Recklinghausen

Recklinghausen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and the administrative seat of the district of Recklinghausen. It lies in the northern part of the Ruhr area, between the cities of Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen. With about 110,000 residents, it functions as a regional center for commerce, culture, and services.

Recklinghausen traces its origins to the Middle Ages as a market town and a key crossing point in the Vest Recklinghausen. The 19th and early 20th centuries brought fast industrial growth driven by coal and steel, followed by rebuilding after World War II and a shift toward a service-oriented economy.

Today the city has a diversified economy with retail, logistics, light manufacturing, and public services. It is served by Recklinghausen Hauptbahnhof and is connected to the regional road network, including the A43 and A2 motorways, facilitating access to the wider Ruhr area and beyond.

Recklinghausen hosts the Ruhrfestspiele, one of Europe’s oldest theatre festivals, drawing performers and visitors from around the world. The historic center preserves several architectural ensembles, and the Vestisches Museum documents local history and everyday life in the region.

As part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Recklinghausen operates under a city council and mayor and collaborates with the Kreis Recklinghausen authorities on regional planning, education, and infrastructure. The city is a center for education and culture within the northern Ruhr.