Aarhus is situated in the Region Midtjylland (Mid-Jutland), where Aarhus is the largest city (and the second largest in Denmark). The region stretches from the windy Vesterhav to the Kattegat in the east.
The region is diverse both in terms of the nature and the physical landscape as well as the industries and the inhabitants and mentality in general.
The windy west coast is characterised by the beautiful coastline and sand hills as well as vast heaths and plantations. The small streams wind their way through the landscape flowing into the fjords on the west coast – in all a very rich and diverse nature and wildlife. For centuries the main industry has been the fishing industry and is today as well. It has been a challenge to attract businesses to the west coast, but you will find several large and international businesses in the area, e.g. Bang og Olufsen and Vestas just to name a few.
The region spans from Aarhus on the east coast, to Herning on the west coast. The two coastlines are very different, but there are also similarities. The east coast is rich in beautiful nature, but is not as windy as the west coast. Although Aarhus is a modern metropolis the forest and the beach are still within reach.
Off the eastern coast the island Samsoe is located – a beautiful green island that has made it its key issue to facilitate and promote the use of environmentally friendly energy.
In and around Aarhus, you will find a vast number of businesses, both national and international, within nearly every sector imaginable. Located in the middle of Denmark, near the sea and Billund and Aarhus airport, Aarhus provides great facilities and infrastructure for businesses with easy access to the rest of Europe and the world. The Region Midtjylland is a rich region – both in terms of the nature, the business environment and in the tourism sector.
There has been a tendency towards involving the surrounding regions in the European Capital of Culture, e.g. Lille and the Normandy in 2004 and Essen and the Ruhr 2010, so a cross-regional cooperation and acceptance is necessary if it is to be a regional project as well.
Aarhus has decided to cooperate with the Region Midtjylland and so far 18 of the 19 municipalities in the Region have entered into a formal cooperation with Aarhus 2017 and the last one - Hedensted - is expected to commit to the project by the end of August 2011.
