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Dusseldorf: A charming Rhine city
Features - May 04, 2003
Wahyuni Kamah, Contributor, Dusseldorf, Germany Having
got used to the relaxing and quiet atmosphere of southern German
cities, arriving in Dusseldorf, situated further north in western
Germany, made quite an impression. Its main train station, Konrad
Adenauer Platz, is very busy, modern and huge.
The main hall is packed with travelers, ranging from backpackers to
business travelers, walking back and forth. The atmosphere is hectic --
a long queue in the booking hall and all seats taken in the cafes and
small restaurants, with travelers in a rush. Above all, though,
everything was organized and seemed perfect.
Interestingly, I saw more people of different ethnic groups than in
other cities in the south: Africans, Asians and, of course, Turks.
Whereas in Stuttgart most taxi drivers are Turks, in Dsseldorf they
are Africans, who use their native language with each other. Of around
571,000 people living in Dsseldorf, 16.9 percent are foreigners.
"Turks account for the largest proportion of foreigners, followed by
people from the Balkans and some Japanese," said Birgit Schierbaum from
Dsseldorf Tourist Office.
Dusseldorf, the capital of Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state, is a
busy city. Heavy industry, mining companies, banks, and insurance
companies have their headquarters here and about 5,000 foreign
companies have made Dsseldorf the base for their representative
offices. No wonder that traffic in the 271-square-kilometer city is
congested at peak hours. "Avoid peak hours if you want to tour the city," said Ingo, who lives in the outskirts of Dsseldorf.
Dusseldorf was first referred to in a document in 1135. Allied bombing
destroyed more than 80 percent of Dsseldorf's city center in World War
II. Amazingly, it recovered as a cosmopolitan city with many important
businesses, and where many international exhibitions are held every
year. "You must see Rhine embankment promenade," recommended my German friend before I left for Dsseldorf.
Dsseldorf certainly cannot be seen in isolation from the Rhine, one of
the huge German rivers, which crosses the city. Dsseldorfers are proud
of the river and try to preserve its beauty. An enormous project was
undertaken to keep its citizens close to the Rhine: the Rhine
embankment promenade.
For decades the busy traffic artery, Rheinuferstrasse, had separated
Dsseldorf with the Rhine. The artery was relocated underground in an
expensive project costing DM570 million (US$ 285 million).
The promenade was constructed on the roof of the tunnel, stretching
over 1.5 kilometers, from Oberkassel Bridge along the Old Town to the
parliament house of North Rhine-Westphalia.
When you are on this promenade the roar of traffic beneath is
inaudible. On this promenade, pedestrian and bicycle lanes have been
laid down and 600 trees planted, while there is also space for leisure
activities and strolling around. It is now the most beautiful promenade
on the Rhine.
The new promenade was a source of pride to Dsseldorfers, as the road
project returned the city to the Rhine, their beloved river. About a
million people celebrated the opening of the promenade in 1995, which
was designed by architect Niklaus Fritschi.
The view of the Rhine from the bridge, with its twinkling lights and
sailing ships, is excellent in the evening from the Burgplatz. It is a
large square, which has become a meeting point for Dsseldorfers. If
the sky is clear the 234-meter Rhineturm (Rhine Tower) in the south can
be seen from the promenade. At a height of 164 meters, is a platform
that offers a bird's-eye view of Dsseldorf. A revolving restaurant
caters for visitors at a height of 172 meters.
It is fortunate that the charms of Dsseldorf are located close to the
main train station. Altstadt (Old Town) and Koenigsallee, a world-class
shopping avenue for fashions, are accessible on foot from the station.
You can walk northwest from the station to Hofgarten (Palace Gardens),
Germany's first public city park, built in 1769. Walking southward from
the gardens, you will reach Koenigsallee.
Altstadt is walking distance from Koenigsallee. It is the place where
the people of Dsseldorf can relax and enjoy their free time. In short,
it is Dsseldorf's hot spot.
The hotels, museums, local and international restaurants, clubs,
historical buildings, outdoor cafes and bars are concentrated in
Altstadt. Hotels and places of historical interest often stand side by
side in the quarter that accommodates about 260 pubs.
In Altstadt you can visit, for instance, Mahn-und Gedenkstaette
(exhortation & memorial site) on Muehlenstrasse, which has displays
of the persecution and resistance during the Nazi occupation of
Dusseldorf. Admission to this site is free.
As a big city, Dusseldorf is always pulsating. In the summer, late at
night, you can still see people on the streets. The pedestrians and
bicycle lanes are fully lit to allow users to travel safely.
Getting to Dusseldorf is easy. It is accessible from any German city by
train. From Dsseldorf you can also travel to other cities in Europe.
Be sure to make your trip to other German city on the weekend because
sometimes there is a Schoenes Wochenende ticket, which gives a discount
of 50 percent off the normal ticket price.
When getting around the city, it is advisable to use a Dsseldorf
Welcome Card, which provides special offers and reductions to some
museums, and is a two-day public transport ticket. Hotels are quite
expensive in Dsseldorf, especially during fairs or festivals. The
tourist information office is near the station, where you can ask about
tour packages and hotel rates too.
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