Viersen

Viersen (Veeëse) is the capital of the district of Viersen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Geography
Viersen is situated approximately 8 km north-west of Mönchengladbach, 15 km south-west of Krefeld and 20 km east of Venlo (Netherlands).

Division of the town
The city of Viersen is made up of three (formerly independent) cities: Süchteln, Dülken and Viersen, which combined in 1970, and one former village, Boisheim, which combined with Viersen in 1968.

Politics
The current mayor of Viersen is Sabine Anemüller of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) since 2015. The most recent mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, with a runoff held on 27 September, and the results were as follows:

! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Candidate ! rowspan=2| Party ! colspan=2| First round ! colspan=2| Second round ! Votes ! % ! Votes ! % ! colspan=3| Valid votes ! 28,258 ! 98.2 ! 23,527 ! 99.5 ! colspan=3| Invalid votes ! 521 ! 1.8 ! 118 ! 0.5 ! colspan=3| Total ! 28,779 ! 100.0 ! 23,645 ! 100.0 ! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout ! 63,176 ! 45.6 ! 63,169 ! 37.4
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Christoph Hopp
 * align=left| Christian Democratic Union
 * 11,438
 * 40.5
 * 11,572
 * 49.2
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Sabine Anemüller
 * align=left| Social Democratic Party
 * 10,965
 * 38.8
 * 11,955
 * 50.8
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Martina Maaßen
 * align=left| Alliance 90/The Greens
 * 3,418
 * 12.1
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Simon Männersdörfer
 * align=left| The Left
 * 1,098
 * 3.9
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Frank a Campo
 * align=left| Free Democratic Party
 * 935
 * 3.3
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Siegfried Martin
 * align=left| National Democratic Party
 * 404
 * 1.4
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Siegfried Martin
 * align=left| National Democratic Party
 * 404
 * 1.4
 * 1.4
 * colspan=7| Source: City of Viersen (1st round, 2nd round)
 * }
 * }

City council
The Viersen city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows:

! colspan=2| Party ! Votes ! % ! +/- ! Seats ! +/- ! colspan=2| Valid votes ! 28,170 ! 98.0 ! ! ! ! colspan=2| Invalid votes ! 584 ! 2.0 ! ! ! ! colspan=2| Total ! 28,754 ! 100.0 ! ! 54 ! 2 ! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout ! 63,176 ! 45.5 ! 2.1 ! !
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
 * 11,806
 * 41.9
 * 1.9
 * 22
 * 2
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Social Democratic Party (SPD)
 * 6,669
 * 23.7
 * 2.3
 * 13
 * 2
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne)
 * 5,491
 * 19.5
 * 7.9
 * 11
 * 5
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| The Left (Die Linke)
 * 1,417
 * 5.0
 * 0.5
 * 3
 * ±0
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Free Democratic Party (FDP)
 * 1,343
 * 4.8
 * 0.1
 * 3
 * ±0
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Alternative for Germany (AfD)
 * 1,142
 * 4.1
 * New
 * 2
 * New
 * colspan=7 bgcolor=lightgrey|
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| Die PARTEI
 * 195
 * 0.7
 * New
 * 0
 * New
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| National Democratic Party (NPD)
 * 107
 * 0.4
 * 1.0
 * 0
 * 1
 * New
 * bgcolor=|
 * align=left| National Democratic Party (NPD)
 * 107
 * 0.4
 * 1.0
 * 0
 * 1
 * 1
 * colspan=7| Source: City of Viersen
 * }
 * }

Economy
The company Mars Incorporated (chocolate bars) is situated in one of Viersen's industrial districts named Dülken-Mackenstein.

Kaiser's Tengelmann AG (a big supermarkets chain in Germany) had his headquarter in Viersen, until it was closed in 2010.

Recurring events

 * International Jazz Festival in Viersen's Festival Hall (Festhalle). September
 * The World Championships of Carom billiards take place in Viersen's Festival Hall (Festhalle). March
 * Big Carnival Parades in all 3 city parts. The one in Dülken is one of the biggest and most traditional Parades in North Rhine-Westphalia. February
 * The Dülkener Schöppenmarkt, a type of flea/junk market, which takes place on the day after the last Carnival parade, is one of Germany's biggest. February
 * Big free flea market in Viersen's pedestrian zone, where only children are allowed to sell. Biggest market of this type in Germany. Summer
 * "Viersen blüht" (Viersen is blooming) is a voluntary initiative which places arrangements and sculptures of flowers all over the city's pedestrian zone. Summer
 * International Biker Meeting, organized by the local biker-club "MC Viersen 1980 e.V.". 2nd weekend each September
 * Viersen Jazz Festival. 4th weekend each September
 * Big kite-flying-festival. Autumn



Main sights

 * Viersen sculpture collection
 * Städtische Galerie im Park Viersen
 * Viersen Bismarck Tower
 * Festhalle Viersen

Transport
Viersen is connected to the region by a dense bus network and Viersen station. The station is served by various local and regional rail lines.

Notable people

 * Gustav von Mevissen (1815–1899), businessman and politician
 * Max Nonnenbruch (1857–1922), painter
 * Illa Martin (1900–1988), dendrologist, botanist, conservationist and dentist
 * Albert Vigoleis Thelen (1903–1989), author and translator
 * Hilde Bruch (1904–1984), psychoanalyst
 * Erik Martin (1936–2017), writer, songwriter and composer of songs
 * Helmut Reisen (born 1950), economist
 * Holger Henke (born 1960), political scientist
 * Elmar Theveßen (born 1967), TV-journalist and author
 * Till Brönner (born 1971), musician, arranger and producer
 * Mirja Boes (born 1971), comedian, actress and singer
 * Udo Voigt, politician
 * Roosevelt (born 1990) music producer and singer
 * Tim Stützle (born 2002), professional ice hockey player

Twin towns – sister cities
Viersen is twinned with:


 * 🇩🇪 Calau, Germany
 * 🇺🇦 Kaniv, Ukraine
 * 🇫🇷 Lambersart, France
 * 🇩🇪 Mittweida, Germany
 * 🇮🇱 Pardesiya, Israel
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Peterborough, England, United Kingdom