Düren (German pronunciation: [ˈdyːʁən])[2] is a Kreis (district) in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Heinsberg, Neuss, Rhein-Erft-Kreis, Euskirchen and Aachen.

Düren
Flag of Düren
Coat of arms of Düren
Map
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Adm. regionCologne
Founded1972
CapitalDüren
Government
 • District admin.Wolfgang Spelthahn (CDU)
Area
 • Total941.15 km2 (363.38 sq mi)
Population
 (31 December 2022)[1]
 • Total270,833
 • Density290/km2 (750/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Vehicle registrationDN, JÜL, MON, SLE
Websitehttp://www.kreis-dueren.de

History edit

The district was created in 1972 by merging the former districts of Jülich and Düren. Both districts date back to 1816 when the new Prussian province Rhineland was created. Before the Napoleonic Wars all of the area belonged to the duchy of Jülich.

Geography edit

Geographically it covers both the lowlands of the Lower Rhine Bay as well as the mountains and hills of the Eifel. The district has rich lignite (brown coal) deposits, which is used in open pit mining. Another big industry is paper production, which dates back to the second part of the 16th century. The main river in the district is the Rur.

Coat of arms edit

The coat of arms shows the lion from the city of Jülich in the upper part. In the bottom it has a paper roll with the capital letter D for Düren, because the paper industry has long history. The coat of arms were granted in 1942.

Towns and municipalities edit

 Düren (district)North Rhine-WestphaliaRhein-Erft-KreisEuskirchen (district)Rhein-Kreis NeussHeinsberg (district)AachenAachen (district)BelgiumHeimbachKreuzauNideggenVettweißDürenJülichLangerweheTitzMerzenichAldenhovenHürtgenwaldNörvenichIndenNiederzierLinnich
Clickable map of towns and municipalities in the district
Towns Municipalities
  1.   Düren
  2.   Heimbach
  3.   Jülich
  4.   Linnich
  5.   Nideggen
  1.   Aldenhoven
  2.   Hürtgenwald
  3.   Inden
  4.   Kreuzau
  5.   Langerwehe
  1.   Merzenich
  2.   Niederzier
  3.   Nörvenich
  4.   Titz
  5.   Vettweiß

Sister County edit

Düren has a partnership with Dorchester County in Maryland.

References edit

  1. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2022 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Düren". Duden – Das Aussprachewörterbuch (in German) (7th ed.). Berlin: Bibliographisches Institut. 2015. p. 327. ISBN 3411911514.

External links edit

  Media related to Kreis Düren at Wikimedia Commons

50°50′N 6°30′E / 50.83°N 6.5°E / 50.83; 6.5