History of Dortmund in Timeline

Dortmund, the ninth-largest city in Germany with a population of 614,495, is the largest city in both the Ruhr area and the Westphalia region. Located in North Rhine-Westphalia on the Emscher and Ruhr rivers, it's a key part of the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Region, a major economic hub in the European Union. Dortmund serves as the administrative, commercial, and cultural center of the eastern Ruhr area. It's also the second-largest city within the Low German dialect area.

1900: Opening of the Old Synagogue

In 1900, the Old Synagogue opened in Dortmund.

1904: Dortmund sees a population of more than 100,000 for the first time in its history

In 1904, Dortmund's population exceeded 100,000 for the first time.

1904: Construction of first opera house

In 1904, the first opera house was built in Dortmund.

1905: Annexation of municipalities begins

In 1905, Dortmund began annexing independent municipalities.

1905: Dortmund population rises

In 1905, Dortmund's population rose to 379,950 as the town expanded into a city during the industrialization of Prussia.

1908: Buildings in Kreuzviertel constructed

The Kreuzviertel is characterised by old buildings, the majority of which come from the turn of the 20th century (1884 to 1908).

1920: Resistance to the Kapp Putsch

In 1920, Dortmund was a center of resistance to the Kapp Putsch. Also radical workers formed the 50,000-man Ruhr Red Army in hopes of setting up a soviet-style government.

January 1923: French and Belgian troops occupy the Ruhr

On 11 January 1923, French and Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr region in response to Germany's failure to meet the Treaty of Versailles' reparation demands.

August 1925: End of Ruhr occupation

In August 1925, the occupation of the Ruhr by French and Belgian troops came to an end.

1927: City acquires Rombergpark

In 1927, the city acquired Rombergpark, and 1929 the park was enhanced by a small herb garden.

1928: Hörde annexed to Dortmund

In 1928, the borough of Hörde, located in the south of Dortmund and independent until then, was annexed.

1929: Hörde becomes part of Dortmund

In 1929, Hörde, which was originally a separate town, became a borough in the south of the city of Dortmund.

1929: City acquires Rombergpark

In 1929, the city acquired Rombergpark, and 1927 the park was enhanced by a small herb garden.

1933: Nazi Party installs mayors

During the Nazi era (1933–1945), mayors of Dortmund were installed by the Nazi Party.

1933: Start of Imprisonment in Steinwache Prison

In 1933, the Steinwache prison began imprisoning people under National Socialism. The Steinwache had a reputation as "The hell of western Germany".

1938: Destruction of the Old Synagogue

In 1938, the Old Synagogue in Dortmund was destroyed.

1941: Transfer of Children's Specialist Department to Aplerbeck Hospital

In 1941, the Children's Specialist Department was transferred from Marburg to the Aplerbeck Hospital, where 229 children were murdered.

September 1943: Mass execution of Polish POWs

In September 1943, the local Gestapo carried out a mass execution of 17 Polish POWs in Dortmund.

March 1945: Bombing raids destroy Dortmund

In March 1945, Dortmund experienced devastating bombing raids that destroyed 98% of buildings in the inner city center.

March 1945: Devastating bombing raids destroy 98% of inner city buildings

In March 1945, Dortmund experienced devastating bombing raids which destroyed 98% of the buildings in the inner city center.

April 1945: US 95th Infantry Division attacks Dortmund

In April 1945, the US 95th Infantry Division attacked Dortmund and captured the city on April 13, 1945.

1945: British occupation installs a new mayor

After World War II, in 1945, the military government of the British occupation zone installed a new mayor and a municipal constitution.

1945: End of Imprisonment in Steinwache Prison

In 1945, the Steinwache prison saw the end of imprisonment under National Socialism, after more than 66,000 people were imprisoned between 1933 and 1945.

1945: Westfälische Rundschau First Published

In 1945, the Westfälische Rundschau (WR) newspaper was first published and has a daily circulation of over 181,000.

1946: Dortmund becomes part of North Rhine-Westphalia

In 1946, Dortmund became part of the new state (Land) of North Rhine-Westphalia.

1948: Majority of housing in Kreuzviertel constructed before 1948

Over 80% of all housing in this area was constructed before 1948, with the oldest building the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts still standing being from 1896.

1949: Ruhr Nachrichten Founded

In 1949, the Ruhr Nachrichten (RN) newspaper was founded in Dortmund, and has a circulation of over 225,000 copies daily.

