City-Information

A settlement called Duisburg was first mentioned in 883. As a trading center on the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, the city grew rapidly and joined the Hanseatic League in 1407. Its location on the Rhine and Ruhr rivers ensures that Duisburg remains a trading hub to this day. With over 500,000 inhabitants, it is one of the largest cities in Germany – but unfortunately also one of the poorest.

During World War II, Duisburg was heavily damaged due to its heavy industry and mining sector, and from 1943 onwards, it was also bombed during the day. In short: very few buildings in Duisburg survived the war. The old town still exists in name – but almost no building there dates back to 1950. This is the case in many parts of the city. So please don't be surprised. One memorial against the war is the Salvator Church. Its spire was damaged in the war and never rebuilt. At nightfall, LED spotlights now illuminate the spire, giving a sense of how tall the church once was. 

After the war, Duisburg began its reconstruction, marking one of its golden ages. Steel, coal, and the port flourished, and Duisburg and its citizens were able to build a certain level of prosperity through hard work. The Ruhrort district, due to its central location in the port, was extremely successful. Ruhrort boasted well over 350 pubs and, yes, even brothels and nightclubs. This was more than Hamburg's Reeperbahn. With the collapse of the mining and steel industry, a shift back to...
Trade and logistics. This transformation is still ongoing, but the Logports – large container terminals – make the changing times visible everywhere along the Rhine in Duisburg. The Logports and ports are among the largest employers in Duisburg – but they cannot even begin to compensate for the decline of heavy industry. 

 One positive effect of the decline of the coal and steel industry is that the city's green space, at almost 45% of its area, is one of the largest in Germany. Since 2008, Duisburg residents have finally been able to enjoy the Rhine River: the Rhine Park was opened. Previously, this was virtually impossible due to the industrial environment. The Rhine Park will also be part of the IGA – International Garden Exhibition – in 2027. Another relic of heavy industry is the Landschaftspark Nord – a former steelworks – which can now be visited free of charge.

As you can see, Duisburg has a rich history – we would be delighted if you would take the time to explore this, our old city.

Hesselmann family