Marichen Nielsen

Marichen Johanne Nielsen née Flade (1921–2014) was a Danish politician. Representing the Social Democrats, she was a member of the Danish Parliament (Folketing) for the Aarhus Constituency from September 1971 to December 1973. In January 1973, she was the first Danish woman to become a member of the European Parliament. From 1974 she represented Denmark's Labour Movement on the European Economic and Social Committee. In parallel, until her retirement in 1986, she was a consultant on the Aarhus City Council.

Early life, education and family Born on 18 February 1921 in Aabenraa, Marichen Johanne Flade was the daughter of the mason W. Flade (1890–1966) and his wife Erna née Blumstok who was an active Social Democrat member of the Aabenraa Town Council. After completing her Realskole education in 1938, she trained as a bank employee. In March 1947, she married the editor Kristian Nielsen with whom she had three children: Lisbeth (1948), Kristian (1951) and Niels (1952). From 1974 she represented Denmark's Labour Movement on the European Economic and Social Committee. Nielsen was engaged by Aarhus Municipality as care consultant in 1976 where she remained until her retirement in 1986.

Marichen Nielsen died in the Aabyhoj district of Aarhus on 8 April 2014, aged 93.