Slagelse Municipality is a municipality (Danish: kommune) in Region Zealand on the west coast of the island of Zealand (Danish: Sjælland) in Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 571 km². The municipality borders Kalundborg Municipality to the north, Sorø Municipality to the north-east, Næstved Municipality to the south-east and connects to Nyborg Municipality via the Great Belt Bridge.
The main city and the site of the municipal council is the city of Slagelse. The mayor has since 2017 been John Dyrby Paulsen, a member of the Social Democratic political party.
The municipality include the inhabited islands of Omø, Agersø and Glænø, as well as the uninhabited islands of Sprogø, Østerfed, Stenfed, Ormø, Fuglehøj, Sandholm, Kidholm and Fugleholm.
On 1 January 2007 the former Slagelse municipality was, as the result of Kommunalreformen (“The Municipal Reform” of 2007), merged with Hashøj, Korsør, and Skælskør municipalities to form an enlarged Slagelse municipality.
History
Slagelse has existed since the 1000s, and coins have been minted there since Cnut the Great’s time. It was granted the status of market town by Eric V in 1288. Skælskør was given market town status in 1414. Korsør was granted the same status in 1425. While Slagelse and Skælskør were already important locations before becoming a market town, with the ring castle of Trelleborg located next to Slagelse, Korsør was a more insignificant town before becoming a market town. Korsør’s location quickly made it an important town for ferry services to Nyborg on Funen. The three towns became competitors for the land and resources. Korsør’s importance as a way to get to Funen allowed Korsør to be favoritized over Slagelse until the 1600s. The town remained small, but fared better than Slagelse, who was struggling. This was also linked to Korsør’s access to the sea, giving them a variety of opportunities and privileges, including being able to ship out the grain from many farm areas on western Zealand, leaving them in conflict with the neighboring towns. Slagelse’s economy was meanwhile mainly based on artisanry and tobacco. Skælskør was a lesser part of the conflict on western Zealand.
Through the Middle Ages the three towns remained market towns, with the remaining territory of the current municipality going under the administrative hundreds of Slagelse Hundred and Vester Flakkebjerg Hundred. These belonged to the syssel of Vestersyssel. In 1660 the syssel was changed and split up into two counties (Danish: amter). These were Antvorskov County and Korsør County, and they approximately made up the current borders of Slagelse Municipality. In 1798 these counties were merged with Sorø County. In the 1970 Danish Municipal Reform the administrative division of the region was changed again. Market towns were dissolved, and Slagelse instead became the seat of the new Slagelse Municipality. Korsør became the seat of Korsør Municipality, Skælskør of Skælskør Municipality and Dalmose of Hashøj Municipality. All four municipalities were in the new West Zealand County. In the Municipal Reform of 2007 these four municipalities were merged to form the current municipality, which became a municipality in the new Region Zealand.
Historical divisions
The table below shows the historical municipal subdivisions of Slagelse Municipality.
| Historical municipal divisions of Slagelse Municipality | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1970 | 1966 | 1922 | 1875 | 1843 | 1842 | 1425 | 1414 | 1288 | Towns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slagelse Mun. | Slagelse Mun. | Slagelse Market Town Mun. | Slagelse Market Town | Slagelse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Michael’s Rural Parish Mun. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Peter’s Rural Parish Mun. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Havrebjerg Parish Mun. | Havrebjerg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stillinge Parish Mun. | Kirke Stillinge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stillinge Strand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kongsmark Strand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hejninge Parish Mun. | Hejninge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vestermose Parish Mun. | Sønderup-Nordrupvester Parish Mun. | Sønderup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gudum Parish Mun. | Gudum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sorterup-Ottestrup Parish Mun. | Ottestrup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kindertofte Parish Mun. | Pedersborg-Kindertofte Parish Mun. | Kindertofte | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hashøj Mun. | Hashøj Parish Mun. | Sørbymagle-Kirkerup Parish Mun. | Sørbymagle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slots Bjergby-Sludstrup Parish Mun. | Slots Bjergby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lundforlund-Gerlev Parish Mun. | Gerlev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skørpinge-Fårdrup Parish Mun. | Skørpinge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Høve-Flakkebjerg Parish Mun. | Flakkebjerg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gimlinge Parish Mun. | Dalmose | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyllested Parish Mun. | Hyllested | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Korsør Mun. | Korsør Market Town Mun. | Korsør Market Town | Korsør | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tårnborg Parish Mun. | Svenstrup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frølunde Fed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vemmelev-Hemmeshøj Parish Mun. | Forlev-Vemmelev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skælskør Mun. | Skælskør Parish Mun. | Skælskør Market Town Mun. | Skælskør Market Town Mun. | Skælskør Market Town | Skælskør | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skælskør’s Rural Parish Mun. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tjæreby Parish Mun. | Tjæreby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Magleby Parish Mun. | Magleby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eggeslevmagle Parish Mun. | Eggeslevmagle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boeslunde Parish Mun. | Boeslunde | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agersø Parish Mun. | Agersø By | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Omø Parish Mun. | Omø By | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Holsteinborg Parish Mun. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ørslev-Sønder Bjerge Parish Mun. | Ørslev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Holsteinborg-Venslev Parish Mun. | Bisserup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rude | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- ^ Also part of today’s Sorø Municipality.
