Viersen
Viersen | |
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show Location of Viersen within Viersen district | |
Viersen | |
Coordinates: 51°15′22″N 6°23′50″E / 51.25611°N 6.39722°ECoordinates: 51°15′22″N 6°23′50″E / 51.25611°N 6.39722°E | |
Country | Germany |
State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
Admin. region | Düsseldorf |
District | Viersen |
Subdivisions | 4 |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–25) | Sabine Anemüller[1] (SPD) |
Area | |
• Total | 91.07 km2 (35.16 sq mi) |
Elevation | 40 m (130 ft) |
Population (2020-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 77,376 |
• Density | 850/km2 (2,200/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Postal codes | 41747–41751 |
Dialling codes | 0 21 62 |
Vehicle registration | VIE, KK |
Website | www.viersen.de |
Viersen (German pronunciation: [ˈfiːɐ̯zn̩]) is the capital of the district of Viersen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Geography[]
Viersen is situated approximately 8 km north-west of Mönchengladbach, 15 km south-west of Krefeld and 20 km east of Venlo (Netherlands).
Division of the town[]
The city of Viersen is made up of three (formerly independent) cities: Süchteln, Dülken and Viersen, which combined in 1970, and one former village, , which combined with Viersen in 1968.
Economy[]
The companies Mars Incorporated (chocolate bars) and the "Kaiser's Tengelmann AG" (supermarkets) are situated in one of Viersen's industrial districts named Dülken-Mackenstein.
Culture[]
Recurring events[]
- International Jazz Festival in Viersen's Festival Hall (Festhalle). September
- The World Championships of Carom billiards take place in Viersen's Festival Hall (Festhalle). March
- Big Carnival Parades in all 3 city parts. The one in Dülken is one of the biggest and most traditional Parades in North Rhine-Westphalia. February
- The Dülkener Schöppenmarkt, a type of flea/junk market, which takes place on the day after the last Carnival parade, is one of Germany's biggest. February
- Big free flea market in Viersen's pedestrian zone, where only children are allowed to sell. Biggest market of this type in Germany. Summer
- "Viersen blüht" (Viersen is blooming) is a voluntary initiative which places arrangements and sculptures of flowers all over the city's pedestrian zone. Summer
- International Biker Meeting, organized by the local biker-club "MC Viersen 1980 e.V.". 2nd weekend each September
- Viersen Jazz Festival. 4th weekend each September
- Big kite-flying-festival. Autumn
- Eier & Speck Festival ("Eggs & Bacon Festival") is an Alternative, Punk and Indie rock festival founded in 2006 by the singer of local band "Ranzig", Christoph Tappeser ("Tappi"), and held annually in summer near the forest area "Hoher Busch". Line-up for 2008 were Clawfinger (Sweden), Knorkator (Berlin), The Shanes, Blue Babies, Custard Pies and others. 3000 visitors came in 2008 and tickets included the concerts, camping and breakfast. July or August
Main sights[]
- Viersen sculpture collection
- Städtische Galerie im Park Viersen
- Viersen Bismarck Tower
- Festhalle Viersen
Transport[]
Viersen is connected to the region by a dense bus network and Viersen station. The station is served by various local and regional rail lines.
Notable people[]
- Gustav von Mevissen (1815–1899), businessman and politician
- Max Nonnenbruch (1857–1922), painter
- Illa Martin (1900–1988), dendrologist, botanist, conservationist and dentist
- Albert Vigoleis Thelen (1903–1989), author and translator
- Hilde Bruch (1904–1984), psychoanalyst
- Erik Martin (1936–2017), writer, songwriter and composer of songs
- Helmut Reisen (born 1950), economist
- Holger Henke (born 1960), political scientist
- Elmar Theveßen (born 1967), TV-journalist and author
- Till Brönner (born 1971), musician, arranger and producer
- Mirja Boes (born 1971), comedian, actress and singer
- Udo Voigt, politician
- Roosevelt (born 1990) music producer and singer
- Tim Stützle (born 2002), professional ice hockey player for the Ottawa Senators of the NHL
Twin towns – sister cities[]
- Calau, Germany
- Kaniv, Ukraine
- Lambersart, France
- Mittweida, Germany
- Pardesiya, Israel
- Peterborough, England, United Kingdom
References[]
- ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 30 June 2021.
- ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2020" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Partnerstädte". viersen.de (in German). Viersen. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Viersen. |
- Official website (in German)
- Kempen, Germany
- Towns in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Viersen (district)