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Ahlen

Town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Not to be confused with Aalen.

Ahlen (German pronunciation: [ˈaːlən] <phonos file="Ahlen.ogg"></phonos>; Westphalian: Aulen) is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, 30 km southeast of Münster.[3] Ahlen is part of the District of Warendorf and is economically the most important town in that district. Ahlen is part of the larger Münster region, and of the historic Münsterland area. The nearby villages of Dolberg, Vorhelm and Tönnishäuschen are part of Ahlen, as well. The largest neighboring town is the city of Hamm to the southwest.

Ahlen
Town
St. Marien Church
St. Marien Church
Coat of arms of Ahlen
Coat of arms
Location of Ahlen within Warendorf district

<imagemap>File: Ahlen in WAF.svg | 240x240px poly 412 0 412 255 654 255 654 0 North Rhine-Westphalia poly 654 290 568 435 608 427 626 465 654 474 Paderborn (district) poly 246 512 293 488 254 474 271 444 361 465 374 444 412 465 439 465 425 512 484 490 505 435 566 435 608 427 623 465 654 478 654 512 Soest (district) poly 0 490 73 465 103 512 0 512 Unna (district) poly 77 474 103 512 246 512 293 490 254 474 205 474 205 444 163 444 154 444 121 456 103 444 Hamm poly 505 429 565 435 654 290 654 255 412 255 412 0 389 49 327 61 314 123 335 146 335 136 351 185 397 226 374 243 439 309 412 323 421 334 439 323 459 355 459 373 Gütersloh (district) poly 103 444 77 474 73 456 0 490 0 334 47 355 91 434 Coesfeld (district) poly 0 114 24 90 35 114 59 114 87 152 73 185 103 226 103 255 73 255 59 264 59 276 73 290 59 299 43 290 -8 334 Münster poly 59 114 36 111 22 90 0 109 0 0 246 0 174 49 121 34 85 49 Steinfurt (district) poly 174 53 254 0 412 0 389 46 335 61 296 61 278 69 246 99 205 90 205 78 Lower Saxony poly 0 334 46 290 86 342 121 334 139 355 132 364 139 376 132 376 154 444 121 456 89 430 47 355 Drensteinfurt poly 205 90 246 99 262 123 246 146 278 177 335 185 314 237 278 226 254 269 254 290 230 309 192 309 183 290 205 243 205 185 183 185 174 167 Warendorf poly 106 255 110 226 139 206 171 205 183 185 205 194 205 220 205 243 175 290 103 263 Everswinkel poly 183 309 230 309 254 289 254 267 287 226 360 255 374 291 335 309 335 323 346 342 271 355 205 334 Ennigerloh poly 338 309 374 292 359 255 374 243 430 309 411 322 421 334 439 323 459 356 455 376 426 376 411 403 374 403 374 395 360 388 346 342 335 317 Oelde poly 132 364 205 364 205 334 271 354 267 376 254 384 265 403 254 412 254 444 268 444 254 474 205 473 205 444 169 444 155 431 132 376 147 376 Ahlen poly 374 403 411 403 429 376 456 377 505 429 490 488 464 512 427 512 435 465 418 465 374 448 Wadersloh poly 334 185 314 237 360 255 389 226 346 185 Beelen poly 269 353 346 342 359 389 374 396 367 450 356 465 270 450 268 441 255 442 254 412 265 409 260 383 267 384 Beckum poly 59 263 73 255 183 290 205 337 196 364 139 359 121 330 86 344 59 300 73 289 59 274 Sendenhorst poly 109 226 139 204 169 208 183 185 173 172 182 146 121 146 126 90 73 78 59 112 90 156 73 185 Telgte poly 247 98 265 125 246 146 284 177 346 185 339 137 326 146 314 127 326 67 298 61 295 68 284 69 281 64 Sassenberg poly 73 79 88 42 117 34 182 55 205 82 182 146 121 145 127 97 Ostbevern desc bottom-right

</imagemap>
Ahlen is located in Germany
Ahlen
Ahlen
Ahlen is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Ahlen
Ahlen
Coordinates: 51°45′48″N 7°53′28″E / 51.76333°N 7.89111°E / 51.76333; 7.89111
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionMünster
DistrictWarendorf
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Alexander Berger[1] (Ind.)
Area
 • Total123.14 km2 (47.54 sq mi)
Elevation
80 m (260 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • Total53,278
 • Density430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
59227, 59229
Dialling codes02382, 02388, 02528
Vehicle registrationWAF
Websitewww.ahlen.de

Geography

Neighbouring towns

Surrounding Ahlen are the towns of Sendenhorst, Ennigerloh, Beckum, Lippetal, Heessen (District of the city of Hamm) and Drensteinfurt.

