Gelsenkirchen

Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is part of the Ruhr area, located in the northern part of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, roughly between Essen to the west and Dortmund to the southeast. The city has a population in the hundreds of thousands and is known for its long-standing industrial heritage.

Historically, Gelsenkirchen developed as a coal mining and steel-producing city. As those industries declined in the late 20th century, the city underwent structural changes to diversify its economy, expanding services, commerce, and culture. It remains an administrative and business center in the region.

Key attractions include ZOOM Erlebniswelt, a large family theme park built on a former mining site, and the football club Schalke 04, whose home stadium is located in Gelsenkirchen. The Nordsternpark in the Horst district is a major urban park developed on the site of the Nordstern coal mine. These sites reflect the city’s industrial heritage and its redevelopment.