Dortmund

Dortmund is a big city in Germany, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the third-largest city in this state and the ninth-largest in all of Germany. With over 600,000 people living there, Dortmund is very important for the surrounding area known as the Ruhr.

The city has a long history, beginning around the year 882. It was once a key member of the Hanseatic League, a group of trading cities in medieval Europe. During World War II, Dortmund suffered heavy bombing, which destroyed most of its old buildings. Today, about a third of the buildings in the city are from before the war.

Although Dortmund used to be famous for its coal and steel industries, it has changed to focus on new technologies like biomedical technology and micro systems technology, as well as services, shopping, and tourism. The city has many places for learning, including universities, and many places for culture such as museums and theatres. Dortmund is also well-known for its football club, Borussia Dortmund, which many people love to watch play. The city has many green spaces and parks, which make it a pleasant place to live after many years of industrial work.

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 suffered 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, located in the eastern part of the Ruhr area. The Ruhr is one of Europe’s largest urban areas, with many cities and around 5.3 million people. 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, like the Harbour Quarter and the Garden Town. Dortmund has a temperate climate with cool winters and warm summers, and it gets about 800 mm of rain each year.

Demographics

Dortmund's population grew quickly during the 19th century when coal mining and steel processing began. In 1904, the city first reached over 100,000 people. Many people from places like East Prussia and France moved to the area around Dortmund, called the Ruhr. Today, most of their descendants speak German and often only remember their family names from their past.

Recently, Dortmund's population has been growing again, partly because younger people move there to attend universities. As of 2024, Dortmund has about 603,462 people, making it the ninth largest city in Germany and the largest city in the Ruhr area.

Religion

As of 2022, 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 long history with Jewish communities and also has 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. During a difficult time in history from 1933 to 1945, leaders were chosen by a strict government. 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 is a mix of old and new. You can see historic buildings like Altes Stadthaus and beautiful churches such as Reinoldikirche and Marienkirche, standing next to modern structures from after World War II. Much of the centre was rebuilt in the 1950s, but it still follows the old medieval layout.

Around the centre, different districts each have their own charm. The Kreuzviertel area has many old buildings from the early 1900s, with plenty of 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, built on a former industrial site, with homes, offices, and a nice place to walk and relax.

Transportation

Dortmund is an important place for travel in Europe. Many big roads, called Autobahns, cross here. One major road, the Ruhrschnellweg, connects 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 to far places in Germany.

The city has many ways for people to get around. There are trains, buses, and even a special train called the Stadtbahn that runs underground in the city centre. Cyclists also have many paths to ride on. Dortmund has its own airport, Dortmund Airport, which offers 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 since the time when steel, coal, and beer were its main industries. Today, the city focuses on high technology, including robotics, biomedical technology, and micro systems technology. It is also known for engineering, tourism, finance, education, and various services, making it one of Germany’s most dynamic cities in new industries.

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

Education

Dortmund has many schools, with over 160 places for students to learn. Children start with four years of primary school, then move to different types of schools depending on what they want to study next. One of the city's oldest schools, Stadtgymnasium Dortmund, was started in 1543 and is still open today.

The city is also home to several universities and colleges. TU Dortmund (TU Dortmund), founded in 1968, has around 30,000 students and teaches 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), which has three campuses across the city. Together, these schools and others welcome about 45,000 students.

Livability and quality of life

Dortmund is known for being a very livable city. In 2017, it was ranked seventh among the most livable cities in Germany for people moving there from other countries. The city has changed a lot since its steel and coal industries closed, focusing now 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 has been praised for its architecture and changes over the years. It is also 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, was founded in 1887. The first opera house was built in 1904, destroyed during World War II, and reopened in 1966 as Opernhaus Dortmund. It works with other locations, including Konzerthaus Dortmund. The Konzerthaus Dortmund is listed among the top concert halls in Europe.

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

Dortmund is famous for its Christmas market, which attracts over three and a half million visitors to its many stalls around a huge Christmas tree.

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

The Museum am Ostwall shows modern and contemporary art, with works from famous artists. The German Football Museum tells the story of Germany’s football history. The Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte has art and items showing Dortmund’s past. The Steinwache is a memorial 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 history of industry in the area.

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 iconic athletes. It annually organizes several world-renowned 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, which means they work together to support friendship and cultural exchange. 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 the famous publishing house and encyclopedia, and Wilhelm Canaris, an admiral in military intelligence.

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.