Dusseldorf

MUSIC AND NIGHTLIFE

Since the 1950s, the “Kom(m)ödchen” has been one of Germany’s most notable political cabarets. The avant-garde electronic music band Kraftwerk is without a doubt the city’s most renowned contribution to the culture of current popular music. Kraftwerk, formed by a few Düsseldorf-born musicians, is often regarded as the most important band in the history of postwar German music and as a pioneer in electronic music.

Warlock, a well-known power metal band, was established in Düsseldorf in 1982. Doro Pesch, the band’s frontwoman, has enjoyed a successful solo career in Europe and Asia after Warlock’s demise. Düsseldorf is home to the world-famous punk band Die Toten Hosen, as well as the most popular vocalists in Germany, Westernhagen and Heino. D.A.F., an electronic act, was created in the city in 1978, as were Die Krupps, an electronic/industrial pioneer, in 1980. The experimental post-punk band La Düsseldorf took its name from the city, for which it was sued in the early 1980s.

CARNIVAL

One of the most important cultural events in Düsseldorf is the Karneval (also known as the “fifth season”), which begins every year on 11 November at 11:11 a.m. and culminates on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday), with a massive march through the streets of Düsseldorf. Karneval concludes on Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday).

CARTWHEELER OF DÜSSELDORF

Düsseldorfer Radschläger (Cartwheel Boy) is claimed to be the city’s oldest tradition. The cartwheeler sign may be seen on numerous souvenirs, and the cartwheelers are responsible for the names of many items in Düsseldorf. This custom was commemorated in 1954 with the construction of Cartwheeler’s Fountain on Düsseldorf’s Burgplatz.

TOURIST INFORMATION

Düsseldorf has two major tourist information offices:

• Tourist Information Office Hauptbahnhof, Immermannstraße 65b(opposite of the northwestern exit from the train station),  +49 211 17 202 844, fax: +49 211 17 202-32 22. 9:30-19:00 Mo-Fr, 9:30-17:00 Saturdays, closed on Sundays.
• Tourist Information Office Altstadt, Marktstraße/Rheinstraße (in the old town),  +49 211 17 202 840. 10:00-18:00 Mo-Su.

They have a number of brochures: a monthly calendar of events, a city guide and free maps with walking routes developed around a certain subject (for example, “Art Route,” “Düsseldorf in 1 Hour”), and, last but not least, a homosexual guide. You may also schedule guided tours, and keep in mind that there are excursions for disabled and deaf people.

Düsseldorf, like the rest of the lower Rhineland, has pleasant winters with minimal snowfall and mild to warm summers. The average annual temperature is 10.6 degrees Celsius (51 degrees Fahrenheit), while the average annual precipitation is 797 millimetres (31 in). The predominant wind direction is west, with velocities ranging from 3 to 4 m/s (7–9 mph) with gusts to 3.54.8 m/s (8–10.7 mph). The wind is quiet (less than 2 m/s or 4.5 mph) around 35% of the time, most commonly at night and in the winter.

Düsseldorf is located in the Lower Rhine valley, where the Düssel River delta falls into the Rhine. Except for District 4 (Oberkassel, Niederkassel, Heerdt, and Lörick), the city is located on the east bank of the Rhine. Neuss, located across the Rhine, is located on the Erft river’s delta. Düsseldorf is located in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, southwest of the Ruhr urban area.

Düsseldorf is fully constructed on alluvium, mud, sand, clay, and gravel. At 165 meters, the highest point in Düsseldorf is the summit of Sandberg in the city’s far east (Hubbelrath district) (541 ft). The lowest point is in Wittlaer borough, where the Schwarzbach meets the Rhine, and has an average elevation of 28 meters (92 ft).

Düsseldorf has emerged as one of Germany’s leading telecommunications hubs. Düsseldorf leads the German mobile phone market with two of the four major German mobile frequency carriers, D2 Vodafone and E-Plus. In Düsseldorf, there are several international information and communication technology businesses, including Huawei, NTT, Ericsson, Nokia, and GTS. In the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia, there are 18 internet service providers. Eurowings and the previously independent LTU International are two airlines based in the city.

Many of Düsseldorf’s internet enterprises have their origins in advertising: the city has 400 advertising agencies, including three of Germany’s largest: BBDO Group and Publicis. A number of overseas agency affiliates, including as Ogilvy & Mather, Dentsu, Hakuhodo, and DDB, are also worth mentioning. Düsseldorf also has roughly 200 publishing houses. There are over 170 national and international financial institutions, as well as approximately 130 insurance companies and one of Germany’s eight stock exchanges. Peek & Cloppenburg (fashion), L’Oréal Germany (Cosmetics and Beauty); Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Branded Consumer Goods and Industrial Technologies); E.ON (energy); ThyssenKrupp (metallurgy); Metro (wholesale, retail); Ergo (insurance); LTU (air transport), Esprit Holdings (fashion, headquarters in Ratingen near Düsseldorf), Cognis (chemicals,

In Düsseldorf, Daimler AG manufactures the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter light commercial vehicles. The city and Japan have had a close connection since the 1960s. Many Japanese banks and firms have European headquarters in Düsseldorf – so many that Düsseldorf boasts Europe’s third biggest Japanese population, behind London and Paris.

The “Kö,” which stands for Königsallee (“King’s Avenue”), is a well-known retail district. Some of the most well-known jewelry stores, designer brands, and galleries have locations here. The Kö boasts among of the highest retail and office rates in Germany.