City of Bochum
March 7, 2012
The Ruhr region is the most congested urban area in Germany. It is home to 5.3 million people, and sometimes it's hard to tell where one city ends and another begins. With around 400,000 residents, Bochum lies in the heart of this region. Like all of its neighboring towns, it could no longer rely on its coal and steel industries as the main growth source from the 1960s onwards. Luckily, in 1961, automobile manufacturer Opel started business operations here. Also, companies such as BP/Aral and ThyssenKrupp create some extra jobs for the local population.
The RUB was the first
Bochum is also positioning itself in the service and education sectors. The city's residents are proud of their RUB - the affectionate nickname for the Ruhr University or Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Opened in 1965, it was the first university in the Ruhr region and the first newly established university in West Germany. Today, RUB is one of the city's biggest employers and it strengthens the local research sector. It is supported in its work by three other tertiary institutions in the area.
The city of cultural superlatives
The city's other main feature is culture, in all of its different aspects. The Schauspielhaus theater, founded in 1919, is one of the most renowned theaters in the country. The orchestra Bochumer Symphoniker was formed in the same year and has made a name for itself as one of Germany's best orchestras. Since 1988, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Starlight Express" has been running in Bochum and has attracted 10 million spectators so far, making it the world's most successful musical.
Bars, artists and a cultural capital
As if all this wasn't enough, Bochum is also far ahead in the area of industrial culture. The Deutsche Bergbaumuseum downtown is the largest mining museum of its kind in the world. And just a few streets further, you will find the Jahrhunderthalle, which was established as a pavilion for an industrial exhibition in 1902. Today, this imposing "industry cathedral" serves as a venue for large events. Then, there is also the Zeiss Planetarium, which is visited by keen stargazers from all over the world.
At the end of the summer, Bochum gets into party mode with the Bochum Total music festival. It is one of Europe's biggest music events and lasts for several days. And if you consider bars to be part of culture, then Bochum is certainly a culture capital. The notorious so-called "Bermuda Triangle" downtown is the largest bar and club area in the region. All this culture and attractions have led the EU to designate Bochum as the European Capital of Culture 2010.
Author: Suzanne Cords