Kiel

Kiel is the capital city of the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. About 250,000 people live there, and it is the biggest city on the Baltic Sea. Kiel is located on the Kieler Förde inlet near the Bay of Kiel. The well-known Kiel Canal starts here and connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.

Kiel started as a tiny village and became a city in 1242. It grew because it was a good place for a port. It was once ruled by Denmark and later joined Prussia. In the 20th century, Kiel was part of both World Wars because of its naval and shipbuilding work.

Now, Kiel is famous for its sailing events, especially Kiel Week, one of the biggest in the world. It is an important base for the German Navy and a place for ocean research at the University of Kiel. Many cruise ships stop in Kiel, and there are ferries to places like Sweden, Norway, and Lithuania.

History

The city of Kiel was founded in 1233 by Count Adolf IV of Holstein. It joined the Hanseatic League in 1284 but left in 1518. In 1665, the University of Kiel was built.

Later, Kiel was part of Denmark until 1864, when it became part of Prussia. It grew as an important naval base for Germany. During the Second World War, Kiel was bombed and damaged. After the war, the city was rebuilt and became the capital of Schleswig-Holstein in 1952. Today, Kiel is famous for shipbuilding and research centers.

Geography

Climate

Kiel has a mild climate because of the Baltic Sea. The temperatures do not change much between winter and summer. Winters are cool, with average temperatures around 2 °C (36 °F). Summers are pleasant, around 17 °C (63 °F). It is very rare for temperatures to go above 30 °C (86 °F.

Districts

Kiel has around 40 different areas. Some of the bigger areas are Wik, Gaarden-Ost, and Mettenhof. Gaarden is an older area near the water. Mettenhof is a larger neighborhood built in the 1960s and 1970s. North of the city center are nice places to live, like Düsternbrook, with many beautiful old buildings.

Main sights

Kiel has many interesting places to see. The oldest building is the Church of St. Nicholas, from the 13th century. Holstenstraße is one of Germany’s longest shopping streets. The Town Hall, built in 1911, still has an old-style moving elevator called a paternoster lift, and its tower looks like one in Venice.

Near the city center, there are lakes and parks, including Schrevenpark. Kiel has two botanical gardens to explore. Because Kiel is close to the sea, beaches like Strande, Schilksee, Möltenort, and Laboe are popular in spring and summer.

Every June, Kiel hosts Kiel Week, the world’s biggest sailing event. Thousands of boats and ships gather for a parade, and the event includes a festival and fair. Kiel has many museums, such as the City and Maritime Museum at Warleberger Hof. In Laboe, you can visit the Naval Memorial and see the submarine U-995 from the Second World War.

Population

Kiel has a population of 250,412. In 1946, when Kiel became the capital of Schleswig-Holstein, about 214,000 people lived there. Kiel is Germany’s largest coastal city and the only state capital on the sea. In the 1950s, Kiel’s marine port drew members of the navy. Kiel had the most people in 1973, with 273,000. After that, many people moved away, and the city had some unemployment problems. Today, Kiel is known for its universities and marine stations, which attract many young students and marines.

Politics

City Council

The City Council helps make decisions for Kiel. People in Kiel vote every five years to choose who will be on the council.

In the last vote on May 14, 2023, a group called Alliance 90/The Greens got more votes than any other group for the first time. Now, the city is run by a team made up of the Greens and the SPD. This team has 25 out of 49 seats on the council.

Mayor

Ulf Kämpfer from the SPD is the current mayor of Kiel. He has said he will not run for another term when his current one ends in 2026.

2018 City Council election

The Kiel city council helps the mayor run the city. Here are the results from the vote on May 6, 2018:

Culture

Sports

Kiel has many places where people can play sports. The Wunderino Arena, once called the Baltic Sea Hall or Ostseehalle, is where the good team handball club, THW Kiel, plays. THW Kiel has won many championships in Germany. There is also a football club called Holstein Kiel. They play at Holstein-Stadion and will be playing in the Bundesliga soon.

Education and scientific research

Kiel has a big university called the University of Kiel, founded in 1665. It is the only full university in the state of Schleswig-Holstein and has many students. Connected to the university are special research centers like the German National Library of Economics, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, and the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.

Kiel also has other schools, such as the Fachhochschule Kiel and the Muthesius School of Arts. There are many schools in the city, and it also has training centers for different jobs.

Economy and infrastructure

Kiel's economy is based on services, transportation, and sea-related industries. It is an important city for the German Navy and a key place for building ships, including submarines.

Kiel has many notable companies, such as ferry operators, military contractors, and engineering firms. The city also has banks, insurance companies, and a growing number of startups.

Kiel has good transportation links. It is near a major motorway and has a central train station with connections to many cities. The city has bus services and ferries that travel across the fjord. The Port of Kiel is important for shipping to places like Scandinavia, the Baltic States, and Russia. The nearest international airport is Hamburg Airport, with a shuttle bus service to Kiel.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Kiel

Kiel has been home to many famous people over time. Some well-known people from Kiel have done important work in science, sports, and the arts. The city is still a place where interesting and successful people live and work.

Twin towns – sister cities

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

Kiel is twinned with many cities around the world. Some of these cities include:

• Aarhus, Denmark (2019)
• Antakya, Turkey (2012)
• Brest, France (1964)
• Coventry, United Kingdom (1947)
• Gdynia, Poland (1985)
• Kaliningrad, Russia (1992)
• Kherson, Ukraine (2024)
• Moshi Rural District, Tanzania (2009)
• Samsun, Turkey (2010)
• San Francisco, United States (2017)
• Sovetsk, Russia (1992)
• Stralsund, Germany (1987)
• Tallinn, Estonia (1986)
• Vaasa, Finland (1967)