Horsens, with 58.000 inhabitans, is an old medieval town. The town is beautifully placed by the fjord, surrounded by woods.

Each year, the biggest Medieval Festival in the northern part of Europe, takes place in Horsens. As a contrast to the medieval character, many rock-concerts are held in Horsens – to mention a few Robbie Williams, Bob Dylan, Elton John og latest Sir Paul McCartney gave concerts in Horsens.

Horsens Healthy City
Since it became a member of the Healthy Cities Network in 1987, Horsens has ranked health and health promotion highly on the political agenda.

This has meant that all policy decisions incorporate a health perspective and consideration for health – not as scientific investigations and follow-up (which would be an impossibility in terms of resources), but as a way of thinking.

This has meant that Horsens Healthy City ceased as a project in 1995 and became a part of the city’s daily operations. This means that considerations of health and health promotion have been implemented not merely in the policy decision-making processes, but also in all municipal administrations – in both the internal procedures and in the services supplied “out of house”, so to speak.

Apart from this, there has been, and there still is, a very high degree of citizen involvement in Horsens Healthy City.

Inducing citizens to consider health in their everyday activities and to act accordingly must be one of the WHO’s noblest goals.

This process is in full swing in the City of Horsens. The Healthy City Shop is a very important tool is this work as the citizens can meet others here who are keen to participate in the local community in a different way. Work is proceeding here on projects within the broad concept of health and environment, often in cooperation with the relevant municipal administrations. The experiences achieved via the voluntary work are transferred to the administrations.

The Horsens Healthy City page can be found from here.

The new Health Policy for the Municipality of Horsens 2007-09 can be found from here