Town districts

Outlying villages

History

Early times

 
Driveway at House Vorhelm
 
St. Bartholomäus Church in Ahlen
 
Plaque commemorating the founding of the Zentrumspartei

The first recorded mention of Ahlen is in the Vita Liudgeri, dating to about the year 850. The reason for the name, which means "eels", are unknown. An eel bedecked with a crown and feathers is on the town's coat of arms.

The start of settlement was likely due to there being a crossing over the river Werse, which was also the crossing of two key roads (Hamm–Ahlen–Warendorf and Beckum–Ahlen–Herbern), and the beginning of a third road (Ahlen–Münster). In its early centuries, the fledgling settlement was built around an episcopal court. Within the safe haven of this church fortification, the first settlers were craftsmen and merchants who traded with the local farmers and peasants of the court. Long-distance trading started in the second half of the 12th century — proof being the names of Ahlen merchants found on invoices from merchants in Lübeck. Ahlen was also part of the north German Hanse. During this time a town wall with five towers was built (about 1271). The stripping away of the town wall had begun in the year 1765 and the last hint of it was gone by 1929.

Ahlen grew quickly during the 13th century and in or about the year 1285, the population was so high that a new church (St. Marien) was founded next to the old one (St. Bartholomäus). This leads to the likelihood that Ahlen was one of the 18 biggest towns in Westphalia, at that time. However, the town's growth was hindered in the 14th century by the Black Death. According to the town's census book of 1389, only 63 families were left in Ahlen. But the town rebounded. In 1454, a citizen list showed 212 families living in Ahlen; seven noble families and their attendants lived in the episcopal court as well. Based on this number of families, a calculated population estimate of 1,300 citizens would be realistic. By this time the town had four quarters — all of which being about the same size and each quarter being named after its own town gate. Each quarter was responsible for defending its part of the town wall and gate.

During the 16th century, there were three plague epidemics in 1505, 1551 and 1592; leprosy also killed many people. In the year 1571, the mayor and the council decided to build a special hospital for leprosy. Disastrous fires in 1483, 1668 and 1744 were responsible for further halting Ahlen's growth.

About 20 documents of witch trials during the time from 1574 until 1652 survive. The hunt for witches started in 1574 with the death of four women. Thereafter, Peter Kleikamp was charged with being a werewolf; he was tortured and burned alive on the pyre. In 1616, Christian zum Loe was charged with wizardry; he went insane and died while in jail. The last known case was in 1652 against Anna Sadelers; she was tortured, burned alive on the pyre and beheaded.

National Socialism and World War II

In 1938 the people of Ahlen destroyed the Ahlen synagogue. By November 1938, there were no more Jews in Ahlen.[4]

Politics

Town Council

Party Result of election
CDU 50,94% (−1,3 Points)
SPD 35,36% (−5,5 Points)
Grüne 8,12% (+3,9 Points)
FDP 5,58% (+3,0 Points)

Coat of arms

Blazon: “In red, a gold crowned, inwardly curved, seven-fold winged silver eel. Above the coat of arms a three-tower wall crown with gate. ”The oldest seal shows the pious eel in the city gate, above it Saint Bartholomew. This saint is the patron saint of Ahlen. The seal has appeared since the 13th century: Certificate v. May 21, 1255 - "The city of Ahlen enters into a state of peace with the city of Cologne". Since the 17th century, only the eel has been represented, both in the city coat of arms and in the seal. In its current form, the coat of arms was awarded by the Prussian state on December 5, 1910.[5]

Mayors

[6]

1809–1945

  • 1809–1813 Bernard Heinrich Hahues
  • 1813–1817 Bernard Anton von Hatzfeld
  • 1817–1822 Heinrich Anton Nacke
  • 1823–1856 Franz Wächter
  • 1857–1863 Theodor von Cloedt
  • 1863–1869 Wilhelm Diederich
  • 1869–1870 Ludwig Fry
  • 1870–1898 Johann Heinrich Hagemann
  • 1898–1923 Eduard Corneli
  • 1923–1934 Georg Rasche
  • 1934–1937 Franz Hackethal
  • 1938–1945 Otto Jansen

