Duesseldorf City Center Tour (Silly Video

Düsseldorf, the vibrant capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, stands proudly on the banks of the Rhine River as Germany's sixth-largest city with 616,319 residents as of December 2023. As the second-largest city in the state after Cologne, Düsseldorf serves as a crucial administrative center, hosting the state government and numerous regional authorities. The city occupies a strategic position within the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, which boasts approximately 10.2 million inhabitants, making it one of Central Europe's most significant economic zones. With its compact area of 217.41 square kilometers and high population density of 2,835 inhabitants per square kilometer, Düsseldorf represents one of Germany's most densely populated municipalities.

The history of Düsseldorf traces back to medieval times when it began as a modest fishing village at the confluence of the Düssel stream and the Rhine. The settlement, initially called "Dusseldorp" in local dialect, received its town privileges on August 14, 1288, following the Battle of Worringen, where Count Adolf von Berg defeated the Archbishop of Cologne. This date marks the city's official founding. The town's fortunes rose significantly in 1380 when it became the capital of the Duchy of Berg under Duke Wilhelm II, who expanded the settlement considerably and is considered the city's second founder. Throughout the centuries, Düsseldorf evolved from a Renaissance ducal seat into an industrial powerhouse during the 19th century, eventually becoming the "desk of the Ruhr region" and, in 1946, the capital of the newly formed state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Today, Düsseldorf ranks among Germany's five most important, internationally interconnected economic centers and serves as a significant financial and stock market hub. The city showcases a healthy diversification of industries, including finance, telecommunications, fashion, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing. Its business-friendly policies have made it Germany's leading international business location, with one in seven companies having international backgrounds. The Office of Economic Development provides comprehensive support for businesses, offering services in multiple languages and helping companies establish themselves in this prime European location that provides easy access to major markets across the continent. Düsseldorf's strategic position allows travelers to reach Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, and Paris within an hour's flight, placing about 31% of the European Union's population within convenient reach.

Culturally, Düsseldorf offers a rich tapestry of experiences that reflect its historical development as an art metropolis dating back to 1690 under Elector Johann Wilhelm (Jan Wellem) and his wife Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici. The city boasts world-class museums like the Kunstsammlung NRW, Kunsthalle, and Museum Kunstpalast, alongside the renowned Kunstakademie art school that has produced influential artists. Visitors are drawn to the charming Altstadt (Old Town), often called "the longest bar in the world" for its concentration of breweries and pubs serving the local Altbier. The elegant Königsallee shopping boulevard, affectionately known as "Kö," offers luxury retail experiences, while the ultramodern MedienHafen district showcases innovative architecture, including the iconic Gehry buildings. These attractions, combined with the city's vibrant cultural scene, beautiful Rhine Promenade, and regular carnival celebrations (the third most popular in Germany), have established Düsseldorf as a diverse, dynamic metropolis that ranks sixth worldwide for quality of life.