Kolding is a Danish seaport located at the head of Kolding Fjord in Region Syddanmark (Region of Southern Denmark). It is the site of the council Kolding Municipality. It is a transportation, commercial, and manufacturing centre, and has numerous industrial companies, principally geared towards shipbuilding. The manufacturing of machinery and textiles and livestock export are other economically significant activities.
With a population of c. 86,000, the Kolding municipality is the seventh largest in Denmark.
Located in Kolding is the former royal castle of Koldinghus. This was built in the 13th century by King Eric Glipping and is now a museum with certain parts of the castle, including its chapel and hall, being used for governmental ceremonial events. It was the last royal residence in Jutland. Another notable site is the 13th century stone Church of Saint Nicholas (in Danish: Sankt Nicolai), which is one of the oldest in Denmark. Popular tourist attractions include the Trapholt art museum and the gardens Geografisk Have. Trapholt holds collections of Danish arts from 1900 onwards and a smaller number of non-Danish exhibits. Kolding is also the site of Designskolen Kolding, a university level design school.