The Year That Passed...

Another year has come to an end. The peacefulness of Christmas has settled in, and it’s time to reflect. The year 2024 was yet another busy one on Lolland. With the Fehmarn Belt connection, the permanent establishment of the tunnel element factory, the green transition, the green gas pipeline, the sale of business areas, new housing developments, growth in tourism, and much, much more. These are positive outcomes of years of dedicated efforts that are now truly beginning to bear fruit.

Jobs as a Catalyst for Growth

In the municipal council, we have long focused on supporting healthy business development. It’s about attracting new companies, creating additional jobs, and ensuring growth and progress. It may sound a bit dry, but it benefits us all. A job is not just a job; it’s also an opportunity for settlement. And with a wide range of attractive job opportunities, we’ll find it easier to attract new residents.

Fortunately, we have the wind at our backs. A new analysis has shown that thousands of additional jobs are expected in the coming years, with even more anticipated by 2040. This is especially true if we succeed in realizing the significant growth potentials surrounding the green transition, the production factory in Rødbyhavn, and increased tourism. There is no doubt that recruitment and retention of the workforce will become a key focus area—not just in the coming year but for many years to come.

Our International Community

Lolland has become home to a thriving international community. Our international school has been a resounding success, and with new initiatives and opportunities tailored to international newcomers, settling down in our area has never been more attractive—whether for work, family life, or long-term plans.

It’s great to see how events and activities are being organized to bring the international community together, helping everyone feel at home here. We hope to see this continue and flourish in the coming year.

To all of you who have chosen Lolland as your home: we are so thrilled to have you here. We hope you will explore and enjoy the many experiences and opportunities our area has to offer.

Milestone After Milestone

The year 2024 has also been marked by numerous significant milestones. In Rødbyhavn, the first tunnel element for the Fehmarn Belt connection was celebrated in June. In the spring, we broke ground for the new viewing platform, PILEN, and in the autumn, we were thrilled to finally secure government support to develop the new foreland—partly for tourism purposes.

At the same time, 2024 saw the launch of efforts to develop an entirely new business area north of the large tunnel element factory. This area offers plenty of space and easy access to both the harbor and the motorway, creating a wealth of opportunities—for example, in the production of massive wind turbines or large-scale energy facilities. This is an initiative that will continue to be developed in 2025.

In Nakskov, this summer saw an evaluation of the town center fund, which has played a key role in ensuring that many of the town's beautiful, historic buildings received much-needed care. The population has increased, the tourist experience has been enhanced, and the initiative now stands as an example for others to draw inspiration from. In January, Nakskov Sports Center became part of Lolland Municipality, and during the summer holidays, the swimming hall was upgraded with a new ceiling and lighting.

On the harbor front, the new green business park at Stensø is continuing to take shape. The quay facilities have been improved, the footbridge to the town center is well underway, and in November, we received approval to begin work on widening the shipping channel, allowing large vessels to access the harbor. This is a crucial step to secure the nearly 2,000 jobs that depend on the harbor.

In Maribo, the business park by motorway exit 48 has been a great success. A new residential area may soon emerge near Nørresø, and exciting developments are underway in the town center, particularly regarding housing and shopping environment —such as the area around the old brewery. Additionally, Maribo’s stunning lakes and rich cultural offerings continue to put our region on the map, year after year, not least with the Maribo Jazz Festival, which once again attracted many visitors to the area in July.

The Other Side of the Story...

At the same time, Lolland Municipality finds itself in a period of significant transition. While we are witnessing growth and numerous new initiatives on one hand, we are also an area still affected by 40 years of decline, a challenging demographic profile, and financial pressure. This means we are compelled to reevaluate how we structure our municipal organization and deliver services—for example, by optimizing wherever possible, consolidating multiple services at fewer locations, exploring innovative solutions, or otherwise adjusting our service levels and municipal offerings to align with the reality we face.

We are fully aware that this will be difficult, but we have no choice—we lack both the manpower and financial resources to continue as we are. However, we are confident that the many new development initiatives, additional jobs, and international settlement can serve as our springboard to a brighter future.

Happy New Year

Let me conclude by thanking everyone who, day after day, throughout the year, makes a difference and contributes to what makes Lolland Municipality unique. A special thank you also goes to the many employees of Lolland Municipality—especially those who are working during this time while others enjoy their holiday.

Finally, I would like to thank our municipal council for the excellent collaboration over the past year. The year 2025 is an election year, and it will be exciting to see how the new council shapes up by this time next year.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Best regards,
Holger Schou Rasmussen
Mayor