1950: Rebuilding Rombergpark as an arboretum

Starting in 1950, director Gerd Krüssmann rebuilt Rombergpark as an arboretum, adding some 4,500 species to the park.

1953: Founding of Dortmund Zoo

In 1953, the Dortmund Zoo was founded next to the Rombergpark.

1959: Westfalenpark first opened

In 1959, Westfalenpark first opened as the second Bundesgartenschau in North Rhine-Westphalia. Additionally, a chair lift opened, running between a "Mountain" and "Valley" station 500 metres apart on Sundays.

1965: Dortmund population reaches 657,804

In 1965, Dortmund's population reached 657,804.

1966: Borussia Dortmund wins UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

In 1966, Borussia Dortmund won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

1966: Reopening of Opernhaus Dortmund

In 1966, the opera house, which was destroyed in World War II, reopened as Opernhaus Dortmund.

1968: Founding of TU Dortmund

In 1968, TU Dortmund (Technical University of Dortmund) was founded in the southern part of the city.

1969: Founding of the LWL-Industriemuseum

In 1969, the LWL-Industriemuseum was founded.

1971: Creation of Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts

In 1971, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, a Fachhochschule, was created by a merger of several institutions of higher learning.

1974: Westfalenstadion built for FIFA World Cup

In 1974, Westfalenstadion was built for the FIFA World Cup.

1975: Dortmund divided into twelve administrative districts

Since 1975, Dortmund has been divided into twelve administrative districts, each with its own elected district council and mayor.

May 1980: Dortmund Giants established

In May 1980, the Dortmund Giants American football team was established.

1982: Sparkassen Chess-Meeting hosted in Dortmund

Since 1982, the Sparkassen Chess-Meeting has been hosted in Dortmund.

1987: Closure of the pit Minister Stein

In 1987, the pit Minister Stein closed, marking the end of more than 150 years of coal mining in Dortmund.

1994: Dortmund Giants in 2. Bundesliga

In 1994, the Dortmund Giants spent the season in the 2. Bundesliga before dropping to the third tier Regionalliga West for two seasons.

1997: Borussia Dortmund wins UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup

In 1997, Borussia Dortmund won the UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup.

1997: Dortmund Giants return to 2. Bundesliga

In 1997, the Dortmund Giants returned to the 2. Bundesliga.

1999: SPD loses plurality in city council

From 1999 to 2004, the SPD lost its plurality in the Dortmund city council.

2000: Big Tipi at Expo 2000

In 2000, the 35-meter-high Big Tipi was brought to Dortmund from the Expo 2000 in Hanover, aiming to attract families to settle in the area.

2001: New era begins for district Hörde with the beginning of the Phoenix See

In 2001, a new era began for the district Hörde in Dortmund, when 160 years of industrial history ended with the beginning of the Phoenix See.

2001: Dortmund Giants last season in 2. Bundesliga

In 2001, the Dortmund Giants played their final season in the 2. Bundesliga in a combined team with the Bochum Cadets as the Dortmund B1 Giants.

2002: Konzerthaus Dortmund joined Theater Dortmund

In 2002, the Konzerthaus Dortmund joined Theater Dortmund.

2004: SPD regains plurality in city council

From 1999 to 2004, the SPD lost its plurality in the Dortmund city council.

2005: First cornerstone laid on the Phoenix area

In 2005, the first cornerstone was laid on the Phoenix area, starting the development of the Phoenix See.

2006: Westfalenstadion hosted FIFA World Cup matches

In 2006, Westfalenstadion hosted some matches of the FIFA World Cup.

August 8, 2007: Dortmund admitted to AGFS

On August 8, 2007, Dortmund was admitted to the German "Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle-Friendly Cities and Municipalities in NRW" (AGFS).

2007: Love Parade moves to Ruhr Area

In 2007, after negotiations with several German cities, it was announced that the Love Parade would move to the Ruhr Area for five years.

April 2008: Opening of east-west underground light rail line

In April 2008, the newly constructed east–west underground light rail line was opened in Dortmund, completing the underground service in the city center and replacing the last trams on the surface.

2008: Love Parade held on Bundesstraße 1

In 2008, the Love Parade took place on the Bundesstraße 1 under the motto Highway of Love. The Turkish electronic scene was represented by its own float, called "Turkish Delights". The official estimate is that 1.6 million visitors attended.

2009: Goethe-Gymnasium becomes NRW Sportschule

From 2009, the Goethe-Gymnasium has been a NRW Sportschule, focused on sports.

