From small market town to major municipality
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The administrative debate at the beginning of the new millennium focuses on the justification for having counties in Denmark. Would it not be more appropriate to have just a few large regions? After all, driving the length or breadth of Denmark by car takes only four to five hours! Denmark has a population of only 5 million – equivalent to about a third the size of London.
The introduction of regions could mean that the number of so-called primary municipalities could be reduced to approx. one hundred. The reduction could be based on demographic, business and other relevant criteria.
However, when industrialisation really gained momentum at the end of the 19th century, it was largely Copenhagen and the old market towns that saw the greatest growth. These towns had certain privileges and were also often attractive from the point of view of transport.
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However, not all the market towns were propelled along by industrialisation. Despite its municipal privileges which dated back to 1583, Skanderborg was one of the towns which saw only limited growth at this time.
The town was, of course, an administrative centre (among other things of its own county). There was some trade and several markets – such as its well-known horse market.
But the town also suffered from a sense of being “hemmed in” due to its location. Nearby market towns had ports (Aarhus and Horsens) or lay close to Gudenåen, the large river flowing through Jutland, (Silkeborg and Randers).
The insularity of this small market town could also be ascribed to the fact that the town boundaries which had been laid down in 1583 were rather narrow. |
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The rail connection in the 1860s meant that the railway station with freight facilities and tolls etc. was located in the suburb of Skanderup-Stilling. A road was built from the station down to the small market town, which at the beginning of the 20th century had a population of approx. 2,000. This is a figure which over the next 60 years would only double.
Nevertheless, up until 1960 a lot was done to try and influence developments. The town’s location in a distinctive farming and woodland area meant that it was natural for a number of businesses to become involved in related activities: machinery makers, seed suppliers, slaughtering etc.
At this time, Jutland cattle shows were also being held in Skanderborg, further strengthening the town’s association with farming.
The town government did all that it could to draw attention to the opportunities that existed.
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In 1935, on the town’s initiative, a large complex called “Sølund” was built in Skanderborg deer park. This was made available to De Kellerske Åndsvage-anstalter, and has now developed to become the largest “institution” of its kind in Denmark, serving people with mental and physical disabilities with very special needs.
Just a couple of years later, a large national exhibition was held in the grounds of Skanderborg deer park close to where Hotel Skanderborghus is now situated. This national exhibition, held shortly after the opening of the bridge across the Little Belt, attracted considerable attention.
With the new radio medium, nearly everyone in Denmark heard about the exhibition and what was being exhibited. Following the hard times of the war years, Skanderborg tried once again to promote itself. But it wasn’t entirely successful. As mentioned, the town was hemmed in like a little smallholder. Something had to happen!
In 1937, a “peace agreement” was made with the parish council of the suburban municipality of Skanderup-Stilling which expired at the end of the 1950s.
The town council raised a so-called annexation case in 1959 with the Ministry of the Interior. Attention was drawn to the fact that, since it was established in 1583, Skanderborg’s growth had been hampered due to its narrow town boundaries.
The annexation case was solved through both the parish council and the town council agreeing to voluntary municipal amalgamation from 1963.
When the major municipal reform took place in 1970, the new town was amalgamated with an additional three adjoining rural municipalities.
The conditions were now right to start initiating the developments which everyone wanted.
The new large municipality was able to initiate appropriate urban and business development based on what was most suitable for this considerable area. And in so doing, taking regard of the countryside, the local districts, the forthcoming motorway etc.
This development has subsequently continued – at varying rates of progress – until the present day. |
When Skanderborg celebrated its 400th anniversary in 1983, the town had a population of 20,000. In addition to the increasing number of people living in the town, there have in recent years also been significant developments within trade and industry. Here, developments have, in particular, been characterised by a healthy differentiation between various types and sizes of business.
The town’s commercial life will thus be less vulnerable to major market fluctuations or economic trends. A small, almost self-appointed enterprise committee in the 1970s has been replaced by an industrial development council with its own business manager.
From the point of view of the surrounding countryside, the Skanderborg area boasts large tracts of woodland interspersed with lakes and valleys. Provident town councils have allocated specific areas for a wide variety of purposes, and not just for residential or business use. Recreational and cultural considerations have also played a role.
Today, the centre of Skanderborg is the large park on the shores of the lake. Here, there is a cultural centre, Kulturhuset, with a library, cinema, auditorium and café. There are large grass areas with a wharf, playground, pétanque etc. When town festivals and cultural evening events etc. are held, thousands of people come to the park to participate.
More than a 150 years ago people also assembled in Skanderborg. Back then, the centre of the town was at Slotsbanken.
Here, among the lakes, more than 10,000 Jutlanders gathered to unveil “The Jutland Liberty Memorial” in memory of the abolition of adscription. The memorial is embellished by a bust of King Frederik VI sculpted by Bertel Thorvaldsen and with reliefs by H.W. Bissen. King Christian VIII was present at the ceremony together with, among others, the Student Singers from Copenhagen (which included the author H.C. Andersen).
It seems incomprehensible that a small town with a population of approx. 1,000 could accommodate and feed such a large number of visitors.
However, according to H.C. Andersen’s entries in his diary, everything was satisfactory and took place in a dignified manner. Except that some people had to be accommodated outside the parish with wagons and horses.
Today, more than 10,000 people attend Skanderborg festival which takes place each year in August. The festival is held only a few hundred metres from Slotsbanken and enjoys the support of both the town and the people living here. People attending the festival stay for example in the deer park and in the grounds of Sølund.
Cultural life in Skanderborg also embraces sport. For many years, Skanderborg and sport were synonymous with cricket or sailing. This is still the case. However, new sports have been added: golf, riding, handball and kayaking. For example, every year in September, the international kayaking event the ”Tour de Gudenåen” is held attracting many thousands of spectators along the entire route.
For many years, a hallmark of Skanderborg and its citizens has been the events which are held for the town and which are organised in close collaboration between the citizens and the town government.
Skanderborg invites everyone to play an active part in the multifarious life of our town.
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