Kristianstad is a Swedish city in Scania in southernmost Sweden. It is the seat of the Skåne Regional Council.
Kristianstad's coat of arms is the only known coat of arms in the world depicting a foreign king's or queen's coat of arms. It is the coat of arms of king Christian IV of Denmark. Kristianstad is often called "the King's Village" by its inhabitants and visiting Danes, just as Copenhagen is called "the Queen's Village" by Danes. Kristianstad markets itself as "the most Danish city in Sweden". There is a Danish consulate in the city center which always flies a big Danish flag.
Part of Kristianstad constitutes the lowest point in Sweden, 2.41 meters below sea level. Dams and pumps are in function to protect the city from floods from the river Helgeån and the lake Hammarsjön.