Dortmund

Main article: [Dortmund]

Dortmund is a big city in Germany, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the third-largest city in this state and the ninth-largest in all of Germany. Over 600,000 people live there, and it is very important for the surrounding area called the Ruhr.

The city has a long history, starting around the year 882. It was once part of the Hanseatic League, a group of trading cities in medieval Europe. During World War II, many of its old buildings were destroyed. Today, some buildings from before the war remain.

Dortmund used to be famous for coal and steel, but now it focuses on new technologies like biomedical technology and micro systems technology, as well as services, shopping, and tourism. The city has universities, museums, and theatres. It is also known for its football club, Borussia Dortmund. There are many green spaces and parks, making it a nice place to live.

History

Dortmund was first mentioned in old records from a place called Werden Abbey, built between the years 880 and 884. Over time, its name changed many times before settling on Dortmund. In 1389, after surviving a long siege, the city adopted a motto still used today: "as firm as Dortmund."

The city grew around important crossroads and markets. It became a key place in Westphalia and joined a group of important trading cities called the Hanseatic League. During tough times, like wars and fires, Dortmund rebuilt and stayed strong. In the 1800s, it became a busy center for making coal and steel, growing quickly with many new homes and workers.

During World War II, Dortmund faced heavy bombing, but after the war, the city was rebuilt. Today, Dortmund is known for technology and new industries, and it has beautiful parks and lakes like the Phoenix See.

Geography

Dortmund is a big city in Germany, in the eastern part of the Ruhr area. The Ruhr is one of Europe’s largest urban areas, with many cities. Dortmund borders twelve nearby cities, including Bochum, Castrop-Rauxel, and Hagen. It is part of Westphalia and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Dortmund has twelve main areas called boroughs, such as Innenstadt-West (City centre West), Eving, and Hörde. Each borough has its own small local government. The city also has many smaller neighbourhoods with unique names. Dortmund has a temperate climate with cool winters and warm summers.

Demographics

Dortmund grew quickly in the 1800s when coal mining and steel work began. In 1904, the city had more than 100,000 people. Many people from places like East Prussia and France moved to the Ruhr area. Today, most of their descendants speak German.

Dortmund's population is growing again because younger people move there for university. As of 2024, Dortmund has about 603,462 people. It is the ninth largest city in Germany and the largest city in the Ruhr area.

Religion

Many people in Dortmund follow Christianity, mainly Catholicism and Protestant beliefs. There are also communities from the Greek Orthodox Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Macedonian Orthodox Church. The city has a history with Jewish communities and many people who follow Islam, with over 30 mosques. In 2019, Dortmund hosted an important meeting for Christian churches called the German Evangelical Church Assembly.

Government and politics

Dortmund is one of nineteen independent cities in North Rhine-Westphalia and is not part of any larger local government area. Since 1975, it has been split into twelve districts, each with its own elected council and mayor. These councils help give advice to the city.

Dortmund has often supported a particular political group, the SPD. After a big war, new leaders were appointed by British authorities. The first leader chosen by the people of Dortmund was Fritz Henßler. After the war, this group stayed strong in the city’s government for many years.

The current mayor of Dortmund is Alexander Omar Kalouti of the CDU, elected in 2025. The most recent mayoral election happened on 14 September 2025, with a second round on 28 September.

The Dortmund city council helps govern the city together with the mayor. The latest election for this council was also held on 14 September 2025.

Dortmund has friendly connections with cities in other places around the world.

Cityscape

Dortmund's city centre has both old and new buildings. You can see historic buildings like Altes Stadthaus and beautiful churches such as Reinoldikirche and Marienkirche. These stand next to modern buildings built after World War II. Much of the centre was rebuilt in the 1950s, but it still follows the old layout.

Around the centre, different areas each have their own charm. The Kreuzviertel area has many old buildings from the early 1900s, with cafes and shops. The Nordstadt district is lively and full of different cultures, with parks and fun places for children. Other areas like Kaiserviertel and Unionviertel are known for their arts and history. Hörde, in the south, has a beautiful lake called Lake Phoenix. It was built on a former industrial site and has homes, offices, and a nice place to walk and relax.

Transportation

Dortmund is a key place for travel in Europe. Many big roads, called Autobahns, pass through here. One important road, the Ruhrschnellweg, links Dortmund to other cities in the Ruhr Area and even to the Netherlands. There are also other Autobahns like A1 and A2 that help people travel far in Germany.

The city has many ways for people to move around. There are trains, buses, and a special train called the Stadtbahn that runs underground in the city centre. Cyclists have many paths to ride on. Dortmund has its own airport, Dortmund Airport, with flights to many places in Europe. The city also has a big harbour, Dortmund Harbour, which is one of the largest in Europe.

