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Düsseldorf

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Coordinates: 51°13′32″N 6°46′36″E / 51.22556°N 6.77667°E / 51.22556; 6.77667
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the city in Germany. For the album, see Düsseldorf (album). For the cargo ship, see SS Düsseldorf (1909). For the fishing vessel and vorpostenboot, see German trawler V 607 Düsseldorf.

Düsseldorf
Düsseldörp (Low Franconian)
Düsseldörp (Ripuarian)
City
Dusseldorf at night
Nightly view of Düsseldorf with illuminated Rhine Tower and Rheinkniebrücke over the Rhine
Neuer Zollhof
Neuer Zollhof
Ko-Bogen
Kö-Bogen
Standehaus
Ständehaus
Koenigsallee
Königsallee
Bridge Girardet
Girardet Bridge
Palace Gardens
Gardens of Benrath Palace
Flag of Düsseldorf
Flag
Coat of arms of Düsseldorf
Coat of arms
Location of Düsseldorf

Map
Location of Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is located in Germany
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Coordinates: 51°13′32″N 6°46′36″E / 51.22556°N 6.77667°E / 51.22556; 6.77667
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionDüsseldorf
Subdivisions10 boroughs, 50 quarters
Government
 • Lord mayor (2020–25) Stephan Keller[1] (CDU)
 • Governing partiesCDU / Greens
Area
 • City
217.41 km2 (83.94 sq mi)
Elevation
38 m (125 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • City
631,217
 • Density2,903.3/km2 (7,519.6/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,220,000[3]
 • Metro
11,300,000 (Rhine-Ruhr)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
40210–40629
Dialling codes0211, 0203, 02104
Vehicle registrationD
Websitewww.duesseldorf.de
Logo of the city of Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf (German: [ˈdʏsl̩dɔʁf] ⓘ)[a] is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in the state after Cologne and the sixth-largest city in Germany,[b] with a 2024 population of 618,685.[7] Most of Düsseldorf lies on the right bank of the Rhine, and the city has grown together with Neuss, Ratingen, Meerbusch, Erkrath and Monheim. Düsseldorf is the central city of Rhine-Ruhr, the second biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union, that stretches from Bonn via Cologne and Düsseldorf to the Ruhr.

Düsseldorf began as a small settlement at the mouth of the Düssel River, gaining city rights in 1288 after the Battle of Worringen. In the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance, it grew into a regional political and cultural centre under the Dukes of Berg and later as the capital of the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. The 17th and 18th centuries saw flourishing arts and architecture, with Düsseldorf becoming known for its court culture and early art academy. During the Napoleonic era, it was briefly part of the Grand Duchy of Berg before coming under Prussian control in 1815, where it industrialised rapidly in the 19th century. During the 20th century, Düsseldorf developed into one of Germany’s most important centres for administration, business, and culture. In 1946, it became the capital of the newly created state of North Rhine-Westphalia, strengthening its political role.

Düsseldorf is classified as a GaWC Alpha- world city. It is an international business and financial centre, renowned for its fashion and trade fairs,[8][9][10] and is headquarters to one Fortune Global 500 and two DAX companies. Messe Düsseldorf organises nearly one fifth of premier trade shows.[11] Düsseldorf Airport is Germany's fourth-busiest airport, serving as the main international hub for the Ruhr, Germany's largest urban area. Mercer's 2023 Quality of Living survey ranked Düsseldorf the tenth most livable city in the world.[12]

There are 22 institutions of higher education in the city including the Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, the university of applied sciences (Hochschule Düsseldorf), the academy of arts (Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, whose members include Joseph Beuys, Emanuel Leutze, August Macke, Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, and Andreas Gursky), and the university of music (Robert-Schumann-Musikhochschule Düsseldorf). The city is also known for its influence on electronic/experimental music (Kraftwerk) and its Japanese community. As the second largest city of the Rhineland, Düsseldorf holds Rhenish Carnival celebrations in February/March, which rank as the third most prominent in Germany after those of Cologne and Mainz.[13]

Etymology

[edit]

The name Düsseldorf is derived from the small river Düssel, which joins the Rhine at the city’s location.[14] The suffix -dorf (German for "village") reflects the original character of the settlement as a fishing and farming community on the riverbanks. Thus, the literal meaning of Düsseldorf is "village on the Düssel."

As the settlement expanded and developed into a regional and later international centre, the name remained unchanged. Düsseldorf is unusual among Germany’s major cities in having retained the -dorf suffix, which is otherwise mostly associated with small villages.

In the Limburgish language, called Düsseldorfer Platt [de], the city is called Düsseldörp.

History

[edit]
For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Düsseldorf.

Early development

[edit]

When the Roman Empire was strengthening its position throughout Europe, a few Germanic tribes clung on in marshy territory off the eastern banks of the Rhine.[15] In the 7th and 8th centuries, the odd farming or fishing settlement could be found at the point where the small river Düssel flows into the Rhine. It was from such settlements that the city of Düsseldorf grew.

The first mention of Düsseldorf dates from 1135–1159; in 1162 it was referred to as Thusseldorp.[14] Under Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa the small town of Kaiserswerth to the north of Düsseldorf became a well-fortified outpost, where soldiers kept a watchful eye on every movement on the Rhine. Kaiserswerth eventually became a suburb of Düsseldorf in 1929.

Duchy of Berg

[edit]

In 1186, Düsseldorf came under the rule of the County of Berg, a state of the Holy Roman Empire. Around 1206, the settlement was likely separated from the parish of Bilk and became an independent parish.[14] In 1263, the Count of Berg granted ferry rights to the inhabitants.[14]

14 August 1288 is one of the most important dates in the history of Düsseldorf, the day the sovereign Count Adolf VIII of Berg granted town privileges to the village on the banks of the Düssel. Before this, a bloody struggle for power had taken place between the Archbishop of Cologne and his allies arrayed against the count of Berg and other local powers, culminating in the Battle of Worringen.[citation needed] The Archbishop of Cologne's forces were wiped out by the forces of the count of Berg, who were supported by citizens and farmers of Cologne and Düsseldorf, paving the way for Düsseldorf's elevation to city status, which is commemorated today by a monument on the Burgplatz.

