Dortmund time travel

The journey begins at the St. Catherine's Gate, which welcomes visitors above the St. Catherine's Staircase. This imposing gate of light symbolizes the entrance to the city and connects the modern architecture of the main station with Dortmund's historical significance as a once important trading center on the Hellweg River.

On Kampstraße, the Ruhrpott Flamingos greet visitors. This affectionate name for the pigeons of the Ruhr region recalls the mining tradition of pigeon racing. This hobby was once widespread among miners and is deeply rooted in the culture of the Ruhr region.

The Hanseatic Cog on Kampstraße is a reminder of Dortmund's time as an important Hanseatic city. In the Middle Ages, the city was part of the Hanseatic League of Merchants and Cities. A Hanseatic city had joined the medieval Hanseatic League of Merchants and Cities. These included primarily port cities in the coastal regions, but also cities in the interior, especially along important rivers and the Hellweg trade route. Through free trade and an enterprising middle class, many Hanseatic cities achieved great prosperity, as valuable cultural and architectural monuments still bear witness today. As a central station along the Hellweg, Dortmund achieved prosperity and European importance. The Hanseatic Cog symbolizes the lively trade that shaped the city.

On Brüderweg, a light installation features the illuminated DORTMUND logo. This honors the importance of the steel industry and references Dortmund's international prominence through the Borussia Dortmund football club. Signal Iduna Park, Germany's largest stadium with 81,365 seats, is a landmark of the city and a meeting place for fans from all over the world.

The statue of a steelworker in a boat represents the transformation from an industrial site to a local recreation area. The Phoenix Lake, created on the former Phoenix-Ost steelworks site, particularly symbolizes this transformation. The approximately 24-hectare lake with a capacity of approximately 600,000 m³ was created on the site of the former Phoenix-Ost (Hermannshütte) steelworks. The lake was also a key component in the renaturation of the Emscher River. On May 9, 2011, all footpaths, cycle paths, and squares around the lake were opened to the public.

In the forecourt of St. Reinoldi Church, a winding tower and a miner await visitors. These symbols of the coal and steel industries recall Dortmund's industrial heyday. As part of industrialization, Dortmund rapidly developed into a center of heavy industry (coal and steel). Major Dortmund corporations included Hoesch, Dortmunder Union, Phoenix AG for Mining and Metallurgy, and the Dortmunder Zechen, which were consolidated under the umbrella of Ruhrkohle AG from 1969 onward. In the 20th century, there were more than 15 coal mines in Dortmund. The last shaft closed in 1987, but the remnants of this era continue to shape the city to this day.

Near the Basecamp building stands a locomotive, symbolizing Dortmund's rise to industrial status. Starting in 1847, the Cologne-Minden Railway turned Dortmund into a major transportation hub. The Dortmund-Ems Canal and the port further boosted the city's development into a major city and commercial center. Dortmund's importance as a major retail center increased. Westenhellweg in the heart of the city center is considered one of the most frequented shopping streets in Germany, alongside Kaufingerstraße in Munich, Zeil in Frankfurt am Main, and Schildergasse in Cologne. International industry giants such as IKEA, Amazon, and Decathlon have established logistics and distribution centers in Dortmund in recent years, particularly in the north of Dortmund at the Westfalenhütte and at the Dortmund port. In addition, Rhenus, REWE, and DHL operate logistics centers with a European reach in Dortmund for some customers.

An illuminated beer carriage stands in Netanya Square, commemorating Dortmund's time as the beer capital of Europe. The city has held the brewing license since 1293. Dortmund became known beyond its borders as a beer city through its export beer brewing. Well-known Dortmund breweries included Bergmann, Borussia, Actien (DAB), Union (DUB), Kronen, Hansa, Ritter, Stifts, and Thier. The supremacy of Dortmund merchants even led England's King Edward III to pledge the English crown to a consortium led by Dortmund merchants in 1339. After the First World War, Dortmund breweries grew into major breweries and dominated the German beer market for almost 50 years. In the early 1960s, Dortmund breweries employed around 6,000 people. Today, the Dortmunder Actien-Brauerei (DAB) and the revived Bergmann Brewery are central representatives of this tradition.

On Kampstraße, the impressive Technic Gate stands out. This light sculpture, whose semiconductors glow to the beat of classical music, symbolizes Dortmund's development into a technology hub. Today, the city is a center for microsystems technology, with 26 companies and around 1,700 employees in this forward-looking field. Companies in the IT, financial, and logistics sectors also shape modern Dortmund. The structural transformation is particularly evident at the former Phoenix-West steel plant, which today stands for innovative technologies.