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Emmerich am Rhein

Coordinates: 51°50′6″N 6°14′43″E / 51.83500°N 6.24528°E / 51.83500; 6.24528
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Emmerich
Town
Emmerich am Rhein as seen from the east
Emmerich am Rhein as seen from the east
Flag of Emmerich
Flag
Coat of arms of Emmerich
Coat of arms
Location of Emmerich within Kleve district
NetherlandsKrefeldBorken (district)Viersen (district)Wesel (district)Bedburg-HauEmmerich am RheinGeldernGochIssumKalkarKerkenKevelaerKleveKranenburgReesRheurdtStraelenUedemWachtendonkWeeze
Emmerich is located in Germany
Emmerich
Emmerich
Emmerich is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Emmerich
Emmerich
Coordinates: 51°50′6″N 6°14′43″E / 51.83500°N 6.24528°E / 51.83500; 6.24528
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionDüsseldorf
DistrictKleve
Founded700
Subdivisions8
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Peter Hinze[1] (SPD)
Area
 • Total
80.11 km2 (30.93 sq mi)
Elevation
15 m (49 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • Total
32,157
 • Density400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
46446
Dialling codes0 28 22
0 28 28 (Elten)
Vehicle registrationKLE
Websitewww.emmerich.de

Emmerich am Rhein (Low Rhenish and Dutch: Emmerik) is a city and municipality in the northwest of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city has a harbour and a quay at the Rhine. In terms of local government organization, it is a medium-sized city belonging to the district of Kleve in the administrative region (Regierungsbezirk) of Düsseldorf.

Geography

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Emmerich lies on the north bank of the Rhine, just within the German borders, and is the last German town on the Rhine before the river flows into the Netherlands, which is 4 km to the north and 5 km to the west.

Villages belonging to Emmerich am Rhein

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The populated places which comprise the municipality of Emmerich am Rhein are Emmerich, Borghees, Dornick, Elten, Hüthum, Klein-Netterden, Leegmeer, Praest, Speelberg and Vrasselt.

Neighboring municipalities and cities

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To the north, the municipality of Emmerich borders the Dutch municipalities of Montferland and Oude IJsselstreek; both of which are in the Dutch province of Gelderland. To the east, it is bordered by the German city of Rees. To the south, it is bordered by the Rhine, and south of this river, by the German city of Kleve. To the west, it is bordered by the Dutch municipality of Zevenaar, which is also in the Dutch province of Gelderland.

History

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Emmerich, formerly called Embrika and Emrik, was originally a Roman colony.[3] Around the year 700 Saint Willibrord founded the mission "Emmerich" in the Utrecht diocese. The oldest documented name is Villa Embrici, dating back to the year 828.

The Water Gate in Emmerich am Rhein by Jan van der Heyden, c. 1664

The collegiate church St. Martinikirche was constructed in 1040.

On 31 May 1233 Count Otto von Zutphen and Gelder became the royal of this prosperous city with the authorization of the Roman Emperor Frederick II and the German King Henry (VII). In 1371, Emmerich fell to the Duchy of Cleves, The town joined the Hanseatic League in 1407. In 1609, Cleves, and by extension Emmerich, became part of Brandenburg. In 1794 it was bombarded by the French under General Vandamme, and in 1806 it was assigned to the Duchy of Berg. It passed into the possession of Prussia in 1815.[3]

In 1856 the railway section Oberhausen-Arnhem, of the Cologne-Mindener Railway was opened.

Emmerich was 91% destroyed on 7 October 1944[4][5][6] as a strategic bombing target of the Oil Campaign of World War II.[citation needed] In 1949, Elten was annexed by the Netherlands until 1963.

Since 1 February 2001 the city has officially been called Emmerich am Rhein, until then it was simply Emmerich.[7]

On 28 November 2004 the four Catholic congregations of the city (St. Martini, St. Aldegundis, Heilig-Geist and Liebfrauen) combined to form the new city parish St. Christophorus.

Municipality and county reform

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As a part of the 1st municipal restructuring program, the municipalities of Borghees, Dornick, Hüthum, Klein-Netterden, Praest and Vrasselt were integrated into the city of Emmerich on 1 July 1969. In the course of the 2nd restructuring program, the municipality of Elten was integrated as well, on 1 January 1975.

Places of interest

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Rhine Promenade. Emmerich's Rhine promenade is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, offering peaceful views across the Rhine river and Emmerich's iconic Rhine Bridge. Having undergone a complete refurbishment between 2003 - 2007, the 1 km long promenade also boasts a variety of restaurants, coffee shops and the Rheinpark with its playground.