After this battle the relationship between Cologne and Düsseldorf deteriorated, because they were commercial rivals; it is often said that there is a kind of hostility between the citizens of Cologne and Düsseldorf. Today, it finds its expression mainly in a humorous form (especially during the Rhineland Karneval) and in sports.[citation needed]

View of Düsseldorf with the church of St. Andrew in the centre, 1667, painted by Jan van der Heyden and the Adriaen van de Velde

In the first century following its founding, Düsseldorf developed only slowly.[14] It was not until the rule of William II of Berg, who became Duke in 1380, that the town experienced significant growth.[14] He expanded Düsseldorf by establishing a new town, increasing its area to about 22.5 hectares.[14] William also enlarged the ducal palace and commissioned the construction of stone fortifications around the entire settlement.[14] During the following centuries several famous landmarks were built, including the Collegiate Church of St Lambertus [de]. In 1609, the ducal line of the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg died out, and after a violent struggle over succession, Jülich and Berg fell to the Wittelsbach Counts of Palatinate-Neuburg, who made Düsseldorf their main domicile.[14]

Under the art-loving Johann Wilhelm II (r. 1690–1716), a vast art collection comprising numerous paintings and sculptures was established in the Stadtschloss (city palace). After his death, the city fell on hard times again, especially after Elector Charles Theodore inherited Bavaria and moved the electoral court to Munich. With him he took the art collection, which became part of what is now the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

Destruction and poverty struck Düsseldorf after the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon made Berg a Grand Duchy and Düsseldorf its capital. In 1806, Joachim Murat (1767–1815) became Grand Duke of Berg but handed power over to Napoleon in 1808.[14] Düsseldorf was visited by Napoleon in November 1811.[14] Johann Devaranne, a leader of Solingen's resistance to Napoleon's conscription decrees, was executed in the city in 1813.

Prussia

[edit]
View of Düsseldorf around 1850

Following the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the Rhineland including Düsseldorf was incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia.[14] Düsseldorf lost its status as a capital, but became the seat of a regional governor and of the Rhenish provincial diet [de] established in 1824.[14] In 1820, the city lost its municipal independence and was incorporated into the District of Düsseldorf, to which it belonged until 1872.[14]

In the first half of the 19th century Düsseldorf earned the nickname "City of Art and Gardens."[14] Prominent painters such as Peter von Cornelius and Wilhelm von Schadow, composers including Friedrich August Burgmüller, Felix Mendelssohn, and Robert Schumann, and writers like Karl Leberecht Immermann and Christian Dietrich Grabbe shaped Düsseldorf’s cultural life.[14]

During the period of industrialisation, Düsseldorf benefited from its favourable location on the Rhine, its proximity to the Ruhr region, opportunities to expand into the surrounding areas, and its connection to various railway lines.[14] From the 1850s onwards, numerous industrial enterprises, particularly in the iron, steel, and chemical industries, settled in Düsseldorf, greatly increasing the demand for labour.[14] The city also developed into a centre for associations, trade unions, and corporate headquarters, growing into an important industrial and commercial city by the end of the 19th century.[14] Düsseldorf’s population grew from 40,000 in 1850 to 100,000 in 1882.[14] In 1908 and 1909, the partially industrialised towns of Wersten, Gerresheim, Eller, Heerdt, Himmelgeist, Ludenberg, Rath, Stockum, and Vennhausen were incorporated into the city.[14]

During World War I, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNS) undertook the first Entente strategic bombing missions on 22 September 1914, when it bombed the Zeppelin bases in Düsseldorf.[16] As both a garrison town and an armaments centre, Düsseldorf was particularly affected by the war.[14]

After the war, the city was occupied by Belgian and British forces after 1918 and by French troops from 1921 to 1925.[14] In 1920, Düsseldorf became the centre of the General Strike that grew out of the resistance to the Kapp Putsch. On 15 April 1920, 45 delegates of the German Miners Union were murdered by the Freikorps.[17]

World War II

[edit]
See also: Gau Düsseldorf and Bombing of Düsseldorf in World War II

During World War II, Düsseldorf was the location of a Nazi prison with several forced labour subcamps,[18] five subcamps of the Buchenwald concentration camp for mostly Polish and Soviet prisoners, but also French, Dutch, Belgian, Czech, Italian, Yugoslav,[19] and a camp for Sinti and Romani people (see Romani Holocaust).[20] The Rabbi of the Düsseldorf Jewish Community fled to the Netherlands and died in KZ Auschwitz in 1943.[21]

The city was a target of strategic bombing during World War II, particularly during the RAF bombing campaign in 1943 when over 700 bombers were used in a single night. Raids continued late into the war. As part of the campaign against German oil facilities, the RAF raid of 20–21 February 1945 on the Rhenania Ossag refinery in the Reisholz district of the city halted oil production there.

The Allied ground advance into Germany reached Düsseldorf in mid-April 1945. The United States 97th Infantry Division easily captured the city on 18 April 1945,[22] after the local German Resistance group launched Aktion Rheinland.

German Federal Republic

[edit]
The state parliament, seen from the top of the Rheinturm

In 1946, Düsseldorf was made capital of the newly established state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The establishment of ministries and the state parliament gave the city an important political role that it retains to the present day.

The immediate postwar decades were marked by reconstruction. Much of the old town and city center was rebuilt, though partly in modernist forms rather than historical replicas. Düsseldorf emerged as a key economic hub during the Wirtschaftswunder ("economic miracle") of the 1950s and 1960s, attracting industries such as steel, machinery, chemicals, and banking. From the 1960s onwards, the city developed into one of Germany’s most important centres for trade fairs and international business. The Messe Düsseldorf became a leading venue for global exhibitions.

Beginning in the 1950s, the Japanese community of Düsseldorf grew significantly as numerous Japanese companies opened offices in the city.[23] The growing expatriate population led to the founding of the Japanese Club Düsseldorf in 1964.[23] Two years later, in 1966, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established, which formalised the coordination of Japanese corporate interests in Germany.[23] In 1971, the Japanese International School in Düsseldorf was established, followed by the creation of a Japanese garden in Nordpark [de] in 1975.[24] By the 1980s, Düsseldorf hosted the largest Japanese community in Germany.[25] The city developed a distinctive "Little Tokyo" district along Immermannstraße, where Japanese shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions were established.[23]

The late 20th century saw the decline of heavy industry, but the city transitioned towards services, telecommunications, fashion, and advertising. After German reunification in 1990, Düsseldorf consolidated its status as a political, economic and cultural centre. From the late 20th century, urban renewal measures included the redevelopment of the Medienhafen (Media Harbour), with new buildings designed by international architects.

