A crush on Düsseldorf: A declaration of love for the city in five reasons

So green, so sociable, so fundamentally different, so easy to like

Listen to this: There are said to have been expectant mothers who drove several kilometers to Düsseldorf despite being in labor, "only" so that their son or daughter can have the city as their place of birth on their ID card. Sounds crazy? What can we say: Düsseldorf is also beautiful! And so it's only logical that many women and men want to guarantee their offspring the best possible start in life, and choose the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia for it. These young parents share their great love of Düsseldorf with around 619,477 residents of all ages, professions and financial statuses - and quite rightly so. There is so much to see, experience and try in the 217.41 square kilometers that make up the city's 50 districts that your schedule will barely keep up. We say: falling in love with a place has never been easier.

Basic differences

Kaiserswerth with its imperial palace, cobblestones and houses that are hundreds of years old. Flingern with hip boutiques and cool street art. Oberkassel with many listed Art Nouveau buildings. Medienhafen with architectural highlights, some of which seem to come from a distant future. Benrath with its beautiful palace and gigantic park. Little Tokyo with the opportunity to immerse yourself in authentic Japanese life. The list could go on and on, as Düsseldorf has, as already mentioned, 50 very different districts. Sometimes it's more dignified, sometimes colorful and lively, then again more informal. What all districts have in common: Every single one awakens the desire to try something new. Whether it's finally seeing that play that's been on your list for so long. Or the dish your colleague has been raving about for weeks. Or to study the history of one of Düsseldorf's most famous sons, Heinrich Heine. Every corner of the city has a different side to discover - and is guaranteed to make many a heart beat faster.

Sociable

Anticipation is known to be the greatest joy. It's all the greater when it's repeated week after week, at the latest at the final whistle of the Fortuna game. The fans are already longing for the next game when they once again don their shirts and red and white scarves and set off with friends and acquaintances. Whether on foot, by bike along the Rhine or crowded into the usually packed streetcar, there are exactly three goals: the stadium in Stockum, victory for the team and a really good time together. There are so many opportunities to do just that in Düsseldorf: At the aforementioned soccer event (preceded by a chat at the two Fortuna kiosks on the banks of the Rhine and on Reeser Platz), a stroll through Carlsplatz with a stop at the many delicatessen stands, a visit to the racecourse in Grafenberg. In Düsseldorf, there are plenty of options for spending a whole day or just a few hours with your loved ones - especially as the city's calendar is always packed full. From trade fairs that are also open to the public to exhibitions, markets of all kinds, festivals or celebrations, for example on France and Japan, as well as carnival and the Rhine funfair, there's always something to see. Your couch will probably have to do without you in future.

Green 

Despite the fact that Düsseldorf is the seventh largest city in Germany in terms of population, belongs to both the Rhine-Ruhr and Rhineland metropolitan regions and is located in the middle of the central European economic area, there is almost no trace of smoking chimneys and huge gray industrial complexes. In fact, you will find green spaces everywhere! For example, there are several parks in the northern district of Golzheim alone, with the Nordpark and Rheinpark being among the largest in the city. On sunny weekends, the lawns are transformed into yoga, barbecue and soccer areas. Apart from the seemingly endless Rhine meadows, which appear hundreds of meters wide on the Upper and Lower Kassel sides depending on the water level of the river, you can switch off in the Grafenberg and Aaper forests. The peace and quiet is likely to be disturbed only by dogs spotting a wild boar in the distance or the odd woodpecker happily hammering tree trunks. Things are a little louder on the green Königsallee: when the Kö parrots start their concert high up in the plane trees, no eardrum is spared.

Well on the way 

What defines the quality of a city? We think: among other things, the ability to reach many things on foot. This is particularly easy in Düsseldorf. Not only can you reach shopping streets, the main train station, the old town and the Rhine from the city center - i.e. the area around Königsallee - in just a few minutes without a car. You can also walk to the Medienhafen (around 15 minutes from the Kasematten), to Pempelfort and Derendorf (around 10 to 20 minutes) and Golzheim (around 25 minutes) and, once over the bridge, to Oberkassel and Niederkassel (around 20 to 35 minutes, depending on where you want to go). With a little stamina, you can even make it as far as Düsseltal and Flingern (35 minutes +). And despite the manageable distances: With all the highlights along the way, you are sure to reach the famous 10,000 steps.

Treat

Events in our private or professional lives, or in world affairs in general, do not always cause great rejoicing. On the contrary, crises sometimes have a strong impact on our mood. And even if many things cannot be shaken off right away, it helps not to hang your head too much when in doubt, but rather to make the best of the situation. One step: to enjoy everyday life as much as possible. You don't need a mega event to do this, a simple stroll through the historically very appealing Kaiserswerth makes up for it. Or how about a culinary tour through the city? Numerous restaurants (ten of which have a Michelin star), bars, bistros and cafés in all parts of Düsseldorf invite you to sample familiar and treasured flavors as well as new ones that may initially seem strange to your palate. Enjoying life - and indulging in the occasional expensive piece of cake - is in the genes of Düsseldorfers. Because the little moments make the hopefully many decades of our existence special. So, bring on the champagne, here's to us!

This article is funded by REACT-EU.

Pictures: Düsseldorf Tourism