TWIN TOWNS OF DÜSSELDORF

Town twinning is the concept of creating a partnership between cities. The main goal for the cities is to work together in cultural and economical sectors as well as to inform about city structure related issues. Most twin town arrangements are between cities in different countries that face similar social, economical and political situations or perhaps share historical links.

The city of Düsseldorf currently supports eight town-twinnings. The international commitment started in 1988 with treaties of partnership with the city of Reading in the UK, Warsaw in Poland, Haifa, Israel and Chemnitz of the former GDR. In 1992 Moscow in Russia joined the list of twin towns. The youngest relations are held with the city of Chongqing in China that became a partner city in 2004.

Reading

The UK city of Reading has a population of 148,000 inhabitants and is located on the confluence of the Thames and the Kennet, in the county of Berkshire approximately 60 km west of London.

Warsaw

Warsaw is the cultural and economical centre of Poland. The city with a population of 1,7 million people is one of the major cities in eastern Europe.

Haifa

The third largest city in Israel, Haifa, has a population of 270,000 people and is an important seaport in the Middle East.

Chemnitz

During the late 1980s a wave of German-German city partnerships were brought to life, among them also the one between Dusseldorf and Chemnitz. Most survive and thrived following reunification.

Moscow (On Hold)

A flourishing partnership with Moscow, the influential Russian capital, business centre and home to some 15 million Muscovites is one of the most important signs of Dusseldorf’s international commitment.

Chongquing

Chongqing is the most populous municipality in China, being home to more than 30 million people. The city itself is traditionally the centre of western China and was the provisional capital during the Second Japanese-Chinese War until 1945.

Palermo

Cooperation with Palermo in Italy started a good few years ago in the academic field between  universities in both cities. The Sicilian relationship extended  to art and cultural exchanges, was strengthened in 2015 becoming and official twin town twin partnership a year later.

Chiba

Officially sealed more recently, the relationship with Chiba is strong has progressively developed over many years. The Japanese prefecture with over six million inhabitants borders the east of Tokyo and is home to Narita airport. Based on warm hearted interaction, the city partnership was signed in 2019.

Toulouse

Strong, friendly relations have been developing between Düsseldorf and the souther French city of  Toulouse since early this millennium.

Czernowitz (Instigated)

Düsseldorf and Czernowitz in western Ukraine have been connected for many years through the Jewish community as well as school and institutional projects. The city has some 250,000 residents.

Further international cooperation occurs with the city of Montreal in the province of Quebec eastern Canada, So too with  Tenerife, the largest of the Spanish Canary Islands.

By Vincent Green, Jun 3 2022