Essen – A Green Industrial Metropolis

Essen is one of those cities whose present-day appearance is shaped by extraordinary contrasts. In this major city in North Rhine-Westphalia, medieval church history, the industrial heritage of coal and steel, modern corporate headquarters, renowned art museums and extensive green spaces come together. For decades, the name Essen was primarily associated with Krupp, mining and heavy industry. Today, the city presents itself as a centre of culture, business, trade fairs and higher education. Rather than concealing its industrial past, Essen preserves it as an important part of its identity.

Geographical Location, Federal State and Population

Essen is located in the heart of the Ruhr region and belongs to the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia as well as the Düsseldorf administrative district. The independent city is part of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region and borders, among others, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Oberhausen, Bottrop, Gelsenkirchen, Bochum, Hattingen and Velbert.

The city covers an area of around 210 square kilometres and is divided into nine urban districts with a total of 50 neighbourhoods. The River Ruhr flows through the southern part of Essen, where the approximately seven-kilometre-long Lake Baldeney is also located. The north is traditionally more industrial and densely built-up, while the south is surprisingly green, with forests, historic town centres, residential districts with villas and the Ruhr Valley.

On 31 December 2025, 573,618 people had their primary residence in Essen. This means that Essen remains one of Germany’s largest cities. The population was only slightly lower than in the previous year.

Origins and Early History

The name Essen probably originates from the early medieval term Astnide, which is often interpreted as meaning “place in the east”. The city’s actual development began in the middle of the 9th century. Around the year 850, Altfrid, who later became Bishop of Hildesheim, and his relative Gerswid founded a religious community for women on their estate.

This women’s convent developed into an important religious and political centre whose members later mainly came from the high nobility. A settlement of craftspeople, merchants and servants grew around the convent.

In 1244, representatives of the citizens and the princess-abbess agreed to construct a city wall. This created a clearly defined urban legal area for Essen. At the same time, the present-day district of Werden in the south of the city developed around a Benedictine monastery founded by the missionary Liudger as early as around 799.

Essen Abbey and Werden Abbey continued to exist until the secularisation of 1803. Afterwards, both ecclesiastical territories initially became part of Prussia. This long religious history is still visible today in Essen Cathedral, the Cathedral Treasury and the historic buildings in the district of Werden.

From a Small Settlement to an Industrial City

Coal was already being mined in the area of present-day Essen during the Middle Ages. Its existence was first mentioned in writing in 1317. Regular coal mining in the Essen area has been documented since the 15th century. However, the decisive economic transformation did not begin until the 19th century.

In 1811, Friedrich Krupp founded a cast steel factory. Under his son Alfred Krupp, it developed into a globally active industrial company. At the same time, deep coal mines, coking plants and railway connections were established. Between 1840 and 1860, numerous new mine shafts were sunk in Essen and the surrounding area.

Coal, steel and mechanical engineering caused the population to grow rapidly. Essen became one of the most important centres of the European coal and steel industry. The Krupp factories shaped not only the economy but also urban planning and social life. Workers’ housing estates, railway facilities, factory buildings and social institutions were constructed.

One well-known example is Margarethenhöhe. The garden suburb was founded by Margarethe Krupp in 1906 and built according to plans by the architect Georg Metzendorf. It was intended to provide healthy yet affordable housing and is now regarded as one of Germany’s most attractive historic residential developments.

Destruction, Reconstruction and Structural Change

During the Second World War, Essen was heavily bombed because of its importance as an industrial and armaments centre. By 1945, large parts of the city centre and its industrial facilities lay in ruins. After the end of the war, reconstruction began under the city’s then mayor, Gustav Heinemann.

In the following decades, the coal crisis transformed the city once again. Most of its mines closed between the late 1950s and the early 1970s. In 1986, the closure of the Zollverein Coal Mine marked the end of active hard-coal mining in Essen.

The former coal and steel city gradually developed into a centre for services, energy companies, administration, education, healthcare, culture and trade fairs. This structural transformation is particularly visible on the site of the Zollverein Coal Mine and Coking Plant. Instead of demolishing the industrial facilities, they were preserved and given new cultural uses.

Since 2001, the Zollverein Industrial Complex has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, it is home to the Ruhr Museum, the Red Dot Design Museum, event venues and institutions dedicated to art, design and the creative industries.

The city’s green character also became increasingly important. Grugapark, Lake Baldeney, numerous forests and former railway routes provide space for recreation, hiking and cycling. In 2017, Essen held the title of “European Green Capital”. This recognised the city’s successful transformation from an industrial centre shaped by coal and steel into a greener and more sustainable metropolis.

Tourism in Essen

Essen attracts cultural tourists, trade fair visitors, business travellers, concertgoers and enthusiasts of industrial heritage. In 2024, approximately 985,150 guest arrivals were recorded in Essen’s hotels and other accommodation establishments. Together, these visitors generated more than 1.8 million overnight stays.

Day visitors who come to see attractions such as Zollverein and Lake Baldeney or to attend concerts, events and football matches, or to visit the city’s shopping streets, are not included in these overnight-stay statistics. The actual number of annual visitors is therefore considerably higher.

