By rail, Holbæk is served by Danske Statsbaner's line from Roskilde to Kalundborg, which runs through the city.

Holbæk has an active commercial seaport that serves as the harbor for the ferry to Orø (island).

It was called Holbækgaard, a larger farm belonging to a nobleman, around which the city eventually developed.

Holbæk grew from then on but is not mentioned again until around 1400 when Margaret I came for a court proceeding that granted her territories in Jutland.

Companies headquartered in Holbæk include Sparekassen Sjælland-Fyn and Pharmacosmos Culturally, Holbæk can be noted for Musikhus Elværket, a converted power station that serves as a concert venue for modern music.

In 2021 new owners transformed the place into a book café and intimate stage with a mix of concerts, lectures and open mic.

[7] The Holbæk Sportsby (Sports City) was constructed in 2019 and has 23,000 square metres of space indoors over two floors and 47 hectares outdoors.