Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf 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, with a population of 618,685 as of 2024. The city sits mainly on the right bank of the Rhine River and is part of the busy Rhine-Ruhr area, which is the second biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union.

Düsseldorf has a long history, starting as a small settlement and gaining city rights in 1288. Over the centuries, it grew into an important political and cultural center. Today, it is a major business and financial hub, hosting important companies and trade fairs. Düsseldorf Airport is one of Germany’s busiest, making it a key international gateway. The city is also known for its arts, music, and lively celebrations during the Rhenish Carnival.

Etymology

The name Düsseldorf comes from the small river Düssel, which flows into the Rhine near the city. The ending "-dorf" means "village" in German, showing that Düsseldorf started as a small fishing and farming place by the river. So, Düsseldorf literally means "village on the Düssel."

As the city grew into an important place, it kept its original name. Düsseldorf is special because most big German cities do not have the "-dorf" ending anymore, which is usually found in small villages. In the local Limburgish language, called Düsseldorfer Platt, the city is named Düsseldörp.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Düsseldorf.

Early development

When the Roman Empire was growing stronger in Europe, a few Germanic tribes stayed in marshy lands near the Rhine River. In the 7th and 8th centuries, small farming and fishing villages appeared where the river Düssel meets the Rhine. These villages eventually grew into the city of Düsseldorf.

The first time Düsseldorf was mentioned was between 1135 and 1159. By 1162, it was called Thusseldorp. Nearby, the town of Kaiserswerth became a strong fort under Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa, watching over the Rhine. Kaiserswerth later joined Düsseldorf as a neighborhood in 1929.

Duchy of Berg

In 1186, Düsseldorf became part of the County of Berg within the Holy Roman Empire. Around 1206, it separated from the Bilk area and became its own church community. In 1263, the Count of Berg allowed people to use ferries there.

On August 14, 1288, Count Adolf VIII of Berg gave Düsseldorf special town rights. This happened after a fierce battle between the Count and the Archbishop of Cologne, which ended with a big win for the Count’s forces. This victory helped Düsseldorf become a city, and it is still celebrated today with a statue in Burgplatz.

After this, Düsseldorf grew slowly. It became more important under Duke William II of Berg in the 1380s. He added new areas, built a bigger palace, and put up stone walls around the town. Over time, famous buildings like the Collegiate Church of St Lambertus were constructed. By 1609, the ruling family ended, and new leaders from Palatinate-Neuburg took over, making Düsseldorf their main home.

Prussia

After big changes in Europe, Düsseldorf became part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1815. Though it was no longer a capital, it became an important place for government. In the 1800s, Düsseldorf was known for its art and beautiful gardens. Famous artists, musicians, and writers lived there.

With industrialization, Düsseldorf grew because of its good location by the Rhine and close to the Ruhr area. Factories for iron, steel, and chemicals opened, and the city’s population grew quickly. By the end of the 19th century, Düsseldorf was a busy industrial and business center.

World War II

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

During World War II, Düsseldorf suffered heavy bombings, especially in 1943 and 1945. The city was captured by Allied forces in April 1945.

German Federal Republic

Düsseldorf became the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia in 1946. After the war, the city was rebuilt and became a leader in business and trade. It grew as a center for fairs and international trade. In the 1950s, many Japanese companies opened offices there, creating a small “Little Tokyo” area with shops and restaurants. Today, Düsseldorf remains an important city for politics, business, and culture.

Geography

Düsseldorf is located in the center of the Lower Rhine area, where the small river Düssel flows into the Rhine. Most of the city sits on the east side of the Rhine River, with only a small part on the west side. It is near big cities like Neuss and is part of the larger Rhine-Ruhr area.

The city is built on soft ground made of mud, sand, and clay. The highest spot in Düsseldorf is about 165 meters above sea level, while the lowest point is around 28 meters above sea level. Düsseldorf has a mild climate with cool winters and warm summers. The average temperature is about 11 °C, and the city gets around 751 mm of rain each year. The wind usually blows from the west at a gentle speed.

Demographics

See also: Japanese community of Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf is Germany’s sixth largest city, with a population of 653,253 as of December 31, 2022. The city grew to over 100,000 people in 1882 and reached its highest population of just over 705,000 in 1962. After that, many people moved out, but numbers have been rising slowly since the late 1990s.

About 42.6% of people in Düsseldorf have ties to other countries, with many coming from Turkey, Ukraine, Greece, Poland, and Italy. The city has the largest Japanese community in Germany, with about 11,000 people.

When it comes to religion, more than a third of people in Düsseldorf do not belong to any religious group. The Evangelical Church and the Roman Catholic Church together include just over a third of the city’s people. There are also communities of Eastern Orthodox Christians, free churches, and around 7,000 members of the Jewish community—the third-largest in Germany. There are also many Muslim communities, mainly from Turkey, Bosnia, Morocco, and other countries. The only Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist temple in Europe is in the district of Niederkassel.

Government

Boroughs

Main article: Boroughs of Düsseldorf

Since 1975, Düsseldorf has been split into ten areas called boroughs. Each borough has its own local council and a mayor to help make decisions. These councils give advice, and each borough is also split into smaller parts called quarters. Düsseldorf has 50 of these quarters.

Mayor

See also: List of mayors of Düsseldorf

The current mayor of Düsseldorf is Stephan Keller from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He was elected in 2020 and reelected in 2025. The most recent mayoral election happened on 14 September 2025, with a second round on 28 September.

City council

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

Economy

Düsseldorf is a very important place for work and money in Germany. The city does well with many different kinds of jobs, mixing services like banks and shops with making things like machines and cars. In 2023, Düsseldorf made about €62.7 billion, which is a lot of money for a city. In 2024, about 7.7% of people in the city did not have jobs.