Geography

[edit]

Physical geography

[edit]
The course of the Düssel from its source in the Düssel Hill Country (Düsselhügelland) (de) through the Neandertal to Düsseldorf, where it forms three bifurcations, dividing into the four branches (from north to south) Kittelbach, Nördliche Düssel, Südliche Düssel and Brückerbach

Düsseldorf lies at the centre of the Lower Rhine basin, where the delta of the Düssel flows into the Rhine. The city lies on the east side of the Rhine, except District 4 (Oberkassel, Niederkassel, Heerdt and Lörick). Across the Rhine, the city of Neuss stands on the delta of the Erft. Düsseldorf lies southwest of the Ruhr urban area, and in the middle of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.

Düsseldorf is built entirely on alluvium, mud, sand, clay and occasionally gravel. The highest point in Düsseldorf is the top of Sandberg in the far eastern part of the city (Hubbelrath borough) at 165 metres (541 ft). The lowest point is at the far northern end in Wittlaer borough where the Schwarzbach enters the Rhine, with an average elevation of 28 metres (92 ft).

Adjacent cities and districts

[edit]

The following districts and cities border Düsseldorf (clockwise starting from the north): the City of Duisburg, the District of Mettmann (Ratingen, Mettmann, Erkrath, Hilden, Langenfeld, and Monheim), and the District of Neuss (Dormagen, Neuss, and Meerbusch).

Climate

[edit]

The city has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb, mild in relation to East Germany).[26] Like the rest of the lower Rhineland, Düsseldorf experiences moderate winters with little snowfall and mild to warm summers. The average annual temperature is 11.0 °C (52 °F) with an average yearly precipitation of 751 mm (30 in). The dominant wind direction is from the west with velocities in the range of 3–4 m/s (7–9 mph), with gusts of 3.5–4.8 m/s (7.8–10.7 mph). The wind is calm (defined as being under 2 m/s or 4.5 mph) about 35% of the time, more frequently at night and in the winter.[27][28]

Climate data for Düsseldorf (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.3
(63.1) 		21.0
(69.8) 		25.7
(78.3) 		28.8
(83.8) 		33.8
(92.8) 		36.8
(98.2) 		40.7
(105.3) 		38.5
(101.3) 		34.0
(93.2) 		27.7
(81.9) 		21.0
(69.8) 		17.5
(63.5) 		40.7
(105.3)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 12.8
(55.0) 		13.9
(57.0) 		18.9
(66.0) 		24.1
(75.4) 		27.9
(82.2) 		31.5
(88.7) 		33.2
(91.8) 		32.4
(90.3) 		27.3
(81.1) 		22.0
(71.6) 		16.6
(61.9) 		13.1
(55.6) 		35.0
(95.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 6.0
(42.8) 		7.2
(45.0) 		11.1
(52.0) 		15.6
(60.1) 		19.4
(66.9) 		22.5
(72.5) 		24.7
(76.5) 		24.2
(75.6) 		20.1
(68.2) 		15.2
(59.4) 		10.0
(50.0) 		6.6
(43.9) 		15.2
(59.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.4
(38.1) 		4.0
(39.2) 		6.9
(44.4) 		10.5
(50.9) 		14.3
(57.7) 		17.3
(63.1) 		19.4
(66.9) 		18.9
(66.0) 		15.3
(59.5) 		11.2
(52.2) 		7.1
(44.8) 		4.2
(39.6) 		11.0
(51.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.5
(32.9) 		0.7
(33.3) 		2.6
(36.7) 		5.0
(41.0) 		8.7
(47.7) 		11.7
(53.1) 		14.0
(57.2) 		13.7
(56.7) 		10.7
(51.3) 		7.5
(45.5) 		3.9
(39.0) 		1.5
(34.7) 		6.7
(44.1)
Record low °C (°F) −20.8
(−5.4) 		−15.4
(4.3) 		−16.1
(3.0) 		−6.3
(20.7) 		−1.2
(29.8) 		2.4
(36.3) 		4.8
(40.6) 		5.0
(41.0) 		0.7
(33.3) 		−6.2
(20.8) 		−9.4
(15.1) 		−15.3
(4.5) 		−20.8
(−5.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 61.5
(2.42) 		56.5
(2.22) 		54.1
(2.13) 		46.4
(1.83) 		61.1
(2.41) 		65.7
(2.59) 		73.2
(2.88) 		77.0
(3.03) 		60.3
(2.37) 		61.2
(2.41) 		63.8
(2.51) 		70.0
(2.76) 		750.7
(29.56)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 17.5 15.9 16.1 12.5 13.9 14.1 14.6 14.7 14.2 15.5 17.2 18.8 185.1
Average snowy days (≥ 1.0 cm) 3.4 2.3 0.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.3 1.8 8.5
Average relative humidity (%) 81.6 78.6 73.5 68.2 68.5 69.3 68.8 70.8 76.5 80.5 83.6 84.3 75.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 56.9 73.1 125.0 172.6 202.0 199.3 208.2 193.9 149.5 109.8 62.5 47.1 1,610.6
Source 1: NOAA[29]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst[30]

Source 3: Wetterdienst.de[31]

Demographics

[edit]
See also: Japanese community of Düsseldorf
Historical population
YearPop.±%
15553,500—    
17037,000+100.0%
180012,102+72.9%
187169,365+473.2%
1895175,985+153.7%
1905253,274+43.9%
1919407,338+60.8%
1925432,633+6.2%
1933498,600+15.2%
1939541,410+8.6%
1950500,516−7.6%
1956654,850+30.8%
1961703,255+7.4%
1970662,809−5.8%
1980590,479−10.9%
1990575,794−2.5%
2001570,765−0.9%
2011586,291+2.7%
2022611,258+4.3%
Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions. Source:[32][33]
Largest groups of foreign residents[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]
Nationality Population (31 December 2022)
Turkey 12,707
Greece 10,388
Poland 9,316
Japan 8,329
Italy 7,799
Ukraine 7,566
Syria 5,230
Romania 4,856
Morocco 4,741
Spain 4,477
Russia 4,430
China 4,175
North Macedonia 3,842
Croatia 3,720
France 3,328
Iran 3,162
Iraq 2,879
Netherlands 2,542
United Kingdom 2,469
Serbia 2,308

With a population of 653,253 within the city boundaries (31 December 2022),[42] Düsseldorf is Germany's sixth largest city. Its population surpassed the threshold of 100,000 inhabitants during the height of industrialisation in 1882, and peaked at just over 705,000 in 1962. The city then began to lose residents, with many moving into neighbouring municipalities. However, since the late 1990s, the city's population has been slowly rising again.

