Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia

Gelsenwasser AG headquarters, Gelsenkirchen
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gelsenwasser.jpg
Author: Thomas Robbin


Gelsenkirchen is a city in the northern part of the Ruhr area, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It covers 104.84 sq km (40.48 sq mi) and has a population of 258,000 (2011 estimate).

The earliest mention of Gelsenkirchen was in 1150. It was nothing more than a hamlet until the 19th century, when industrialization of the Ruhr area brought rapid development, propelling the village into becoming the biggest coal mining town it Europe. It grew from a village of just 6,000 people in 1840 to a city of 138,000 in 1900.

The many gas flares lighting up the night sky of Gelsenkirchen in the early 20th century earned it the nickname of "city of a thousand fires". For a two year period between 1928 and 1930, it was renamed Gelsenkirchen-Buer following the merger with adjoining townships of Buer and Horst, but was eventually returned to its original name.

Liebfrauenkirche in Neustadt, Gelsenkirchen
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liebfrauenkirche_Neustadt_2.jpg
Author: Heinz O.


Due to its position as a source of energy, Gelsenkirchen suffered heavy bombing during the Second World War. In the post war period the city evolved away from its coal mining past towards cleaner forms of energy, particularly solar power. It has the biggest solar power plant in Germany today.

Visiting Gelsenkirchen, Germany

If you're arriving by plane, you have a choice of three airports namely the Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) 40 km away, Dortmund International Airport (DTM) 46 km away or the Cologne-Bonn Airport (CGN) 90 km away. You can take a train to the main railway station of those cities to continue your journey to Gelsenkirchen.

If you're coming by road, the expressways to take include the following Autobahns: A42, A2 and A40.

Zeche Holland, a restored plant now a residential complex in Ückendorf, Gelsenkirchen
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gelsenkirchen-%C3%9Cckendorf_-_Zeche_Holland_1_2_-_Malakow_01_ies.jpg
Author: Frank Vincentz

Places of Interest in Gelsenkirchen

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