Düsseldorf is a big place for phones and the internet. It has many companies that help people talk and connect, including big names like D2 Vodafone and Eurowings. The city also has many places where people buy things, like the famous shopping street called the Kö, short for Königsallee. Düsseldorf is also a center for banks and money, with many big banks and insurance companies, including HSBC and ERGO. The city holds big events where companies show new things, like Messe Düsseldorf, which brings together many visitors and businesses from all over the world.

Transport

Düsseldorf Airport, also called Rhein-Ruhr Airport, is located north of the city centre and is easy to reach by train. It is Germany’s fourth largest commercial airport, serving 25.5 million passengers in 2019. The airport offers flights to 180 destinations across four continents with 70 different airlines.

The city has many train stations, with Düsseldorf Central Station being the main hub. Over 1,000 trains stop in Düsseldorf each day, connecting the city to places like Cologne, Duisburg, and Mönchengladbach. There are also many bus, tram, and light rail lines that help people get around the city. Düsseldorf has a special yellow phase in its pedestrian traffic lights, giving people extra time to cross the street safely. The city also has bicycle-sharing programs and is connected to long-distance cycling routes.

Culture

Düsseldorf is a center for arts and culture in Germany. Important cultural activities began in the 17th and 18th centuries thanks to supporters like Elector Jan Wellem and his wife Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici. The city boasts famous places like the North Rhine-Westphalia Art Collection, Düsseldorf Art Academy, and well-known theaters such as the Schauspielhaus and Kom(m)ödchen. Many famous musicians, poets, and artists, including Heinrich Heine, Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn, and Joseph Beuys, have ties to Düsseldorf.

Düsseldorf is rich in museums and galleries. The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen features modern and contemporary art, while the Museum Kunstpalast displays artworks from the medieval period to today, including Baroque painting and glass art. Other museums cover topics like film, natural history, city history, and regional culture, such as the Filmmuseum Düsseldorf, Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum, and Stadtmuseum Düsseldorf. The city’s performing arts scene includes theaters like the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus and venues for opera, musical theatre, and dance, such as the Deutsche Oper am Rhein and Tanzhaus NRW.

Music plays a big role in Düsseldorf’s culture. The city is famous for electronic and krautrock music, especially the band Kraftwerk, who helped shape modern German music. Other notable groups include Neu!, La Düsseldorf, and Warlock. Düsseldorf also has a strong tradition of carnival, with lively parades and events leading up to Ash Wednesday. The city’s cartwheeler tradition is one of its oldest customs, with cartwheel sculptures found around the city. Traditional foods include Rheinischer Sauerbraten, Heaven and Earth, and Reibekuchen, along with the local Altbier beer. Every year, Düsseldorf hosts a large Christmas market that attracts visitors from all over. The city also has a friendly rivalry with nearby Cologne, especially in areas like carnival, football, and beer preferences.

Cityscape

Düsseldorf has many famous buildings and places. One of the most well-known is the Rheinturm , a tall TV tower with bright lights that form a huge digital clock. Another interesting spot is Neuer Zollhof in Düsseldorf-Hafen , designed by the famous architect Frank Gehry . There are also beautiful old palaces like Schloss Benrath and Schloss Heltorf , and big churches such as Johanneskirche .

The city also has lovely parks and gardens. Botanischer Garten Düsseldorf is a modern garden where you can see many plants from around the world. Hofgarten is an old park near the city center, and Nordpark features a peaceful Japanese garden. There are also other nice green spaces like Volksgarten next to Südpark.

Sports

Düsseldorf has a rich sports history. The city's main football team, Fortuna Düsseldorf, has won the German championship in 1933 and the German Cup in 1979 and 1980. They now play in the 2. Bundesliga and hold matches in the Merkur Spiel-Arena, a large stadium that can hold 54,500 people.

The city has also been an important location for international sports events. Düsseldorf was one of the host cities for the 1974 FIFA World Cup and will host matches for the 2024 UEFA European Championship. The Rochusclub Düsseldorf hosted the tennis World Team Cup for many years. Düsseldorf also started the famous Tour de France bicycle race in July 2017.

Other popular sports in Düsseldorf include ice hockey, American football, rugby union, table tennis, handball, basketball, baseball, dancing, and even Cricket. Many teams in these sports bring excitement to the city and have achieved great success over the years.

Education

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is in the southern part of the city. It has around 30,000 students and teaches many subjects like natural sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, philosophy, social sciences, arts, languages, medicine, pharmacy, economy and the law. The university started in 1907 and became a full university in 1965.

Düsseldorf also has other places for learning, such as the Clara Schumann Musikschule, the Robert Schumann Hochschule, the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, and the Hochschule Düsseldorf. There are also international schools like the International School of Düsseldorf, the Lycée français international Simone Veil, and the Japanische Internationale Schule in Düsseldorf.

Twin towns – sister cities

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

Düsseldorf is twinned with several cities around the world, showing friendship and support between them.

The city also works together with other places to share ideas and help each other.

Notable people

The city of Düsseldorf has many famous people connected to it, including artists, writers, musicians, and more. It gives special awards like the Heinrich Heine Prize for people who help make the world better through their ideas and work.

Some well-known people born in Düsseldorf include:

• Anne of Cleves, who married Henry VIII of England
• Heinrich Heine, a famous poet and writer
• Gustaf Gründgens, an actor
• Wim Wenders, a filmmaker
• Andreas Gursky, a photographer

Others who lived or worked in Düsseldorf include:

• Robert Schumann, a famous composer
• Clara Schumann, a pianist and composer
• Joseph Beuys, an artist and teacher
• Gerhard Richter, a well-known visual artist