Bielefeld

Bielefeld is a city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the most populous city in the administrative region of Detmold and the 18th largest city in Germany, with a population of 342,952 people.

The city is located in the Ravensberg Basin north of the Teutoburg Forest hill range, and it stretches across the range into the flat Westphalian Basin. Bielefeld lies on the Hermannsweg, a famous hiking trail that runs for 156 km along the ridges of the Teutoburg Forest.

Bielefeld is an important center for business and education. Many international companies have their headquarters there, such as Dr. Oetker, DMG Mori, Möller Group, Goldbeck, and Schüco. The city also has a university and several technical colleges (Fachhochschulen). Additionally, Bielefeld is well-known for the Bethel Institution, which plays a significant role in the community.

History

Bielefeld was founded in 1214 to guard a pass through the Teutoburg Forest. It became known for its linen trade and was part of the Hanseatic League. Over the centuries, Bielefeld changed hands many times, belonging to different states and kingdoms.

In the 19th century, the city grew with the arrival of the railway and the opening of factories. Bielefeld built important buildings such as a theatre and a concert hall. After World War II, it became an important base for the British Army. In 1973, the city expanded by merging with nearby areas, growing much larger in size and population.

Subdivisions

Bielefeld is divided into ten different districts. These districts are Bielefeld-Mitte (the central district), Brackwede, Dornberg, Gadderbaum, Heepen, Jöllenbeck, Schildesche, Senne, Sennestadt, and Stieghorst. Each district has its own unique character and helps make up the city of Bielefeld.

Climate

Bielefeld has an oceanic climate, which means its weather is mild and changes a lot through the year. The city’s average high temperature is around 14.6 °C (58.3 °F), and the average low is about 5.4 °C (41.7 °F). It gets about 866 millimeters (34.11 inches) of rain each year.

The area has seen some extreme weather, like very hot days reaching 39.0 °C (102.2 °F) and very cold nights dropping to −21.3 °C (−6.3 °F). Some years have had a lot of rain, while others were quite dry. The amount of sunshine also changes from year to year.

Industry and education

Bielefeld has a long history in making things, like linen and clothes. In the early 1920s, the town's bank even made special money from materials like linen, silk, and velvet, called 'stoffgeld'. Today, Bielefeld is known for making home appliances, food, leather goods, and textiles. Big companies there include Dr. Oetker, Möller Group, Seidensticker, and the Bethel Institution.

The city also has places for learning. Bielefeld University started in 1969 and has many teachers and students. There are also other schools for higher education, like the Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, which is famous for its photography program. The city has vocational schools that help students learn skills in business, healthcare, and technology.

Demographics

Bielefeld is a vibrant city in Germany, located in the region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe in the northeast part of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the largest city in the Detmold administrative region and the 18th largest in the whole country, with a population of about 342,952 people.

The historic center of Bielefeld lies in the Ravensberg Basin, north of the Teutoburg Forest. Today, the city stretches across this forest and into the flat Westphalian Basin to the south.

Politics

Mayor

The current mayor of Bielefeld is Christiana Bauer of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who was elected in 2025.

The most recent mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, with a runoff held on 27 September.

City council

The Bielefeld city council governs the city alongside the mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020. The SPD, the Greens, and the Left made a coalition with 35 of the 66 seats in the council.

Transport

Two major roads, the A 2 and A 33, meet in the southeast of Bielefeld. The Ostwestfalendamm expressway links the two parts of the city, which are separated by the Teutoburg Forest. Bielefeld Hauptbahnhof, the city's main railway station, is on the Hamm–Minden railway and is part of Germany's ICE high-speed railroad system. The main station for long-distance buses is Brackwede station.

Bielefeld has a small airfield in the Senne district, but most people use three larger airports nearby: Paderborn Lippstadt Airport, Münster Osnabrück Airport, and Hannover Airport. The city has a good public transport system, with services run by companies such as moBiel and "BVO". The Bielefeld Stadtbahn has four main lines, and buses travel all over the area. Regional trains also connect Bielefeld to nearby counties.

Main sights

Sparrenburg Castle is a famous landmark in Bielefeld. Built between 1240 and 1250, its tall tower and catacombs are open for visitors to explore.

The city also boasts the Linen Weavers' Monument, a well-known symbol for over a century. The Old City Hall, built in 1904, still serves its original purpose and shows beautiful architecture. Nearby is the City Theatre, known for its large performances and unique style. The oldest city church, Altstädter Nicolaikirche, features a tall tower and historic altar carvings, while the largest church, Neustädter Marienkirche, played a key role in the Protestant Reformation. Other highlights include an art museum, a concert hall, and a botanical garden.

Sport

Bielefeld is home to a professional football team called DSC Arminia Bielefeld. They currently play in the 2. Liga during the 2025–26 season at the SchücoArena stadium, located in the west part of the town centre.

The city also has a famous bike racing track named Radrennbahn Bielefeld.

