©

copyright_Stadt_Ahlen

Population: approx. 52.287
Surface area: 123,13 km²

The city of Ahlen in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is historically already mentioned in the year 850 and experienced a first bloom time as a trading city and important church location including city fortification. However, in Ahlen, the mining sector was responsible for two major phases of economic recovery and large population growth. In two phases Ahlen developed into an important coal mining town with a large metalworking industry. The large coal mine "Westfalen" was one of the largest in Germany and was also closed as one of the last, when mining was no longer economically successful. Several industrial and commercial areas were built on the large former coal mine sites. From other parts of the mining facilities, recreational areas with cycling and hiking trails were opened. Even today, the cityscape of Ahlen has many historic buildings and monuments, which refer to the mining history of the city.