Was Kirke Værløse always smaller? The story whispers of a time when this village was the heart of the region. Today Kirke Værløse might seem like a quiet neighbor. It sits just three kilometers west of the larger Værløse. But step back in time with me.
Kirke Værløse boasts a history stretching back centuries. Its church is mentioned as far back as 1341. This makes it the older of the two Værløse settlements. In 1787 Kirke Værløse was the larger settlement. It had 15 farms and 52 houses. Little Værløse earned its nickname because of this. That nickname faded in the 1990s.
At the heart of Kirke Værløse stands its church. The Kirke Værløse Kirke dates back to around 1200. It showcases classic Romanesque architecture. The churchyard serves Værløse Parish. You can also spot many thatched-roof properties in the old part of town.
The town also has its own sports club. KVIF focuses mainly on soccer. There is a trim section for running. Aktivscenen runs a local amateur theater. Værløse Golf Club has a course between Kirke Værløse and Ryget Skovby.
South of the town was Flyvestation Værløse. It had an access road from the north side. The same road leads to a large business park.
Kirke Værløse first appears in records on March 4 1341. It was then known as Withærløsæ. Later it was called Vetherløsa maklæ. This means Værløsemagle or Store Værløse. The name Kierchewerløse appeared on a 1682 land register.
In 1682 Lille Værløse had 12 farms. It also had 21 houses without land. The cultivated area totaled 556 tønder land. It was assessed at 121.19 tønder hartkorn. The cultivation system was three-field rotation.
Unlike Lille Værløse Kirke Værløse did not get a train connection. The village remained surrounded by its fields for most of the 1900s. The population was 352 in 1921. It was 287 in 1925. It was 283 in 1930. The population grew to 310 in 1935. It reached 372 in 1940. Then 340 in 1945. In 1950 it was 360 and 414 in 1955. The village had 545 residents in 1960.
Originally Kirke Værløse was the center of the parish and municipality. During the 1900s the center functions shifted. They moved to Lille Værløse. This is three kilometers east. It is near the Slangerupbanen railway line.
Until 1960 Kirke Værløse had the character of a quiet village. From about 1980 there was significant urban development. This was partly due to Flyvestation Værløse. The airbase was just south of the town. It closed in 2004.
Today an industrial area lies east of Kirke Værløse. Værløse continues to grow westward. The two settlements are nearly connected.
The Romanesque-Gothic church replaced a stave church in the 1200s. Kirke Værløse Church’s tower was renovated between 2009 and 2015. So here in Kirke Værløse you can find the roots of the modern town. The story of its past echoes in the present.