Ballerup, the edge of Copenhagen, Denmark
ABOUT BALLERUP MUNICIPALITY
Ballerup is the edge of Copenhagen, Denmark. In the past 50 years, Ballerup Local Authority has evolved from a village enclave into a modern urban community.
The Municipality of Ballerup is known for its deep social commitment and involvement. The high number of social housing and institutions in particular shows the financial and social benefits the elderly, socially disadvantaged and marginalised people are provided with – as well as offering children, young and the disabled relatively good conditions.
A flourishing business sector is also characteristic of Ballerup. In pursuit of active industrial policy, Ballerup has attracted numerous large as well as small and medium sized companies and is holding the highest concentration of workplaces in the Copenhagen area.
Ballerup stands as an active, environment-conscious local authority and is putting a big effort into environmental promoting initiatives.
Furthermore, Ballerup has always had a strong focus on having a vibrant cultural and sports life. It means that Ballerup today holds among other things more than 100 publicly accessible works of art, outstanding integration of art and architecture, more than 300 associations within sport, culture and leisure and a wide range of facilities for the active people in Ballerup.
VALUES
Ballerup – open and challenging!
The Municipality of Ballerup agreed in 2004 about a set of fundamental values, which form the basis for the management, the cooperation and development within the municipality of Ballerup – with advantage for both the staff and the citizens. The principal headline for the fundamental values is Ballerup – open and challenging.
KEY FIGURES
Area:
3.409 hectares
Part of the region: “Copenhagen Capital Region.”
15 km north-west of central Copenhagen
20 km to Copenhagen airport
0 km to motorway
5 S-train stations (commuter rails)
Population
Inhabitants: 46.654
Business
App. 1.900 enterprises with app. 37,000 employees
Educational institutions:
Borupgaard Gymnasium (Upper Secondary School)
CPH University College of Engineering/Aalborg University
Technical School of Greater Copenhagen
Ballerup Business College
Ballerup Seminaret – Ballerup school of Social Educators
KDAS – Copenhagen Teachers College
STRATEGIES, VISIONS & CHALLENGES
It’s all about people in Ballerup…
Ballerup has launched a vision called ‘Ballerup- vision 2020’. The vision forms the basis of future politics and strategies in the municipality.
The visions overall motto is: “Ballerup backs people”.
The ‘Vision 2020’ has been formulated and formed in dialogue with the citizens.
The citizens of Ballerup should have the possibilities of a healthy life with a physical and psychological well-being. In this way the municipality is focusing on
- Sustainability and a green environment
- Sport & exercise opportunities
- Vibrant cultural life
- Attractive city & housing
- Active business sector
- Bridging education and business
- Possibilities for local young people
- Traffic solutions
The first strategies have been outlined and first actions have been taken towards making the vision into reality in 2020.
Like other local authorities the financial crisis has had its impact on the Ballerup Municipality. Ballerup is facing economic challenges. Tax income from both business and private are getting lower. The municipality experiences the citizens’ higher expectations for more and better services, as at the same time there are fewer and fewer resources to meet these expectations.
Therefore the municipality has taken initiatives aiming to work more innovative and effective. Furthermore, it is an aim to involve the citizens in the decision making and make partnerships and network across.
The future challenges are high on the agenda, and Ballerup is working to prepare itself and its citizens to these future challenges.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Ballerup has for many years given a high priority to international relations:
Member of the Edge Cities Network since 2000 . Ballerup is twinned with Prague 10, The Czech Republic and South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Ballerup has friendly relations with Wuxi, China and Burkina Faso, West Africa.
WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN DENMARK?