Places of Interest and Excursion Destinations

• Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site: The former coal mine and coking plant is Essen’s best-known landmark. The striking double headframe of Shaft XII symbolises the industrial heritage of the Ruhr region. Visitors can take guided tours, visit museums or explore the site on foot or by bicycle.
• Villa Hügel: The former home and representative residence of the Krupp family was built between 1870 and 1873. The building has 269 rooms and approximately 8,100 square metres of usable floor space. It stands in a spacious park above Lake Baldeney and parts of it are now open to visitors.
• Museum Folkwang: This internationally renowned art museum displays important works of German and French painting and sculpture from the 19th century, as well as Expressionist and classical modern art. Photography, graphic art and poster design are also important parts of its collection.
• Essen Cathedral and Cathedral Treasury: Located in the city centre, the cathedral recalls Essen’s medieval women’s convent. Its most famous treasure is the Golden Madonna, which dates from around 980. It is considered the oldest surviving three-dimensional sculpture of the Virgin Mary and is one of the most significant works of art in the Essen Cathedral Treasury.
• Lake Baldeney: The largest reservoir on the River Ruhr is located in the green south of Essen. It is a popular destination for sailing, rowing, canoeing, hiking and cycling. During the warmer months, excursion boats operated by the White Fleet travel across the lake and along the Ruhr.
• Grugapark: This extensive city park offers themed gardens, playgrounds, animal enclosures, works of art and event areas. Its present size and design were significantly influenced by the 1965 Federal Garden Show.
• Margarethenhöhe: This protected historic garden suburb combines varied architecture with green squares, small gardens and winding streets. It is considered one of the best-known examples of the German garden-city movement.
• Werden and Kettwig: Both districts have preserved historic town centres. Werden is known for its basilica, former abbey and old residential buildings. Kettwig has retained numerous half-timbered houses dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries, as well as charming, winding streets.
• Old Synagogue: Built between 1911 and 1913, this building is one of the Ruhr region’s most important monuments of Jewish culture. Today, it serves as a centre of Jewish culture and provides information about Jewish history, religion and ways of life.

Famous Personalities

• Alfred Krupp: Born in Essen in 1812, the industrialist developed his family’s cast steel factory into an internationally active industrial group.
• Heinz Rühmann: Born in Essen in 1902, he became one of the best-known German film actors of the 20th century.
• Helmut Rahn: The Essen-born footballer scored the winning goal for Germany in the 1954 FIFA World Cup final and became a sporting legend known by the nickname “The Boss”.
• Otto Rehhagel: Born in Essen in 1938, the footballer and coach won numerous titles and led the Greek national team to victory in the 2004 European Championship.
• Gustav Heinemann: The future President of Germany lived in Essen for many years and, as mayor, supervised the reconstruction of the city after the Second World War.

Typical Food and Drinks

Essen’s cuisine is shaped by the hearty cooking traditions of the Ruhr region and Westphalia. Typical dishes are simple and filling, as they were once intended to provide miners and industrial workers with sufficient energy.

• Currywurst with chips: A particularly popular version is known as “Pommes Schranke”, with both ketchup and mayonnaise.
• Pea or lentil stew: A filling dish often served with bacon, smoked sausage or a boiled sausage.
• Kale with Mettwurst sausage: A traditional winter dish from Westphalia and the Ruhr region.
• Himmel und Erde: Literally meaning “Heaven and Earth”, this dish consists of mashed potatoes, apples, onions and fried blood sausage.
• Panhas: A hearty speciality made from sausage stock, meat and buckwheat flour, which is sliced and fried.
• Potato pancakes: These crispy fried potato pancakes are often served with apple sauce.
• Werdener Appeltaten: This local tradition from the district of Werden focuses on apples and a variety of apple-based dishes.

Essen’s best-known beer is Stauder Pils. The Stauder family has been brewing beer in the Altenessen district for more than 150 years and is closely associated with Essen and the northern Ruhr region.

Typical Souvenirs from Essen

Popular keepsakes primarily reflect the city’s industrial history, its mining heritage and its best-known landmarks.

• Magnets, postcards and mugs featuring the double headframe of the Zollverein Coal Mine
• Miniature headframes, miners’ lamps and miner figurines
• Products featuring the traditional crossed hammer and pick symbol
• Miner’s soap and gifts with a coal-inspired appearance
• Breakfast boards, beer glasses and shopping bags featuring Essen designs
• Merchandise from the Rot-Weiss Essen football club
• Stauder beer, honey from Essen and regional spirits
• Souvenirs featuring Villa Hügel or Lake Baldeney
• Christmas baubles decorated with Essen landmarks
• Cookie cutters shaped like headframes, mining carts or crossed hammers and picks

Conclusion

Essen is much more than a former industrial city. The history of its medieval women’s convent, the era of coal and steel, the destruction caused by the Second World War, the subsequent reconstruction and the successful process of structural change have created a diverse and multifaceted city.

The Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site, outstanding museums, historic districts and surprisingly extensive natural and recreational areas make Essen a varied travel destination in the heart of the Ruhr region. The city combines its industrial past with modern culture, economic strength and a high quality of life surrounded by greenery.