, kommune) covering an area of 33 km², and with a total population of 14,745 (2006).

Nakskov Church, dating to the early 13th century, has carved works from the Baroque period including the pulpit (1630) by Jørgen Ringnis and the altarpiece (1656) by Anders Mortensen.