Notable people

Born before 1900

Some well-known people from Bielefeld who were born before 1900 include:

• Kurt Blome (1894–1969), a scientist during World War II
• Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, Senior (1831–1910), a leader of a Protestant sanatorium
• Hugo Fischer-Köppe (1890–1937), an early film actor
• Albert Florath (1888–1957), a stage and film actor
• Anne Marie Heiler (1889–1979), a politician
• Johann Christoph Hoffbauer (1766–1827), a philosopher
• Charlotte Houtermans (1899–1993), a physicist
• August Junkermann (1832–1915), an actor
• August Krönig (1822–1879), a chemist and physicist
• Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (1888–1931), a film director
• Christian Friedrich Nasse (1778–1851), a psychiatrist
• Helmuth Osthoff (1896–1983), a musicologist and composer
• Viktoria Steinbiß (1892–1971), a politician
• Hermann Stenner (1891–1914), an early Expressionist painter
• Hermann Dietrich Upmann (1816–1894), a banker and cigar manufacturer
• Franz von Waldeck (≈1491–1553), a prince-bishop
• Roger Wilmans (1812–1881), a historian and archivist

Born 1900–1950

Notable people from Bielefeld born between 1900 and 1950 include:

• Rudolph Angermüller (1940–2021), a musicologist
• Aleida Assmann (born 1947), a literary and cultural scientist
• Veronica Carstens (1923–2012), a medical doctor
• Erich Consemüller (1902–1957), an architect and photographer
• Elfriede Eilers (1921–2016), a politician
• Johannes Friedrich (1948–2025), a theologian
• Karen Gershon (1923–1993), a writer and poet
• Theodor Göllner (1929–2022), a musicologist
• Klaus Hildebrand (born 1941), a historian
• Heinz Klingenberg (1905–1959), an actor
• Werner Lueg (1931–2014), an athlete
• Hajo Meyer (1924–2014), a physicist and author
• Rüdiger Nehberg (1935–2020), a survival expert and human rights activist
• Ursula Oetker (1915–2005), a businesswoman
• Günter Rixe (1939–2024), a politician
• Bernhard Schlink (born 1944), a professor and author
• Hans-Werner Sinn (born 1948), an economist
• Christian Tümpel (1937–2009), an art historian
• Reiner Uthoff (1937–2024), a writer and stage director
• Werner Vordtriede (1915–1985), a writer and professor
• Hannes Wader (born 1942), a musician and songwriter
• Karl August Walther (1902–after 1964) a writer and publisher
• Horst Wessel (1907–1930), an SA leader
• Hannes Wader (born 1942), a musician

Born 1951–2000

Famous people from Bielefeld born between 1951 and 2000 include:

• Julia Abe (born 1976), a tennis player
• Friederike Abt (born 1994), a football goalkeeper
• Mehmet Akgün (born 1986), a footballer
• Anja Blacha (born 1990), an athlete and mountaineer
• Tom Brüntrup (born 1997), a politician
• Mark Carleton-Smith (born 1964), a British Army officer
• Michael Diekmann (born 1954), a business executive
• Hendrik Dreekmann (born 1975), a tennis player
• Sabine Ellerbrock (born 1975), a wheelchair tennis player
• Anja Feldmann (born 1966), a computer scientist
• Nina George (born 1973), a writer and journalist
• Lena Goeßling (born 1986), a football player
• Olaf Hampel (born 1965), a bob driver
• Jost Kobusch (born 1992), a mountaineer and author
• Julian Köster (born 2000), a handball player
• Mieke Kröger (born 1993), a cyclist
• Gitta Kutyniok (born 1972), a mathematician
• Richard Oetker (born 1951), a businessman
• Ingo Oschmann (born 1969), a comedian and magician
• Hartmut Ostrowski (born 1958), a business executive
• Florian Panzner (born 1976), an actor
• Dinah Pfizenmaier (born 1992), a tennis player
• Christina Rau (born 1956), a political scientist
• Mike Reed (born 1974), a jazz drummer
• Bianca Shomburg (born 1974), a singer
• Melanie Stiassny (born 1953), an ichthyologist
• Maike Stöckel (born 1984), a field hockey player
• Aylin Tezel (born 1983), an actress and director
• Iris Vermillion (born 1960), an operatic mezzo-soprano
• Oliver Welke (born 1966), a comedian and sports journalist

Born 2001 and later

Some recent notable people from Bielefeld born in 2001 and later include:

• Dildar Atmaca (born 2002), a footballer
• Jomaine Consbruch (born 2002), a footballer
• Colin Kleine-Bekel (born 2003), a footballer
• Henrik Koch (born 2006), a footballer

Twin towns – sister cities

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

Bielefeld has several twin towns and sister cities around the world. These include:

• Concarneau, France
• Estelí, Nicaragua
• Nahariya, Israel
• Rochdale, England, United Kingdom
• Rzeszów, Poland
• Veliky Novgorod, Russia