- ^ Also part of today’s Næstved Municipality.
Towns
Below are all settlements in the municipality with populations of at least 200 people (populations as of 2020).
| Slagelse | 34,015 |
| Korsør | 14,608 |
| Skælskør | 6,455 |
| Forlev-Vemmelev | 2,525 |
| Svenstrup | 1,856 |
| Sørbymagle | 1,100 |
| Dalmose | 988 |
| Slots Bjergby | 864 |
| Boeslunde | 765 |
| Kirke Stillinge | 674 |
| Bisserup | 523 |
| Flakkebjerg | 445 |
| Havrebjerg | 395 |
| Stillinge Strand | 351 |
| Rude | 272 |
| Frølunde Fed | 252 |
| Kongsmark Strand | 237 |
Slagelse
Slagelse Station.
Slagelse is the largest city in the municipality, and is the seat of the municipal council. It is the 21st largest city in Denmark. The city’s largest attractions include the sizable shopping center West Zealand Center (Danish: Vestsjællandscenteret), the ruins of Antvorskov and the nearby ring castle of Trelleborg.
Slagelse is located around 15 km east of Korsør and 17 km north-east of Skælskør. 13 km east of Slagelse is Sorø, 33 km north is Kalundborg and 32 km south-east is Næstved. Slagelse borders a large forest area to the south-east, with the closest parts of the forest known as Slagelse Lystskov. Antvorskov barracks and the village of Harrested is located to the south, while the rest of the city borders fields.
Antvorskov and the ruins of the Antvorskov Monastery is located in the southern part of the town, where a school and a large supermarket is also located. The police department of the municipality is also located in the southern part of the town, as is Antvorskov Church. The south-western part of the city consist of residential areas and a number of large shops. The western side of the town is mainly residential with a small industrial area. Also to the west, though closer to the center of the city, is Slagelse Gymnasium and the surrounding educations and schools, including a large vocational school. The hiking trail and former railway Fodsporet cut through the south and western parts of Slagelse. The northern parts of Slagelse have large residential and industrial areas, and is also the location of the Danish Welfarehistorical Museum, several schools and a vocational school. To the east is Skovsø, which is a village that has mostly grown together with Slagelse and is home to many industries. A golf course is also located in Skovsø. Next to Skovsø, at the south-east of Slagelse, are mostly residential areas, and further towards the town center is Slagelse Hospital. The center of Slagelse is the home to a large number of shops, restaurants, cafés and services. Slagelse Library, Slagelse Museum, Slagelse Train Station, the town hall and two churches are located around the center of the city. The West Zealand Center (Danish: Vestsjællandscenteret) is a shopping center originating from 1969 and is also located at the center of the town.
Korsør
Korsør Fortification.
Korsør is located on the south-western tip of Zealand, connecting to Nyborg through the Great Belt Bridge. The city is split in two by the Korsør Nor fjord. The northern half of the city is known as Halsskov, and is home to Korsør Train Station, located in the outskirts of Halsskov, near the village of Stibjerg Huse. Halsskov is home to a small industrial area, a harbour, Halsskov Church, a sizable camping and vacation center and a number of cultural facilities, including a library. The southern half of Korsør is known by the city’s name, and is home to a naval base, a harbour, St Povls Church and a small industrial area. The Danish Maritime Authority has its headquarter in Korsør. Also located in the city is Korsør Fortification (Danish: Korsør Fæstning), where a castle from the 1200s used to be located. It was torn down in the start of the 1800s, but the fortifications remain.
Skælskør
Skælskør Library.
Skælskør is located south-east of Korsør and south-west of Slagelse. It borders the fjord of Noret, which goes through the town and split it in two. Skælskør Church is located in the western part of the town. In the eastern part is a sizable industrial area. Denmark Bus Museum is located in Skælskør. The village and beach of Kobæk Strand is located 1 km west of Skælskør.
Forlev-Vemmelev
Forlev-Vemmelev (also known under the individual names Forlev and Vemmelev) are two towns that have grown together. The merged town is referred to under all three names. The Statistics Denmark refer to the town as Forlev while Slagelse Municipality refer to it as Vemmelev. The E20 motorway cut through the town, with the former Forlev located north of the motorway and Vemmelev south of it. A bridge connects the two sides of the town. Vemmelev Church is located in Vemmelev.
Villages
The large size and population of the municipality mean that there are many small villages and settlements in the municipality.
