Bielefeld

Bielefeld is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It lies in the eastern part of the state, in the region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe, on the Werre River near the Teutoburg Forest. The city has around 330,000 inhabitants and serves as a regional center for commerce, culture, and higher education.

Historically, Bielefeld has medieval origins and received city rights in the early 13th century. The Sparrenburg, a hilltop fortress overlooking the old town, is a prominent landmark. In the 19th and 20th centuries the city grew as an industrial center in Westphalia, with textiles and metalworking among its early industries.

Today the economy is diversified. The Dr. Oetker Group is headquartered in Bielefeld, and the city supports a broad mix of manufacturing, logistics, and services.

Education and culture are important. The University of Bielefeld, founded in 1969, is a major research university with strengths across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The city also hosts theatres, museums, and parks, including the Kunsthalle Bielefeld and the surrounding Ravensberger district.

Transportation networks connect Bielefeld with the wider region through Bielefeld Hauptbahnhof and the nearby motorways. The region is served by Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport for air travel. A well-known cultural note associated with the city is the Bielefeld Conspiracy, an internet meme that jokingly claims the city does not exist; it is widely treated as a facet of popular culture rather than a reality.