Geistmarkt and Farmer's Market. Located in close proximity to the Rhine Promenade is the Geistmarkt, which hosts Emmerich's Farmer's Market every Wednesday and Saturday. Shoppers have a wide choice of fresh produce ranging from vegetables, fruits, fresh fish, meat, antipasti as well as flowers.

Steinstraße. Running adjacent to the Rhine Promenade, the Steinstraße is Emmerich's main shopping mile, boasting a number of shops. Recent refurbishments have also opened up opportunities for new business ventures that are looking for a new HQ.

Kaßstraße. Shoppers who are looking for additional shops and eateries can explore the Kaßstraße, which is a mere 5 minute walk from the Steinstraße.

Rhine Museum. In the Rhine Museum, 130 ship models are exhibited, as well as a radar unit, examples of fish taxidermy, maps of the Rhine, a historic Christophorus figurine and a library of the city's history. In addition there is a Biber submarine, a one-man U-boat from World War II and exhibitions regarding shipping on the Rhine, the history of the city and fisheries.

PAN-Art Forum/Poster Museum. The famous poster collection is displayed in the former Lohmann chocolate factory in rotating exhibits.

Aero Club Emmerich e.V.. Aviation fans and adrenalin junkies are encouraged to visit Emmerich's aero glider club 'Aero Club Emmerich e.V.'.

Holy Ghost Church This Catholic church was built in 1966 and is especially striking due to its version of the cross made of scrap metal and the Stations of the Cross made of linen. The architectural development during the time of the Second Vatican Council shaped the design of the church.

The Christuskirche.

Rhine Bridge. This bridge, which connects Emmerich on the north of the Rhine with Kleve on the south, was opened in 1965, and with a length of 803 meters and a span of 500 meters it is the longest suspension bridge in Germany. Approximately 500 ships pass underneath it every day.

Castle Borghees. The manor house Borghees used as a cultural center was expanded in its present form in the mid-18th century. Borghees Castle became historically well known due to a love affair of the 17-year-old Katharina Rickers, the later imperial countess of Wartenberg, with the Prussian king Friedrich I.

Transport

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Railways

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Emmerich station is located about 1 km southeast of the city center on the double-track electrified "Holland Route," which plays an important role in passenger travel and commercial transport and is therefore treated in the EU as a part of the Trans-European Network in the category "priority projects which should be begun before 2010." In addition to the ICE International from Amsterdam to Frankfurt am Main, the night train CityNightLine to southern Germany, Austria and to Switzerland travels through here with a stop in Emmerich.

Emmerich Train Depot

With regards to regional rail transport, the following trains pass through Emmerich, in general every hour:

  • the Rhein-Express (RE5) from Emmerich to Koblenz and
  • the Regional Train Der Weseler (RB35) from Emmerich to Duisburg, and at rush hour to Düsseldorf.
PAN-Forum (poster museum).

There is another station located on the same line near Emmerich, the stop Praest, which is only served by the Regional Train Der Weseler (RB 35).

Roads

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Emmerich lies on the A3 motorway (known in German as the Bundesautobahn 3), which has the European designation E35. It also lies on the B8 (the Bundesstrasse 8) and the B220.

Inland waterways

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  • The Rhine
  • The Municipal Rhine Harbour of Emmerich
Emmerich am Rhein, bridge across the Rhine

Notable people

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Twin towns – sister cities

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Emmerich am Rhein is twinned with:[8]

References

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  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 21 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  3. ^ a b  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Emmerich". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 342.
  4. ^ Royal Air Force Bomber Command. Campaign Diary October 1944 Archived June 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Friedrich, Jörg: The fire. The bombing of Germany, 1940-1945. Columbia University Press, New York 2008, ISBN 978-0-231-13381-4, p. 115
  6. ^ Schnatz, Helmut: Die Zerstörung der deutschen Städte und die Opfer. in: Hessische Landeszentrale für politische Bildung: Der Bombenkrieg und seine Opfer, Polis Nr. 39, Frankfurt am Main 2004 Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine p. 44, PDF
  7. ^ Stadtinformation - Daten und Fakten Stadt Emmerich
  8. ^ "Partnerstädte". emmerich.de (in German). Emmerich am Rhein. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  9. ^ "Kirkland Councilman meets with sister city mayor in Germany on his own dime". Kirkland Reporter. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  10. ^ Washington State Lieutenant Governor's Office. "Washington's Sister Cities Relationships". Retrieved 23 November 2022.
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