Køge is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Roskilde County on the east coast of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 124 km², and has a total population of 40,053 (2005). Until January 2007, its mayor Torben Hansen, a member of the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) political party, who died while still in office. The main town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Køge. Other agglomeration in the municipality include Køge Nord (Ølby and Ølsemagle), Lille Skensved, Lellinge, Algestrup, Herfølge and Hastrup. Neighboring municipalities are Vallø to the southeast, Solrød to the north, Skovbo to the west, and Haslev and Rønnede to the south. To the east is Køge Bay (Køge Bugt) , the strait that separates the island of Zealand from Sweden.
Køge, located close to Copenhagen, has a well-preserved old town, and is at the end of a line of the Copenhagen S-train system. The oldest house in Denmark can be found there. During the local witchhunt, called Køge Huskors (1612), at least 15 persons were convicted of witchcraft and burned on the stake.