According to municipal data, as of 2019, 272,982 people, or 42.6% of Düsseldorf's residents had a migration background.[43] Around 25.5% of the population held foreign citizenship in 2024.[44] At the end of 2023, the largest groups of foreign citizens were Turkish, Ukrainian, Greek, Polish, and Italian nationals.[45] Among these, Turkish citizens formed the largest single group, numbering approximately 12,800 persons.[45] Düsseldorf and its surroundings have the third-largest Japanese community in Europe and the largest in Germany (about 11,000 people).[46][47] As of 2023, 6,265 Japanese nationals lived in the city proper.[45]

As of 2023, approximately 154,125 residents were registered as Roman Catholic, while 92,194 were members of the Evangelical Church.[48] The remaining inhabitants either belonged to other religions, were unaffiliated, or had no publicly registered religious status.[48] Düsseldorf has the third-largest Jewish community in Germany, with about 7,000 members.[49][50][51]

Government

[edit]

Boroughs

[edit]
Main article: Boroughs of Düsseldorf

Since 1975, Düsseldorf is divided into ten administrative boroughs. Each borough (Stadtbezirk) has its own elected borough council (Bezirksvertretung) and its own borough mayor (Bezirksvorsteher). The borough councils are advisory only. Each borough is further subdivided into quarters (Stadtteile). There are 50 quarters in Düsseldorf.[52]

Borough 1 (Stadtbezirk 1)
Altstadt, Carlstadt, Derendorf, Golzheim, Pempelfort, Stadtmitte
Borough 2 (Stadtbezirk 2)
Düsseltal, Flingern-Nord, Flingern-Süd
Borough 3 (Stadtbezirk 3)
Bilk, Flehe, Friedrichstadt, Hafen, Hamm, Oberbilk, Unterbilk, Volmerswerth
Borough 4 (Stadtbezirk 4)
Heerdt, Lörick, Niederkassel, Oberkassel
Borough 5 (Stadtbezirk 5)
Angermund, Kaiserswerth, Kalkum, Lohausen, Stockum, Wittlaer
Borough 6 (Stadtbezirk 6)
Lichtenbroich, Mörsenbroich, Rath, Unterrath
Borough 7 (Stadtbezirk 7)
Gerresheim, Grafenberg, Hubbelrath, Knittkuhl, Ludenberg
Borough 8 (Stadtbezirk 8)
Eller, Lierenfeld, Unterbach, Vennhausen
Borough 9 (Stadtbezirk 9)
Benrath, Hassels, Himmelgeist, Holthausen, Itter, Reisholz, Urdenbach, Wersten
Borough 10 (Stadtbezirk 10)
Garath, Hellerhof

Mayor

[edit]
See also: List of mayors of Düsseldorf

The current mayor of Düsseldorf is Stephan Keller [de] of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who was elected in 2020 and reelected in 2025.

The most recent mayoral election was held on 14 September 2025, with a runoff held on 28 September, and the results were as follows:

Candidate Party First round Second round
Votes % Votes %
Stephan Keller Christian Democratic Union 106,030 43.6 120,430 60.5
Clara Gerlach Alliance 90/The Greens 53,923 22.2 78,779 39.5
Fabian Zachel Social Democratic Party 34,486 14.2
Claus Henning Gahr Alternative for Germany 24,270 10.0
Julia Marmulla The Left 10,951 4.5
Ulf Montanus Free Democratic Party 5,609 2.3
Michael Baumeister Free Voters Dusseldorf 2,347 1.0
Dominique Mirus Die PARTEI 1,988 0.8
Berit Zalbertus Human Environment Animal Protection Party 1,805 0.7
Hermann Bruns Independent 783 0.3
Lukas Fix Climate List Düsseldorf 716 0.3
Alexander Marten Independent 455 0.2
Valid votes 243,363 97.6 199,209 99.2
Invalid votes 6,097 2.4 1,622 0.8
Total 249,460 100.0 200,831 100.0
Electorate/voter turnout 469,730 53.1 469,525 42.8
Source: State Returning Officer[53]

City council

[edit]

The Düsseldorf city council (Düsseldorfer Stadtrat) governs the city alongside the mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 14 September 2025, and the results were as follows:

Party Votes % +/- Seats +/-
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 83,135 33.5 Increase 0.1 31 Increase 1
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) 54,427 21.9 Decrease 2.1 20 Decrease 2
Social Democratic Party (SPD) 36,948 14.9 Decrease 3 14 Decrease 2
Alternative for Germany (AfD) 26,203 10.6 Increase 7.0 10 Increase 7
The Left (Die Linke) 15,939 6.4 Increase 2.4 6 Increase 2
Free Democratic Party (FDP) 12,243 9.2 Decrease 4.2 5 Decrease 3
Volt Germany (Volt) 6,128 2.5 Increase 0.6 2 ±0
Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) 3,983 1.6 New 1 New
Free Voters Dusseldorf (FW) 2,784 1.1 Increase 0.2 1 ±0
Human Environment Animal Protection Party (Tierschutzpartei) 2,528 1.0 New 1 New
Die PARTEI (PARTEI) 2,381 1.0 Decrease 0.8 1 Decrease 1
Climate List Düsseldorf (Klimaliste) 1,227 0.5 Decrease 0.4 0 Decrease 1
Alexander Marten (Independent) 35 0.0 New 0 New
Sophia Henze (Independent) 26 0.0 New 0 New
Rika Bunse (Independent) 19 0.0 New 0 New
Richard Weber (Independent) 15 0.0 New 0 New
Lino Unrath (Independent) 7 0.0 New 0 New
Valid votes 248,028 99.4
Invalid votes 1,421 0.6
Total 249,449 100.0 92 Increase 2
Electorate/voter turnout 469,732 53.1 Increase 0.5
Source: City of Dusseldorf[54]

Economy

[edit]
The Königsallee is a luxury shopping street in the centre of Düsseldorf.

Düsseldorf is among the leading economic centres of Germany. The city combines a strong service economy with diversified industrial activity. As of 2023, Düsseldorf’s GDP was approximately €62.7 billion, making it the 8th highest among German cities in terms of economic output.[55] In 2024, the city’s unemployment rate averaged 7.7%.[56]

Düsseldorf forms a joint economic region with the neighbouring district of Mettmann. It is the wealthiest economic region in North Rhine-Westphalia. As of 2023, the region had a GDP per capita of around €72,900, with the city of Düsseldorf itself reaching €93,600 per capita, while the district of Mettmann was closer to the state average at €46,300. Productivity, measured as GDP per working hour, was also significantly higher than the state average: employees in the Düsseldorf region generated about €71.3 per hour, compared with €61.2 per hour in North Rhine-Westphalia. The region’s purchasing power is the highest in North Rhine-Westphalia, both per capita and per household.[57]

Düsseldorf has become one of the top telecommunications centres in Germany. With two of the four big German providers of mobile frequencies, D2 Vodafone and E-Plus, Düsseldorf leads the German mobile phone market. There are many foreign information and communication technology companies in Düsseldorf such as Huawei, NTT, Ericsson, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi.[58] There are 18 internet service providers located in the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. Eurowings, a low-cost carrier wholly owned by the Lufthansa Group, is headquartered in the city.

