West Zealand County

West Zealand County
Vestsjællands Amt (Danish)
Coat of arms of West Zealand County
West Zealand County in Denmark
West Zealand County in Denmark
SeatSorø
Area
 • Total
2,984 km2 (1,152 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)
 • Total
307,207
 • Density103.0/km2 (266.6/sq mi)

West Zealand County (Danish: Vestsjællands Amt) is a former county (Danish: amt) in the west-central part of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in eastern Denmark. The county was formed on 1 April 1970, comprising a few former counties. The county was abolished effective January 1, 2007, when it merged into Region Sjælland (i.e. Region Zealand).[1][2]

The county was responsible for public hospitals, upper secondary schools and schools for Higher Preparatory Examination, public transport and social welfare for disabled people.[3]

The County Hall was located in the town of Sorø, and became the seat of the new region. Sorø is by no means the biggest city in West Zealand, but it has great historical value. It is famed for the Sorø Academy (Danish, Sorø Akademi), an educational institution built in 1140 together with the church where Queen Margaret I of Denmark was buried (later moved to Roskilde Domkirke, Roskilde).

Many people who live in West Zealand commute to the greater metropolitan area of Copenhagen for work.

List of County Mayors

FromToCounty Mayor
January 1, 1970September 20, 1974 †Jørgen Herman Monrad (Venstre)
September 20, 1974December 31, 1985Hans Kjeld Brinth (Venstre)
January 1, 1986December 31, 1989Søren Eriksen (Social Democrat)
January 1, 1990December 31, 1993Henning Tellerup (Conservative)
January 1, 1994December 31, 2001Søren Eriksen (Social Democrat)
January 1, 2002December 31, 2006Hans Jørgen Holm (Venstre)

Municipalities (1970-2006)

References

  1. ↑ "Vestsjællands Amtskommune". Lex (in Danish). Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "Counties of Denmark 1970 - 2006". World Statesmen. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Danish Regions". www.arf.dk. Archived from the original on 2002-10-01.

55°26′N 11°34′E / 55.433°N 11.567°E / 55.433; 11.567