Honorary Mayors 1946–1996

  • 1946–1946 Friedrich Niemeyer
  • 1946–1948 Hermann Dreisilker (Waldmann)
  • 1948–1950 Hugo Stoffers
  • 1951–1957 Heinrich Lenfert
  • 1957–1969 Heinrich Linnemann
  • 1969–1984 Herbert Faust
  • 1984–1996 Horst Jaunich

Full-time Mayors since 1996

  • 1996–1999 Günter Harms
  • 1999–2015 Benedikt Ruhmöller
  • since 2015 Andreas Berger

Town Directors/Main Civil Servants

  • 1945–1945 Wilhelm Buschhoff (set as mayor from English occupying troops in the function as town director)
  • 1945–1951 Wilhelm Kiwit
  • 1951–1963 Hugo Stoffers
  • 1963–1975 Johannes Baldauf
  • 1975–1985 Walter Priesnitz
  • 1985–1995 Gerd Willamowski
  • 2008 Benedikt Ruhmöller

Economy and Administration

One of the best known companies in Ahlen is Franz Kaldewei GmbH & Co. KG, one of the biggest bathtub manufacturers worldwide. Also well known is LR Health & Beauty Systems,[7] which was bought by Apax Partners in 2004.

Transport

Ahlen station is on the Hamm–Minden railway and is served every hour by the Rhein-Weser-Express and the Ems-Börde-Bahn.

Education

Elementary schools

  • Albert-Schweitzer-Schule
  • Augustin-Wibbelt-Schule in the quarter Vorhelm
  • Barbaraschule
  • Diesterwegschule
  • Don-Bosco-Schule
  • Freiligrath Grundschule
  • Lambertischule in the quarter Dolberg
  • Ludgerischule
  • Marienschule
  • Martinschule
  • Paul-Gerhardt-Schule

Secondary Modern Schools

  • GHS Bodelschwinghschule
  • Overbergschule
  • Geschwister-Scholl-Schule

Junior High School (ages 10 to 16)

  • Städtische Realschule Ahlen (closed)
  • Städtische Sekundarschule (closed)
  • Therese-Münsterteicher Gesamtschule (former Städtische Gesamtschule)

The Sekundarschule and TMG used the building of the former Realschule

High schools

  • Gymnasium St. Michael
  • Städtisches Gymnasium Ahlen

Comprehensive School

  • Fritz-Winter-Gesamtschule

Special Needs School

  • Johanna-Rose-Schule

Vocational Schools

  • Berufskolleg Ahlen
  • Berufskolleg St. Michael[8]
  • Fachschulen für Heilerziehungspflege der Caritas-Trägergesellschaft Nord
  • Fachseminar für Altenpflege Gemeinnütziges Bildungszentrum GmbH
  • Krankenpflegeschule im St.-Franziskus-Hospital Berufskolleg Ahlen

Places of interest

Buildings

 
Saint John of Nepomuk
  • St. Bartholomäus Catholic Church
  • St. Marien Catholic Church
  • Residential Buildings
  • Burgmannshöfe
  • Ahlen Water Tower

Museums

Clubs

  • KunstVerein Ahlen
  • Initiative Bürgerzentrum Schuhfabrik e.V.
  • Ditib Ahlen Sporkulübü (ASK Ahlen)
  • ASG Aramäer Ahlen 1983 e.V.
  • Ahlener Sport Gemeinschaft e.V. (ASG)
  • Vorwärts Ahlen
  • FSG Ahlen
  • Rot Weiss Ahlen
  • Westfalia Vorhelm
  • Eintracht Dolberg

Economy

Ahlen's economy was dominated by the coal industry for nearly one century.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Ahlen is twinned with:[9]

Ahlen is a member of the Hanse.[clarification needed]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 30 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in Deutsch). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  3. ^ google map, retrieved 3 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Memorial Holocaust Ahlen - Ahlen - TracesOfWar.com". www.tracesofwar.com.
  5. ^ Wappen der Stadt Ahlen auf ahlen.de (Memento vom 24. Januar 2012 im Internet Archive)
  6. ^ Gallery of myors in the old town hall 1809–1996, by Jürgen Rheker
  7. ^ "LR | Official Website LR Health & Beauty". www.lrworld.com.
  8. ^ "Startseite". www.berufskolleg-st-michael.de.
  9. ^ "Partnerstädte". ahlen.de (in Deutsch). Ahlen. Retrieved 2021-02-04.

External links

  Media related to Ahlen at Wikimedia Commons

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