Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia

Friedrich Ebert Bridge, Duisburg, Germany
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duisburg,_2011-01_CN-V,_Friedrich-Ebert-Br%C3%BCcke.jpg
Author: kaʁstn


Duisburg is a city on the western part of the Ruhr Area, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Located within the Düsseldorf administrative district, Duisburg covers 232.82 sq km (89.89 sq mi) and has a population of 500,000 (2011 estimate). It ranks 15th among the most populous cities in Germany and 5th among the cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The city observes the Central European Time (UTC+1) and in summer the Central European Summer Time (UTC+2).

Main street in Mündelheim, a neighborhood of Duisburg, with St Dionysius Church on the right
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ortsmitte_Duisburg-M%C3%BCndelheim.JPG
Author: ZebraDS


Duisburg is located at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr River, a strategic location that propels its harbour to become the biggest inland harbour in the world. Together, along with the proximity of the Düsseldorf International Airport, makes the city a choice location for business and manufacturing.

Duisburg is a major center of heavy industry in Germany, producing the lion's share of hot metal and pig-iron in Germany. Unlike under cities in the Ruhr area, Duisburg was never a major coal-mining center. Its last coal mine closed in 2009. Apart from its heavy industries, Duisburg is also the producer of König Pilsener, a major brand of beer in the country.

Salvatorkirche, Duisburg
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salvatorkirche_Turm_(Duisburg)_4.JPG
Author: Oceancetaceen


According to legend - as recorded by 16th century Bavarian historian Johannes Aventinus, Duisburg was established by Tuisto, the divine ancestor of the Germans, whose name is given to the city. Archaeological research shows that a settlement has been founded there by the first century AD. It grew into a trading town by the 5th century.

The industrial development of Duisburg dates to the 18th century. At that time, it was part of the Prussian Rhine Province. Major iron and steel companies such as Thyssen and Krupp established their operations in the city. Railway lines were constructed to connect it with other major cities in the Ruhr area, including Düsseldorf and Dortmund.

Due to its various heavy industries, Duisburg was a major target of Allied bombers during the Second World War. A raid by 577 bombers on 12-13 May, 1943, dropped 1,599 tons of bombs on Duisburg, destroying its Old Town and killing countless civilians. Another 2,000 tons of bombs fell on the city on 22 May, 1944, followed by 2,018 tons on 14 October, 1944. A daytime operation was followed the same night when 9,000 tons of bombs was dropped on the city.

Factories in the Duisburg Industrial Landscape Park, Duisburg
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duisburg_%28DerHexer%29_2010-08-11_019.jpg
Author: DerHexer


By the end of the war, Duisburg had endured 299 bombing raids that completely destroyed the city, requiring the whole city to be rebuilt. The result is that most of its historic landmarks are now gone. Nevertheless major buildings such as the Salvatorkirche was rebuilt.

Today Duisburg is a modern German city that has fully recovered from its past war devastations. During its decades of redevelopment, it attracted immigrant workers, mainly Turks, who took on the low-paying jobs as Gastarbeiter ("guest workers"). Today the city has some 60,000 Turkish Muslims. The new Merkez Mosque, the main place of worship for the Muslims in Duisburg, is the largest mosque in a non-Muslim country. Its construction was funded by the EU and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Duisburg Railway Station
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hauptbahnhof_Duisburg,_Vorplatz_Eingang_West,_2004.jpg
Author: BlackIceNRW

Visiting Duisburg, Germany

The nearest airport to Duisburg is the Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS). From the airport, take a train to the Düsseldorf Railway Station and transfer to a train to Duisburg.

Places of Interest in Duisburg

Interior of Merkez-Moschee, Duisburg, the biggest mosque in a non-Muslim country
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duisburg_Merkez-Moschee_Innen_4.jpg
Author: Zairon

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