Headquarters of Vodafone Germany in Düsseldorf-Heerdt

Many of the internet companies in Düsseldorf have their roots in the world of advertising: there are 400 advertising agencies in Düsseldorf, among them four of the largest in Germany: BBDO Worldwide, Havas Worldwide, Grey Global Group and Publicis. A number of affiliates of foreign agencies deserve mention as well, such as Ogilvy & Mather, Dentsu, Hakuhodo, TBWA, and DDB. There are also about 200 publishing houses in Düsseldorf.

Businesses operating in Düsseldorf include Peek & Cloppenburg (fashion); Uniper (electricity generation); L'Oréal Germany (cosmetics and beauty); Net mobile AG (business-to-business service provider in mobile telecommunications); Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (branded consumer goods and industrial technologies); Rheinmetall (automotive and arms); Teekanne GmbH & Co. KG (tea bags and iced tea products); Metro (wholesale, retail); Ceconomy (retail); BASF personal care & nutrition (formerly Cognis – chemicals, headquarters in Monheim near Düsseldorf, but production mainly in Düsseldorf).[citation needed] Daimler AG builds the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter light commercial vehicles in Düsseldorf.

The "Kö", which stands for Königsallee ("King's Avenue"), is a shopping destination. Many jewellery shops, designer labels, and galleries have store locations here. The Kö has among the highest rents for retail and office space in Germany.[59]

Financial center

[edit]

The city is an important financial center.[60] More than 30,000 people work for the financial and insurance sector in Düsseldorf.[61] There are around 170 national and international financial institutions, and about 130 insurance agencies, and one of Germany's eight stock exchanges. HSBC has its German headquarters in Düsseldorf and employs 3,000 people. NRW.BANK is a development bank of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the largest state development bank in Germany. NRW.BANK was spun off from WestLB in 2002. Today Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank have major branches in Düsseldorf with about 2,000 employees. Düsseldorf is also the most important German financial center for Japanese credit institutions. MUFG Bank, SMBC and Mizuho have offices in Düsseldorf. Also the German retail banking division of Santander (known as Santander Consumer Bank) has its headquarters in the Düsseldorf region. Some major insurance companies such as ERGO, a subsidiary of Munich Re, and ARAG are located in the city. Several other major financial service companies have their headquarters in the city.

Trade fairs

[edit]

Messe Düsseldorf is a major trade fair organiser whose events attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and contribute substantially to the local economy. Among the best-known fairs are drupa (printing and paper technologies), boot Düsseldorf (one of the world’s largest boat and water sports exhibitions), and MEDICA (medical technology).

In 2023, Messe Düsseldorf organised 27 trade shows in the city, attracting 26,866 exhibitors and 1,146,874 visitors.[62] Of these, about 78% of exhibitors came from abroad.[63]

Media

[edit]

Important newspapers and journals such as Handelsblatt, Rheinische Post, Wirtschaftswoche, Deutsches Wirtschaftsblatt and VDI-Nachrichten are published in Düsseldorf. Renowned filmmaking companies, such as Germany's biggest cinema enterprise, the Riech Group, and TV channels such as WDR and QVC are located in Düsseldorf. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW foundation supports the production of film and new media.[citation needed]

International business

[edit]
Bilingual street sign (German/Japanese) on Immermannstraße

Düsseldorf is notable for its high concentration of foreign companies. Since the 1960s, there has been a strong relationship between the city and Japan. Many Japanese banks and corporations have their European headquarters in Düsseldorf – so many that Düsseldorf has the third largest Japanese community in Europe, after London and Paris.[46][47] The city also attracts multinationals from other countries: L’Oréal (France), Vodafone (United Kingdom), and Huawei (China) are examples of major international companies with a strong presence.

As of 2023, more than one in six member-companies of the Düsseldorf Chamber of Commerce and Industry had majority foreign ownership.[64] Between 2010 and 2023, the number of foreign companies grew by 60%.[64]

Transport

[edit]

Düsseldorf Airport

[edit]
Düsseldorf Airport is Germany's fourth-busiest airport.

Düsseldorf Airport, also referred to as Rhein-Ruhr Airport, is located eight kilometres (5 miles) north of the city centre in the district of Lohausen and can easily be reached by train or the S-Bahn urban railway. There is a long-distance train station served by regional and national services, which is linked to the airport by the SkyTrain, an automatic people mover. Another station situated under the terminal building carries the S-Bahn line (S11) to Düsseldorf Central Station, and to Cologne as well as a few selected night services.

After those of Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin, Düsseldorf Airport is Germany's fourth largest commercial airport, with 25.5 million passengers annually (2019).[65] The airport offers 180 destinations on four continents, and is served by 70 airlines.[citation needed]

The airport buildings were partly destroyed by a devastating fire caused by welding works in 1996, killing 17 people. Following this event, it was completely rebuilt and the Skytrain was installed.

Railway

[edit]
Düsseldorf Central Station

The city is a major hub in the Deutsche Bahn (DB) railway network. More than 1,000 trains stop in Düsseldorf daily. Düsseldorf Central Station at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz is located in Düsseldorf-Stadtmitte. Several Rhein-Ruhr S-Bahn lines connect Düsseldorf to other cities of Rhine-Ruhr.

Local Düsseldorf Straßenbahn and light rail Düsseldorf Stadtbahn traffic, as well as local bus traffic, is carried out by the city-owned Rheinbahn which operates within the VRR public transport system. The light rail system also serves neighbouring cities and is partially operated underground.

The Central Station and the Airport Station (Flughafen-Bahnhof) are connected to the national and European high-speed systems (Intercity/Eurocity, IC/EC and InterCityExpress).

Carsharing

[edit]

In addition to stationary car sharing, where vehicles must be returned to their original location after use, one-way carsharing vehicles have also been available for hire since 2012. These vehicles, which can be parked anywhere where parking is normally allowed within Düsseldorf, can be rented from Car2go, Greenwheels, Stadtmobil and DriveNow.[66]

Highway

[edit]

North Rhine-Westphalia has the densest network of highways in Germany and Düsseldorf is directly accessible via the A3, A44, A46, A52, A57, A59 and A524.

