Kiel

Kiel is the capital city of the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. With around 250,000 people, it is the largest city on the Baltic Sea. Kiel sits on the Kieler Förde inlet and is close to the Bay of Kiel. The famous Kiel Canal begins here, linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.

Kiel began as a small settlement and received city rights in 1242. Over time, it grew into an important port because of its location. It was once ruled by Denmark and later became part of Prussia. During the 20th century, Kiel was involved in both World Wars due to its naval and shipbuilding industries.

Today, Kiel is known for its sailing events, especially the yearly Kiel Week, one of the world's largest. It is also a key spot for the German Navy and a center for ocean research at the University of Kiel. Many cruise ships visit Kiel, and it has ferry services to places like Sweden, Norway, and Lithuania.

History

The city of Kiel was founded in 1233 by Count Adolf IV of Holstein. It became part of the Hanseatic League in 1284 but was later expelled in 1518. In 1665, the University of Kiel was established.

In more recent times, Kiel was part of Denmark until 1864 when it became part of Prussia. It grew quickly as a major naval base for Germany. During the Second World War, Kiel was heavily bombed, which caused much damage to the city. After the war, Kiel was rebuilt and became the capital of Schleswig-Holstein in 1952. Today, Kiel is known for its shipbuilding and research centers.

Geography

Climate

Kiel has a mild climate, influenced by the Baltic Sea. This means the temperatures don't change too much between winter and summer. Winters are cool with average temperatures around 2 °C (36 °F), and summers are pleasant around 17 °C (63 °F). It is very rare to have temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F), happening only about three days a year on average.

Districts

Kiel has around 40 different areas, but they are grouped in various ways. Some of the bigger areas include Wik, Gaarden-Ost, and Mettenhof. Gaarden is an older area near the water, while Mettenhof is a larger neighborhood built in the 1960s and 1970s. North of the city center, you’ll find 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, dating back to the 13th century. Holstenstraße is one of Germany’s longest shopping streets and will be improved in the coming years. 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 also 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, which shows historic rooms and urban exhibits from the 19th and 20th centuries. 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, its population was about 214,000. Kiel is Germany's largest coastal city and its only state capital located on the sea. In the 1950s, Kiel's marine port attracted members of the navy. Kiel reached its highest population in 1973 with 273,000 people. After that, the population went down as many people moved away, and the city faced challenges with unemployment. Today, Kiel is known for its universities and active marine stations, which attract many young students and marines.

Politics

City Council

The City Council is the group that 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 and will work together until 2028.

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 a very 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 for the first time in the 2024–2025 season.

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 about 27,000 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 twelve gymnasiums in the city, with the Kieler Gelehrtenschule being the oldest, founded in 1320. The city also has many vocational training centers, including the BZ am NOK, which offers training in over 40 different jobs.

Economy and infrastructure

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

Kiel has many notable companies, including 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 individuals throughout history. Some well-known people from Kiel have made important contributions in fields like science, sports, and the arts. The city continues to be a place where interesting and accomplished 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)