Holstebro (DK)

Holstebro – the old town on river Storeå – has become a town with a difference. The basis has been made for many different activities. Holstebro music school is one of the country’s largest – and best. Its many orchestras and ensembles continuously have an influence on daily life in Holstebro. And consideration has been made to folk music, which has got a base in Hoager’s old school. Both local history and fine art can be studied at the town’s museums that each have their speciality and are worth visiting. The Odin Theatre (the theatre lab) must be mentioned, too, as it has achieved to make not only itself, but Holstebro, too, known in the whole wide world.

The museums are worth a visit. Holstebro Museum shows the history of the town and area, and has several special collections: Dragoon Museum, Liberty Museum and collections of tin toys, dolls, pipes etc. Holstebro Art Museum has a collection of Danish art after 1930 (a few artists with a wide range of works), modern European graphic, African art and pre-Columbian ceramics.

In the educational field, the town has made its mark with a gymnasium, college of education, nursing school, school for physio- and ergotherapists, school for catering officers, business school, metal school, school for semi-skilled workers, agricultural school, technical school, and primary and lower secondary schools with special stress on the art subjects.

One of Ringkøbing County’s two largest hospitals is situated in Holstebro. It was initiated in 1894.

In 1966, Måbjerg was annexed to Holstebro. At the annexation of municipalities in 1970, Borbjerg, Idom, Mejrup, Naur-Sir, Nørre Felding, Råsted (eastern part of town), and Tvis were put together with Holstebro and now form Holstebro Municipality.

In connection to the emission tower of the new TV-station – TV Midt/Vest, we in 1989 inaugurated the world’s first permanent outdoor laser sculpture by Fritioff Johansen, at 1.5 mill. DKK.

An active land policy helped financing the many benefits for Holstebro’s population.

During all the years, the Municipality has been self-financing – and in 1986 paid a new town hall and library cash – 150 mill DKK. With approx. 41,000 inhabitants and 13 sport centres, Holstebro has the fewest inhabitants per centre.

We got Denmark’s first two-storeyed roundabout – light and heavy traffic divided.

In 1995, The Royal Theatre’s Ballet School moved a branch to Holstebro, and the following year, the world famous ballet master, Peter Schaufuss, established an international ballet company in Holstebro.