Spring til indhold
Local renovation guide

Renovation of your home in Holbaek.

Holbæk is the regional centre for the western part of Region Zealand and one of the largest cities on Zealand with approximately 70,000 municipal residents. The city lies on Holbæk Fjord and Isefjord, surrounded by Zealand's rich agricultural land and forest landscapes. Holbæk is a market town with a strong business community and a vibrant town centre.

Holbaek in brief — context for your renovation.

landscapeHolbæk Fjord and Isefjord

Holbæk lies directly on Holbæk Fjord, which flows out into Isefjord — one of Denmark's large inland fjords. This gives an attractive location for waterside homes, and the municipality offers extensive outdoor activities including sailing, kayaking and beach life.

location_cityMarket town and service centre

Holbæk city is the most important commercial centre for a large hinterland covering the rural municipalities around Isefjord. The high street is active and the retail community is solid. The municipality attracts commuters from rural municipalities and has good connections to Roskilde and Copenhagen.

trainRail connection to Roskilde and Copenhagen

The West Zealand Railway connects Holbæk to Roskilde and onwards to Copenhagen Central in approximately 70–80 minutes. This makes Holbæk attractive for commuters, and housing prices are markedly lower than on North Zealand and in Greater Copenhagen.

Your housing type.

Detached house from 1960–1990

50% of homes in Holbaek — approx. 16,000 dwellings (source: Statistics Denmark 2025)

Detached houses dominate Holbæk and the surrounding communities such as Tølløse, Svinninge and Jyderup. The typical home is a brick villa from the 1960s–80s. Zealand pricing — approximately 10–15% above the national average.

What's typical?

  • — Brick or lightweight concrete exterior walls
  • — Pitched roof with concrete tiles or fibre cement
  • — District heating from Fors A/S in Holbæk city — natural gas or heat pump in peripheral areas
  • — Garden of 600–1,000 m²

Common weaknesses

  • Insufficient insulation in older houses
  • Worn roof covering from the 1960s–70s
  • Outdated bathroom
  • Single-glazed windows

Typical costs

New concrete tile roof

90,000–210,000 kr

Zealand pricing — slightly above the national average. Good trades availability in the mid-Zealand area. . Source: Bolius

Energy windows (per window)

4,500–9,000 kr

Installed energy window. Zealand pricing. . Source: Bolius

New bathroom

90,000–220,000 kr

Full renovation including plumbing. . Source: Bolius

Loft insulation

14,000–30,000 kr

Effective energy saving — typical payback period of 5–8 years. . Source: Bolius

Do you need an architect?

Probably not necessary for:

  • — Roof replacement using the same material
  • — Extension under 50 m²
  • — Interior renovation

Architect recommended or required for:

  • — Extension over 50 m²
  • — Façade alterations
  • — Loft conversion

Apartment building from 1960–1985

28% of homes in Holbaek — approx. 9,000 dwellings (source: Statistics Denmark 2025)

Apartment buildings mainly in Holbæk city. District heating via Fors A/S, which is working to expand the network with electrically-based heat pumps.

What's typical?

  • — 3–5 storeys in brick
  • — District heating from Fors A/S
  • — Shared installations

Common weaknesses

  • Outdated plumbing
  • Insufficient insulation
  • Flat roofs

Typical costs

Façade renovation with insulation

1,300–2,500 kr/m²

Zealand pricing. . Source: Bolius

Do you need an architect?

Probably not necessary for:

  • — Interior apartment renovation

Architect recommended or required for:

  • — Façade renovations
  • — Roof renovations

Terraced house from 1970–1995

22% of homes in Holbaek — approx. 7,000 dwellings (source: Statistics Denmark 2025)

Terraced houses in Holbæk and the surrounding communities. A popular segment for families seeking more space than an apartment at an accessible price.

What's typical?

  • — Brick terraced houses in one to one-and-a-half storeys
  • — Pitched or flat roof
  • — District heating or individual heating

Common weaknesses

  • Insufficient loft insulation
  • Ageing windows

Typical costs

Energy renovation of terraced house

170,000–360,000 kr

Roof, windows and insulation together. Zealand pricing. . Source: Bolius

Do you need an architect?

Probably not necessary for:

  • — Interior renovation

Architect recommended or required for:

  • — Extensions and façade alterations

Local conditions in Holbaek.

local_fire_department District heating — Fors A/S

Fors A/S supplies district heating to Holbæk city and is working on a major expansion based on electrically-based heat pumps. The project proposal builds on a new heat plant in Energibyen, which will gradually make the district heating greener. District heating is available in Holbæk city — outlying towns use natural gas boilers, heat pumps or oil.

www.fors.dk/fjernvarme/fjernvarme-til-holbaek-by

account_balance Heritage value

Holbæk has a modest stock of listed and heritage-value buildings relative to the municipality's size. If your home is registered, the usual rules apply.

Look up your address at the Danish Heritage Agency's FBB register

assignment Building permit in Holbaek

Apply for a building permit via Byg & Miljø on the Holbæk Municipality website. Interior alterations to a single-family home normally do not require a building permit.

Apply for building permit at Holbaek Municipality →

savings Grants for energy renovation

Subsidies for energy renovation are available via Sparenergi.dk. Fors A/S provides guidance on district heating connection and energy savings.

Find grants at sparenergi.dk →

Holbaek in figures.

Data from Statistics Denmark (2025) and the Danish Heritage Agency — context for your property.

36,455

Dwellings total

5.1% vacancy rate

78

Listed buildings

Source: Danish Heritage Agency FBB

7,209

Social housing units

Source: Landsbyggefonden

CO₂ emissions by sector

30.2%

Energy

100,496 tonnes CO₂

36.7%

Transport

122,164 tonnes CO₂

1.4%

Chemical processes

4,500 tonnes CO₂

29.9%

Agriculture and land use

99,612 tonnes CO₂

1.5%

Waste disposal and biogas

5,034 tonnes CO₂

0.4%

Wastewater

1,272 tonnes CO₂

Frequently asked questions
about renovation in Holbaek.

Yes, in Holbæk city Fors A/S supplies district heating. A major expansion based on electrically-based heat pumps is being planned. In surrounding communities, natural gas boilers, heat pumps or oil are used.

Holbæk offers a sensible housing market with prices approximately 10–15% above the national average. With the rail connection to Roskilde and Copenhagen, the municipality is attractive for commuters, and renovation investments are generally profitable.

Prices are at Zealand levels — slightly above the national average. Tradespeople are generally available with a reasonable waiting time compared to the major cities.

Typically: a new roof, loft insulation, energy windows and a bathroom upgrade. Holbæk's solid housing market makes renovation investments profitable in most cases.

Holbæk Fjord and Isefjord offer sailing, kayaking and beach life close to the city. The municipality has large forest areas and nature trails. Proximity to nature combined with a good rail connection to Roskilde and Copenhagen makes Holbæk attractive for families.