A rectangular plastic sheet lies on rain-soaked autumn leaves just meters from the red brick building housing the regional council chamber in Sorø. Trine Birk Andersen, chair of Region Zealand's 41-member council, stands firmly on the plate to avoid sinking into the soft ground.
She took the ceremonial first dig for a 7.5 million kroner construction project. "We need to make space for the new regional council," she announced beforehand.
The current chamber cannot accommodate six additional chairs needed when Region Zealand and the Capital Region merge into the new Eastern Denmark Region. The combined council will have 47 politicians instead of 82 total from the two separate councils.
Each additional chair effectively costs 1.25 million kroner if the budget holds. "Finally we're starting something very concrete," Andersen told the gathered crowd wearing long jackets and holding umbrellas.
The merger stems from Denmark's healthcare reform decided approximately one year ago. Politicians will be elected in weeks to prepare for the new healthcare reality while current councils manage operations during transition.
The political agreement already placed the new region's headquarters in Sorø. Andersen calls this crucial for making the provincial town "a democratic stronghold right in the heart of Region Eastern Denmark."
"This shows we're serious about geographical equality—being close to all citizens regardless of where they live," she said.
Municipal researcher Roger Buch from the Danish School of Media and Journalism sees symbolic value exceeding practical impact. "Regarding political decisions about our hospitals and healthcare system, the headquarters location hardly matters. This should mainly be seen as symbolic," he stated.
From 2027, Region Zealand and Capital Region will disappear, replaced by Region Eastern Denmark covering all of Zealand, surrounding islands, and Bornholm. The healthcare reform aims to distribute resources more evenly since currently areas with the sickest populations have the fewest doctors.
Region Eastern Denmark becomes Denmark's largest region with 2.78 million residents—roughly 46% of the population. Buch notes the Sorø headquarters signals decentralization from the capital area.
The current Capital Region headquarters in Hillerød will continue hosting regional functions. The merger should free 150 million kroner by eliminating duplicate administrative functions like HR, payroll, legal, and communications departments.
The expensive expansion for just six chairs raises questions about whether this represents the most cost-effective solution for taxpayers.