Cycling

[edit]

Düsseldorf is connected to some national and international cycling paths, including EV15 The Rhine Cycle Route.

The city of Düsseldorf is a member of the German North Rhine-Westphalia District, Municipality and City Friends of Pedestrians and Cyclists Working Group, who bestowed upon Düsseldorf the title of "Friend of Cyclists City" in 2007, although the city still has a few gaps in the network of cycle paths in the eyes of many of its citizens.

Culture

[edit]

Elector Jan Wellem and his wife Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici of Tuscany, were patrons of Düsseldorf's first significant cultural activities in the 17th and 18th centuries. Heinrich Heine, whose 200th birthday was celebrated in 1997 and who originally had a proposed memorial in the city dedicated to him; Clara and Robert Schumann; and Felix Mendelssohn, are the most prominent artists related to the city, which is home to a distinguished Academy of Fine Arts.

The Düsseldorf cultural scene comprises traditional and avant-garde, classical and popular. The state art collection of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein (opera), and the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus (theatre), artistic home of Gustaf Gründgens, are major elements of Düsseldorf's reputation as a centre of the fine arts.

Museums and galleries

[edit]
Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen – K21 (Ständehaus)

Düsseldorf is a centre for visual arts, with a long tradition rooted in the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Art Academy), an institution that has shaped several major European art movements, such as the Düsseldorf School of Painting in the 19th century.[67] During the post-war period the academy became internationally influential through the Düsseldorf School of Photography, associated with figures such as Bernd and Hilla Becher, Andreas Gursky, Thomas Struth, and Candida Höfer.[68]

The city hosts numerous museums and galleries covering a broad range of artistic disciplines. The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen (K20 and K21) displays an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art, including works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Gerhard Richter, and Joseph Beuys.[69] The Museum Kunstpalast, located near the Rhine, houses artworks from the medieval period to the present day and is known for its collection of Baroque painting and glass art. Several smaller institutions contribute to Düsseldorf’s cultural landscape, including the NRW Forum, which focuses on photography, design, and digital culture, and the Kunst im Tunnel (KIT), which exhibits contemporary art in a tunnel space beneath the Rhine promenade. The Hetjens-Museum [de], dedicated to ceramics, and the Goethe-Museum [de], located in Schloss Jägerhof, further reflect the city’s diverse museum scene.

Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum

In addition to visual arts, Düsseldorf maintains a variety of museums that cover science, history, and regional culture. The Filmmuseum Düsseldorf [de] showcases the history of film and cinema technology, including equipment and screenings of classic films. The Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum combines zoological exhibits with natural history, featuring local and exotic animal species alongside ecological and environmental displays. The Stadtmuseum Düsseldorf [de] provides an overview of the city's history and culture, displaying artifacts ranging from prehistory to contemporary times.[70] The Haus der Geschichte Nordrhein-Westfalen [de] presents the history and development of North Rhine-Westphalia, highlighting themes such as democracy, diversity, and societal change.[71] Additionally, the Schifffahrtsmuseum [de] documents the city’s maritime history and its development as a major Rhine port.

Music

[edit]
Kraftwerk, a pioneering electronic music band from Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf has been home to a number of influential music artists and bands, particularly in the electronic and krautrock genres, with Kraftwerk being the most prominent example. As one source describes, "This is the place where Neu! conceived the motorik beat, Harmonia dreamed up ambient, Die Krupps expanded the idea of industrial, and where those brilliant mensch-maschines Kraftwerk, declared: 'We are the robots'."[72]

Since the 1950s the "Kom(m)ödchen" has been one of the most prominent political cabarets of Germany. The city's best-known contribution to the culture of modern popular music is the influential avant-garde electronic band Kraftwerk. Formed by two Düsseldorf-born musicians, Kraftwerk is internationally known as the most significant band in the history of post-war German music and as pioneers in electronic music.[73]

Other influential musical groups originating from Düsseldorf include Neu!, formed in 1971 by Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother, after their split from Kraftwerk,[74] and La Düsseldorf, also formed by Dinger in 1976 shortly after Neu! disbanded. Both groups had a significant influence on a variety of subsequent rock, post-punk, and electronic music artists.[75]

Internationally known power metal band Warlock was formed in Düsseldorf in 1982. Its frontwoman, Doro Pesch, has had a successful solo career in Europe and Asia since Warlock ended. The punk band Die Toten Hosen, the electronic act D.A.F., as well as the electronic/industrial pioneers Die Krupps, all originated in Düsseldorf.

Düsseldorf appears in several songs, including Düsseldorf by the British indie band Teleman and Wärst du doch in Düsseldorf geblieben by Danish singer Dorthe Kollo.

The city hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.

Fashion

[edit]

Düsseldorf has been the fashion capital of Germany for decades; it is also a major cultural center for the art scene. Berlin, Germany's 'fashion capital' until 1945, lost its position because of its special location within the Soviet occupation zone. After the monetary reform of 20 June 1948, fashionable clothes trends gained importance. Igedo organised fashion shows staged in Düsseldorf starting in March 1949.[76] There are a number of schools dedicated to fashion design in Düsseldorf, among them Akademie Mode & Design (de), Design Department, and Mode Design College.[77]

Carnival

[edit]
Main article: Carnival in Germany, Switzerland and Austria § Rhineland

One of the biggest cultural events in Düsseldorf is the Karneval (also referred to as the "fifth season") which starts every year on 11 November at 11:11 a.m., and reaches its climax on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday), featuring a huge parade through the streets of Düsseldorf. Karneval ends on Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday).