Omø Harbour in Kirkehavn.
Slots Bjergby is a village located ca. 2 km south of Slagelse. The village, which has also had the names of Bjergby and Munke Bjergby, is home to the highest located church on Zealand, 77.5 meters above sea level.
Fladholte is a small village located 12 km south-east of Slagelse. The village is located on the border to Næstved Municipality. In the village is the largest private collection of military vehicles in the Nordic countries, in a museum called PanzerMuseum East. The museum display various types of military vehicles, two helicopters and a Bac 1-11 passenger plane is also displayed in the museum.
Årslev is located 6 km north of Slagelse. Outside the village, to the east, is a permanent circus and amusement park called Arena Cirkusland, home to Cirkus Arena.
Omø By is the main settlement on the island of Omø, with the other settlement on the island called Kirkehavn (or Omø Kirkehavn). Omø Church is located in Omø By.
The main settlement on the island of Agersø is called Agersø By. Agersø Church and Agersø Mill are located here.
The island of Glænø is inhabited, though there are no named settlements on the island.
In addition to these villages, there are a number of smaller settlements in the municipality. These are all the settlements with populations of less than 200 people:
| Agersø By |
| Apager |
| Askegårde |
| Attekøb |
| Atterup |
| Bankehuse |
| Barkemose Huse |
| Bejlevad |
| Bildsø |
| Bildsøstrand |
| Birkemose |
| Bjergby Mark |
| Bjergby Overmark |
| Bjærup |
| Blæsinge |
| Bøgelunde |
| Bøstrup |
| Bøstrup Overdrev |
| Båslunde |
| Dragshuse |
| Dævdivsrød |
| Egerup |
| Eggeslevlille |
| Eggeslevmagle |
| Erdrup |
| Erdrup Enghave |
| Esholte |
| Eskilstrup Overdrev |
| Firhuse |
| Fladholte |
| Flakkebjerg Stationsby |
| Forlev Mærsk |
| Fornetofte |
| Frankerup |
| Frederikslund |
| Fårdrup |
| Fårevadskrog |
| Gadehuse |
| Gasekær Huse |
| Gedehave |
| Gerdrup Ravnemark |
| Gerlev |
| Gimlinge |
| Gimlinge Enghave |
| Glænø |
| Gryderup |
| Grøfte |
| Gudum |
| Halkevad |
| Hallelev |
| Hallelev Huse |
| Harrested |
| Hejninge |
| Hemmeshøj |
| Hulby |
| Huse Herrestrup |
| Hyldemark |
| Hyllerup |
| Hyllested |
| Hyllested Enghave |
| Høve |
| Indelukket |
| Jernbjerg |
| Kagsmark |
| Kelstrup |
| Kelstrup Strand |
| Kildehuse |
| Kildemark |
| Kindertofte |
| Kirkehavn |
| Kirkerup |
| Kirkerup Mark |
| Kirkerup Overdrev |
| Klarskov |
| Knivkær |
| Kobæk Strand |
| Kokkehuse |
| Krogen |
| Krænkerup |
| Lille Flakkebjerg |
| Lille Valby |
| Lorup |
| Lundby |
| Lundforlund |
| Lundstorp |
| Lunghuse |
| Lynghuse |
| Løvesbjerg Gårde |
| Madslunde |
| Magleby |
| Magleby Ravnemark |
| Mindeshoved |
| Munkebjerg |
| Neble Lyng |
| Nordrup |
| Nordskov |
| Noret |
| Nybro |
| Nyvang |
| Næsby Fed |
| Næsby Huse |
| Næsby Overdrev |
| Næsby ved Stranden |
| Næsbyskov |
| Ollerup |
| Olstrup |
| Omø By |
| Oreby |
| Oreby Huse |
| Ormeslev |
| Ottestrup |
| Plessens Overdrev |
| Rappenborg |
| Rennebjerg |
| Rosted |
| Rydemark |
| Rødkulle Huse |
| Råbjerg |
| Seerdrup |
| Sibberup |
| Skaftelev |
| Skaftelevgårdshuse |
| Skalsbjerg |
| Skovsø Lillevang |
| Skætholm |
| Skørpinge |
| Slagstrup |
| Sludstrup |
| Snekkerup |
| Sorterup |
| Stegerset |
| Store Kongsmark |
| Stubberup |
| Stude |
| Stærremark |
| Søhuse |
| Sønder Bjerge |
| Sønder Jellinge |
| Søndermark |
| Sønderup |
| Sønderupsønder |
| Sørbylille |
| Sørbymagle Overdrev |
| Tangen |
| Teglværkshuse |
| Tinghuse |
| Tjæreby |
| Tranderup |
| Trælleborg Gårde |
| Tystofte |
| Tyvelse |
| Vedbynørre |
| Vedbysønder |
| Vedskølle |
| Vejlager |
| Venslev |
| Venslev Enghave |