SafekipediaHerne, North Rhine-Westphalia
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Herne is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is part of the busy Ruhr area, which is full of cities and industry. Herne sits right between two other cities, Bochum and Gelsenkirchen. This special spot helps Herne connect with many people and places nearby. The city has its own unique history and culture that makes it an interesting place to learn about.
History
Herne, once a small village called Haranni, grew quickly during the 19th century when people came to work in the coal mines and steel factories. It sits between Bochum to the south and Gelsenkirchen to the west, with other nearby cities like Recklinghausen, Castrop-Rauxel, and Dortmund.
During World War II, Herne saw some bombing and fighting, but it was not heavily damaged. After the war, many smaller villages around Herne were joined together to form the city we know today. The population grew very fast as more people moved in to work in the mines.
Politics
Mayor
Frank Dudda is the current mayor of Herne. He belongs to the Social Democratic Party and was first elected in 2015. He was re-elected in 2020, with the most recent election happening on September 13, 2020.
City council
The Herne city council works together with the mayor to guide the city. The latest city council election also took place on September 13, 2020.
Notable places
Every first week of August, a big fair called the Cranger Kirmes takes place in the Crange district of Herne. It is the second largest carnival in Germany, drawing around 4.5 million visitors each year. The fair began in the 15th century when farmers started trading horses on Saint Lawrence's Day. Today, people still gather in the same place to enjoy horse shows and sales, keeping the tradition alive.
Notable people
Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, has been home to many famous people. Some well-known individuals from the city include Cigdem Akyol, Yıldıray Baştürk, Kurt Edelhagen, Gudrun Heute-Bluhm, Andrea Jürgens, Jürgen von Manger known as "Mr. Tegtmeier" from Tegtmeiers Reisen, Jürgen Marcus, Bernd Storck, Peavy Wagner, Leonie Saint, Bärbel Beuermann, musicologist Gregor Willmes, Rudolf Witzig, and Jan Zweyer.
Notable businesses
Herne is home to big companies like Schwing, which makes concrete pumps, and Vulkan, which makes parts for refrigeration and air conditioning. There is also a big construction company called Heitkamp.
The city has two important hospitals. The Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet is a special clinic for rheumatology, including care for rare diseases. The Urology Clinic at the Marien-Hospital is known for treating tumors, nerve problems in the urinary system, urogynecology, andrology, and incontinence. Both hospitals work with Ruhr University Bochum.
Sports
Herne has several football clubs, such as SC Westfalia Herne, DSC Wanne-Eickel, and SV Sodingen. The city's soccer history is tied to its mining industry. These clubs had their biggest successes in the 1950s.
Sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany
Herne has friendly connections with cities in several countries. These include:
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