Düsseldorf's cartwheeler

[edit]
Main article: Düsseldorf's cartwheeler
Cartwheeler's Fountain on Burgplatz

Düsseldorf's cartwheeler (Düsseldorfer Radschläger) is said to be the city's oldest tradition. There are different theories about its origin. The cartwheeler symbol appears on souvenirs, and many things in Düsseldorf owe their names to the cartwheeler.[citation needed]

Cartwheelers can be found at several fountains within the city and near many small landmarks. The most famous is Cartwheeler's Fountain on Burgplatz (de). The fountain was designed by Alfred Zschorsch in 1954 and donated by Heimatverein Düsseldorfer Jonges, which is a club devoted to the maintenance of local and regional traditions. Other cartwheelers can be found decorating storm drains and the door knocker of the Church of Lambertus, designed by Friedrich Becker. Becker also created the cartwheeler in front of the Schadow Arcades.[citation needed]

The tradition has been kept alive by the Alde Düsseldorfer Bürgergesellschaft von 1920 e. V., a society founded in 1920, which organised the first cartwheeler competition on 17 October 1937. This event has been held annually since 1971.[78] Formerly held on Königsallee, since 2006 it has taken place on the Rheinwerft, near the Old Town. In an art project Radschläger-Kunst (Cartwheeler Art) launched in 2001, over 100 cartwheeler sculptures were designed by various artists. They were positioned around the city centre. Some of the sculptures have been auctioned off to companies and private owners.[citation needed]

Christmas market

[edit]

Every Christmas, the city of Düsseldorf uses the city centre to host one of the largest Christmas gatherings in Germany. The Christmas festival occurs every year from 17 November until 23 December. This Christmas festival is responsible for a large portion of tourism every year as many people from nearby areas come to the city to drink mulled wine and hot chocolate and watch craftsmen blow glass and create art. The event takes place among many small wooden buildings all clustered in the middle of the city for all the citizens to enjoy. The event, to many visitors, has an old European feel, but is very lively.

Cuisine

[edit]
Himmel un Äd, "Heaven and Earth"

Traditional meals in the region are Rheinischer Sauerbraten (a beef roast and sometimes horse marinated for a few days in vinegar and spices served with gravy and raisins) and Heaven and Earth (Himmel und Äd; black pudding with stewed apples mixed with mashed potatoes). In winter the people like to eat Muscheln Rheinischer Art (Rhenish-style mussels) as well as Reibekuchen which is a fried potato pancake served with apple sauce.

Düsseldorf is known for its strong Dijon-like mustard served in a traditional pot called "Mostertpöttche", which was immortalised in a still life by Vincent van Gogh in 1884.[79] Therefore, also among the local dishes is the Düsseldorfer Senfrostbraten, including medium rare steaks roasted with Düsseldorf mustard and onion crust. Sides may include roast potatoes and a small salad in a restaurant, making this local dish a menu staple where upscale cuisine is served. Düsseldorf's Old Town has over 250 pubs and bars, often serving Altbier in a 0.25-liter glass. Düsseldorf Altbier is top-fermented beer of spicy aroma.[80]

Düsseldorf is noted for its diverse culinary scene. It hosts a large Japanese community, which has contributed to a strong presence of authentic Asian cuisine. Düsseldorf’s gastronomy has been recognised by the travel guide Lonely Planet for its quality and variety. In addition to a wide range of international dining options, the city is home to several Michelin-starred restaurants.[81]

Local specialties include:

Halve Hahn – this dish is made from a half a double rye roll, which is another of the specialties of Düsseldorf, buttered, with a thick slice of aged Gouda cheese, onions, mustard, ground paprika and sour pickles.

Himmel un Aad – a dish of mashed potatoes and apples along with slices of blutwurst. Caramelized onions are usually served with this meal.

Reibekuchen is another famous dish from Düsseldorf; this dish is usually drizzled with Rübensyrup (beet syrup) and is served on pumpernickel slices along with applesauce.[82]

Beer

[edit]

Düsseldorf is well known for its Altbier,[83] a hoppy beer which translates as old [style] beer, a reference to the pre-lager brewing method of using a warm top-fermenting yeast like British pale ales.[84] Over time the Alt yeast adjusted to lower temperatures, and the Alt brewers would store or lager the beer after fermentation, leading to a cleaner, crisper beer. The name "altbier" first appeared in the 19th century to differentiate the beers of Düsseldorf from the new pale lager that was gaining a hold on Germany.[85]

Brewers in Düsseldorf used the pale malts that were used for the modern pale lagers, but retained the old ("alt") method of using warm fermenting yeasts. The first brewery to use the name Alt was Schumacher, which opened in 1838.[86] The founder, Mathias Schumacher, allowed the beer to mature in cool conditions in wooden casks for longer than normal, and laid the foundation for the modern alt – amber coloured and lagered.[87] The result is a pale beer that has some of the lean dryness of a lager but with fruity notes as well.[88]

There are five brewpubs in Düsseldorf that brew Altbier on site: Brauerei im Füchschen [de], Schumacher, Hausbrauerei Zum Schlüssel [de], Uerige [de], and Brauerei Kürzer. Four of the five are in the historic centre (Altstadt); the fifth, Schumacher, lies between the Altstadt and Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof, but also maintains an establishment in the Altstadt (Im Goldenen Kessel) across the street from Hausbrauerei Zum Schlüssel.

Each (except Brauerei Kürzer) produces a special, secret, seasonal "Sticke" version in small quantities, though the names vary: Schlüssel spells it "Stike", without the "c", while Schumacher calls its special beer "Latzenbier", meaning "slat beer", possibly because the kegs from which it was poured had been stored on raised shelves.[89] Füchschen's seasonal is its Weihnachtsbier (Christmas beer), available in bottles starting mid-November, and served in the brewpub on Christmas Eve.[90]

Literature

[edit]
The romantic poet Heinrich Heine was born in Düsseldorf in 1797.

Düsseldorf has a long literary tradition that reflects its role as a cultural centre of the Rhineland. The city is associated with the Romantic poet Heinrich Heine, who was born in Düsseldorf in 1797 and spent his childhood there.[91] The Heinrich Heine Institute [de] preserves his manuscripts and correspondence, and also functions as a research centre and museum dedicated to 19th- and 20th-century German literature.[92]

Contemporary literary life in the city is supported by the Literaturbüro NRW, which organises readings, workshops and projects to promote authors and literary education across Düsseldorf and North Rhine-Westphalia.[93] The annual Literaturtage Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Literature Days) presents a programme of readings and events at venues across the city.[94] In addition, the Central Library Düsseldorf regularly hosts author readings and cultural programmes, strengthening the city's reputation as a hub for literary exchange.[95]

The Förderpreis für Literatur der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf is a German literary award established by the City of Düsseldorf.[96] The award has been presented annually since 1972 by the City Council.[97][98]

Rivalry with Cologne

[edit]
Main article: Rivalry between Cologne and Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf and Cologne have had a "fierce regional rivalry".[99] The rivalry includes carnival parades, football, ice hockey and beer.[99] People in Cologne prefer Kölsch while people in Düsseldorf prefer Altbier.[99] Some Waiters and patrons will "scorn" and make a "mockery" of people who order Alt beer in Cologne and Kölsch in Düsseldorf.[99] The rivalry has been described as a "love-hate relationship".[99]

Theatres

[edit]
Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus
Düsseldorf Tonhalle

Cityscape

[edit]

Notable buildings

[edit]
Benrath Palace, Corp de Logis
The Wilhelm Marx House was Germany's first high-rise building.