Economy

Dortmund has changed a lot from its past as a city known for steel, coal, and beer. Today, it focuses on new technologies like robotics, biomedical technology, and micro systems technology. The city is also known for engineering, tourism, finance, education, and many services. This makes it one of Germany’s most active cities for new industries.

The city has many small and medium-sized businesses, often called Mittelstand. There are also technology companies near the local university, TU Dortmund, at the Technologiepark Dortmund, one of Europe’s top technology parks. Dortmund has many insurance companies and growing service and high-tech industries. The city is home to important companies and record labels, including Century Media Records, which Sony Music bought in 2015.

Education

Dortmund has many schools where children can learn. They start with four years of primary school and then go to different schools for other subjects.

One of the city's oldest schools, Stadtgymnasium Dortmund, opened in 1543 and is still open today.

The city has universities and colleges too. TU Dortmund (TU Dortmund) began in 1968 and has around 30,000 students. They study subjects like physics, electrical engineering, chemistry, and economics. There is also Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts) with three campuses in the city. All together, these schools welcome about 45,000 students.

Livability and quality of life

Dortmund is a very livable city. In 2017, it was ranked seventh among the most livable cities in Germany for people moving there from other places. The city has changed a lot since its steel and coal industries closed. It now focuses on new technologies and services, which has helped improve life for its residents.

Dortmund is also one of the least stressful cities in the world, ranked 27th out of 150 cities. It does well in areas like traffic, public transport, and fairness. The city is praised for its architecture and changes over the years. It is a great place for students and offers many opportunities for sports, dining, and shopping.

Culture

Dortmund has a rich history of music and theatre. The orchestra, now called the Dortmunder Philharmoniker, began in 1887. The first opera house was built in 1904. It was destroyed during World War II but reopened in 1966 as Opernhaus Dortmund. It works with other places, including Konzerthaus Dortmund. Konzerthaus Dortmund is one of the top concert halls in Europe.

The Domicil Jazz Club is one of the best jazz places in the world. The Dortmund U-Tower, once a brewery, is now a centre for creative work and home to the Museum am Ostwall. The area around it is called Union Viertel and is part of the Creative.Quarters Ruhr.

Dortmund is famous for its Christmas market, which draws many visitors to its stalls around a big Christmas tree.

The Botanischer Garten Rombergpark is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world, with many plants and trees. The Dortmund Zoo, founded in 1953, is known for its South American animals. Westfalenpark is a large and popular park with gardens, a rose collection, and many places to see.

The Museum am Ostwall shows modern and contemporary art, with works from famous artists. The German Football Museum shares Germany’s football history. The Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte has art and items showing Dortmund’s past. The Steinwache is a museum remembering those affected during a difficult time between 1933 and 1945.

Dortmund has many museums, including the LWL Industrial Museum Zollern II/IV Colliery, which shows the area's industrial history.

Dortmund has many places to eat, drink, and enjoy music. It is known for its electronic music and hosts big festivals like Mayday and Juicy Beats. Traditional foods include Pfefferpotthast, Balkenbrij, Heaven and Earth, Currywurst, and Pumpernickel. Dortmund is famous for its Dortmunder Export beer, and local drinks include Stösschen and Dortmunder Tropfen Schnaps.

Sports

Dortmund calls itself the City of Sports. The city is the home of the biggest handball association in the world, the German Handball Association, and the German professional handball league Handball-Bundesliga. Dortmund is also the home of many sports clubs and famous athletes. It holds several popular sporting events, such as the Ruhrmarathon and the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting.

The city is famous for its football club, Borussia Dortmund, one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund have won many titles, including the Bundesliga championship and the UEFA Champions League. They play at Westfalenstadion, currently known as Signal Iduna Park, which is Germany's largest football stadium. Dortmund also has teams in other sports, including handball, table tennis, American football with the Dortmund Giants, ice hockey with Eisadler Dortmund, basketball, and baseball. The city also hosts the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting and has an all-weather racecourse.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Dortmund is twinned with several cities around the world. This means they work together to support friendship and share cultures. These partnerships help people learn about different places and traditions.

Notable people

Dortmund has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some well-known individuals born before 1900 include Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus, who founded a famous publishing house, and Wilhelm Canaris, an admiral.

In the 20th century, Dortmund saw the birth of notable figures such as Paul Falk and Ria Baran, both famous ice pair skaters, and Dieter Wellershoff, who became Inspector General of the Bundeswehr. After 1950, the city continued to produce accomplished people like Klaus Niedzwiedz, a racing driver, and Marco Reus, a well-known football player today.