2009: Dortmund classified as a Node city

In 2009, Dortmund was classified as a Node city in the Innovation Cities Index and recognized as the most sustainable city in Germany.

2009: Dortmund Classified as Node City in Innovation Cities Index

In 2009, Dortmund was classified as a Node city in the Innovation Cities Index published by 2thinknow.

October 2010: Launch of the flooding of the Phoenix See

On 1 October 2010, the launch of the flooding of the Phoenix See was celebrated.

2010: Opening of Dortmunder U art center

In 2010, the Dortmunder U, an art and creative center, opened, becoming a visible beacon for the Union District and contributing to the development of a young artist scene.

2010: Museum am Ostwall Relocated

In 2010, the Museum am Ostwall, a museum of modern and contemporary art, was relocated to the Dortmund U-Tower.

2010: Union Viertel part of European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010

In 2010, the area around the U-Tower called "Union Viertel" became part of the Creative.Quarters Ruhr and rooted in the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010.

May 2011: Phoenix See completed

Since 9 May 2011, the fences disappeared and the Phoenix See has been completed.

2011: EU-wide 2011 census revealed massive inaccuracies

Data of the EU-wide 2011 census revealed massive inaccuracies with regard to German population figures.

2011: Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga Champions

In 2011, Borussia Dortmund were Bundesliga champions.

2011: Population falls to just under 580,000

In 2011, as a result of the city's post-industrial decline, Dortmund's population fell to just under 580,000.

2012: Dortmund population as of 2012

As of 2012, Dortmund had a population of 571,403.

2012: End of Love Parade in Ruhr Area

In 2012, the five-year period of the Love Parade being held in the Ruhr Area came to an end.

2012: Dortmund ranked among most livable cities in Germany

In a 2012 study of the most livable biggest cities in Germany, Dortmund ranked tenth overall and first among large cities due to sport, gastronomy, and shopping opportunities.

November 2013: Evacuation due to unexploded bomb

In November 2013, more than 20,000 people were evacuated in Dortmund after a 4,000-pound bomb from World War II was found and safely defused.

2013: Westenhellweg most frequented shopping street

In 2013, the Westenhellweg in Dortmund was Germany's most frequented shopping street with nearly 13,000 visitors per hour.

December 2014: Immigrant population in Dortmund

As of 31 December 2014, Dortmund had a sizable number of first and second generation immigrants, particularly Turkish and South European communities.

2014: Dortmund proclaimed most sustainable city

In 2014, Dortmund was acclaimed as the most sustainable city in Germany.

2014: Dortmund Giants return to Oberliga

In 2014, the Dortmund Giants finished the season without a win and had to return to the Oberliga once more.

August 2015: Sony Music Acquires Century Media Records

In August 2015, Century Media Records, headquartered in Dortmund, was acquired by Sony Music for US$17 million.

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2015: Student life ranking

In a 2015 survey centred on student life in Germany, Dortmund ranked as seventh-best.

2016: Dortmund population back above 600,000

In 2016 it was announced that the population of Dortmund was back above 600,000.

2016: Eisadler Dortmund played in Oberliga

In 2016, Eisadler Dortmund, the city's ice hockey club, played in the Oberliga, the third level of ice hockey in Germany.

2016: Student life ranking

In a 2016 survey centred on student life in Germany, Dortmund ranked as seventh-best.

September 2017: The New York Times Praises Dortmund

In September 2017, The New York Times praised the city of Dortmund as the hidden star of structural change.

November 2017: Dortmund ranked among most livable cities

In November 2017, Dortmund was ranked seventh of the most livable cities in Germany for expats.

2017: Overnight stays in Dortmund

In 2017, Dortmund recorded more than 1,450,528 overnight stays, making it one of the most popular destinations in North Rhine-Westphalia.

2017: Dortmund's population at 601,402

In 2017, the City of Dortmund's population was 601,402, making it the eighth largest city in Germany.

June 2019: Dortmund hosts the 37th Evangelischer Kirchentag

In June 2019, Dortmund hosted the 37th Evangelischer Kirchentag.

2019: Dortmund Airport Passengers

In 2019, Dortmund Airport served 2,719,563 passengers, mainly for low-cost and leisure charter flights.

September 2020: City council election held

In September 2020, a city council election was held in Dortmund.

2020: Emscher Renaturation

By 2020, the main work on the renaturation of the Emscher River, managed by the Emschergenossenschaft, is aimed to be completed, with a financial frame of 4.5 billion Euro.