Parks and gardens

[edit]

Sports

[edit]
Interior view of PSD Bank Dome

Düsseldorf's main football team Fortuna Düsseldorf won the 1933 German championship, the German Cup in 1979 and 1980, and were finalists in the European Cup Winners Cup in 1979. They currently play in the 2. Bundesliga, after being relegated from the Bundesliga in 2020. They play their matches in the Merkur Spiel-Arena (formerly known as the "ESPRIT Arena" from 2009–2018 and as the "LTU Arena" before 2009), a multi-functional stadium with a capacity of 54,500 people.

Düsseldorf was one of nine host cities for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, and is one of ten venues staging the 2024 UEFA European Championship. The Rochusclub Düsseldorf has hosted the tennis World Team Cup from 1978 until 2012.[102] Düsseldorf also hosted the Grand Départ for the Tour de France in July 2017.[103]

Other sports in Düsseldorf are ice hockey (the Düsseldorfer EG which play in the PSD Bank Dome) and American football. The Düsseldorf Panther are one of the most successful teams in Germany with six German Bowl titles and the Eurobowl victory in 1995. In addition the Junior Team are the most successful youth department in Germany with fifteen Junior Bowl victories. Rhine Fire Düsseldorf were an established team of the NFL Europe and won the World Bowl two times in 1998 and 2000. Düsseldorf has a successful rugby union team (Düsseldorf Dragons), who as of 2017/18 play in the western division of the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German rugby.[104]

Table tennis is also played (Borussia Düsseldorf – the most successful team in Germany with Timo Boll), as are handball (HSG Düsseldorf), basketball (Düsseldorf Giants), baseball (Düsseldorf Senators) and dancing (Rot-Weiß Düsseldorf). Düsseldorf also has a Cricket team, the Düsseldorf Blackcaps, who play in the regional NRW league.[105]

Education

[edit]
Kunstakademie Düsseldorf

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is located in the southern part of the city. It has about 30,000 students and a wide range of subjects in natural sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, philosophy, social sciences, arts, languages, medicine, pharmacy, economy and the law. The institution was founded in 1907 as an academy for practical medicine and was elevated to university status in 1965. It has its current name since 1988.

Other academic institutions include:

International primary and secondary schools:

Twin towns – sister cities

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

Düsseldorf is twinned with:[111]

Friendship and cooperation

[edit]

Düsseldorf also cooperates with:[114]

Notable people

[edit]

Born before 1850

[edit]
Johann Georg Jacobi, 1750

Born 1851–1900

[edit]
Georg Wenker, 1878

Born after 1900

[edit]
Wim Wenders, 2024
Erika Ikuta, 2022

Associated with Düsseldorf

[edit]
Joseph Beuys, 1974
Gerhard Richter, 2017

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ English: /ˈdʊsəldɔːrf/ DUUSS-əl-dorf (US also /ˈdjuːs-/ DEWSS-);[4][5][6] Low Franconian and Ripuarian: Düsseldörp [ˈdʏsəldœʀəp]; archaic Dutch: Dusseldorp [ˈdʏsəlˌdɔr(ə)p]
  2. ^ After Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020 Archived 17 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 19 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Alle politisch selbständigen Gemeinden mit ausgewählten Merkmalen am 31.12.2023" (in German). Federal Statistical Office of Germany. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  3. ^ Amt für Statistik und Wahlen. "Demografie-Monitoring Düsseldorf 2013 bis 2018" (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Dusseldorf". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Düsseldorf". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Düsseldorf Definition & Meaning". Dictionary.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  7. ^ Bevölkerung nach Gemeinde. Statistik.NRW. Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Communla Administration of Düsseldorf, 28 of July 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  9. ^ "Immobilien Zeitung: Mehr Räume für die große Modenschau vom 28. August 2008, 1 March 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  10. ^ "Cushman & Wakefield: European Cities Monitor" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Messe Düsseldorf Annual Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  12. ^ "Mercer's 2023 Quality of Living survey highlights — Global". Mercer. 12 December 2023. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  13. ^ 2010 survey by Jones Lang LaSalle Archived 24 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine; accessed 8 December 2014. (in German)
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Looz-Corswarem, Clemens von. "Stadt Düsseldorf". Internetportal Rheinische Geschichte (in German). Landschaftsverband Rheinland. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  15. ^ Weidenhaupt, Hugo: Kleine Geschichte der Stadt Düsseldorf, Triltsch-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1979; ISBN 3-7998-0000-X. (in German)
  16. ^ Madison, Rodney (2005). "Air Warfare, Strategic Bombing". The Encyclopedia of World War I: A Political, Social and Military History. Vol. 1. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. pp. 45–46. ISBN 1851094202.; Tilford, Earl H. Jr. (1996). "Air Warfare: Strategic Bombing". The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. pp. 13–15. ISBN 0-81533-351-X.
  17. ^ Birchall, Ian H./Pierre Broué/Brian Pearce, The German Revolution 1917–1923, p. 278.
  18. ^ "Strafgefängnis und Untersuchungshaftanstalt Düsseldorf-Derendorf". Bundesarchiv.de (in German). Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  19. ^ Megargee, Geoffrey P. (2009). The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume I. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. pp. 330–336. ISBN 978-0-253-35328-3.
  20. ^ "Lager für Sinti und Roma Düsseldorf". Bundesarchiv.de (in German). Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Israel National News 1 August 2021". Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  22. ^ Stanton, Shelby, World War II Order of Battle: An Encyclopedic Reference to U.S. Army Ground Forces from Battalion through Division, 1939–1946 (Revised Edition, 2006), Stackpole Books, p. 174.
  23. ^ a b c d Conte-Helm, Marie (2013). The Japanese and Europe: Economic and Cultural Encounters. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 92.
  24. ^ Conte-Helm, Marie (2013). The Japanese and Europe: Economic and Cultural Encounters. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 94.
  25. ^ Eichstaedt, Bjoern; Bischof, Emily (31 August 2023). ""Düsseldorf was looking for a unique selling point to promote its location – and found it in the Japanese community"". J-BIG – Japan Business in Germany. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  26. ^ "Düsseldorf, Germany Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
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Bibliography

[edit]
See also: Bibliography of the history of Düsseldorf
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Düsseldorf.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Düsseldorf.
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