History of Duisburg
Did you know that records mention Duisburg for the first time in 883?
Read on and you will find out a great deal more! Or if you are really interested in Duisburg's history, why not visit its Museum of Culture and Local History?
Beginning of the 5th century Romans stationed in the Old Town of Duisburg to protect the passage over the Rhine and mouth of the Ruhr.
about 420
New settlers in the Old Town of Duisburg. Franconians from central Germany replace the Romans. They establish a royal court on Burgplatz.
883
The Normans conquer Duisburg and spend the winter here. Records mention Duisburg for the first time.
10th century
Duisburg royal court is extended and becomes a royal palace.
about 1120
City fortifications are built.
1129
King Lothar III allows Duisburgers to break stones in the woods. The oldest deed in the city archives dates back to this year.
1136
Foundation of the Abbey of Hamborn.
1145
King Conrad III approves the building of the residences which had already sprung up around the palace.
about 1145
The Knights of St. John of Jerusalem found their first settlement on German ground. The Hohenstaufen predecessor of Salvator Church is built.
after 1200
The course of the Rhine flows away from Duisburg.
1234
A citizen of Duisburg founds a Cistercian convent in Duissern.
1274 - 1275
The constitution of the council is established with two mayors.
1290
King Rudolph of Habsburg pledges the city to the Duke of Cleves.
13 th century
City walls are built, their remains can still be seen today.
1316
Work on the gothic Salvator Church is underway.
1350
Pogrom against the Jews in Duisburg.
1371
Ruhrort is founded as customs post on "Homberger Werth".
1392
Ruhrort's harbour is mentioned in records for the first time.
1407
Duisburg is incorporated again in the Hanseatic League.
1445
Duisburgers ward off an attack by the Archbishop of Cologne.
1479
The foundation stone of the Salvator Church's present tower is laid.
1513
The guilds rise up in vain against the leading families.
1549
"Beecker" Fair is mentioned for the first time.
1552
Gerhard Mercator (1512 - 1594) settles in Duisburg.
1555
The miraculous Salvator statue is removed from the church; the Reformation finally prevails.
1566
Johannes Corputius completes his coloured plan of the city.
1579
The first printed city chronicle appears.
1608
The Duissern nuns acquire the three-gabled house.
1613
Iconoclasm in Duisburg churches.
1655
Inauguration of the University of Duisburg (to 1818).
1665
A bargemen's guild is established in Ruhrort.
1666
Duisburg and the Duchy of Cleves finally falls to Brandenburg.
1674
Regular shipping traffic (market boat service) links Duisburg to Nimwegen.
1712
First shipyard in Ruhrort.
1716
Ruhrort Municipality decides to build an appropriate harbour.
1756
The first house to be built outside the Ruhrort city walls was the so-called Hanielsche Pack-/Gründerhaus as it is known today.
1770
Twelve colonist families from Hessen-Darmstadt found the present day Neudorf district.
1824
Development of large-scale chemical industry begins with Fr. W. Curtius' sulphuric acid factory.
1829
Franz Haniel establishes a shipyard in Ruhrort to build steamships.
1833
Demolition of the last mediaeval city gate.
1856
"Ruhrort-Homberger Rhein Trajektanstalt" railway ferry starts operations.
1865
Friedrich Albert Lange publishes the "Bote vom Niederrhein" newspaper in Duisburg.
1867
Coal mining begins in Hamborn.
1873
Duisburg becomes a self-governing city.
1894
Meiderich is given the status of a city.
1902
Inauguration of the new city hall.
1905
The cities of Duisburg, Ruhrort and Meiderich merge.
1910
Brothers Karl and Peter Strack take off in Duisburg on the first engine powered flight.
1911
Hamborn is given the status of a city.
1912
Opening of Duisburg City Theatre.
1921
Homberg is given the status of a city.
1929
The cities of Duisburg, Hamborn and "South Duisburg" merge. Rheinhausen is given the status of a city in 1934.
1934
Opening of Duisburg Zoo.
1945
80 per cent of the residential buildings have been destroyed or severely damaged in the war.
1950
After its destruction and partial rebuilding, the City Theatre is reopened.
1958
Walsum is given the status of a city.
1962
Last coal extracted from the Neumühl pit.
1964
Wilhelm-Lehmbruck Museum is opened.
1968
Teaching commences at the Duisburg Division of the Ruhr College of Education.
1972
University of Duisburg (amalgamated university) founded.
1975
Duisburg, Walsum, Homberg, Rheinhausen, Rumeln-Kaldenhausen and Baerl are combined to form the new city of Duisburg.
1976
The newly restored three-gabled house is given a new function as an atelier for artists.
1979
The Museum of German Inland Waterways is opened in Duisburg-Ruhrort.
1983
City Jubilee - 1100 Years Duisburg.
1986
6th Conference of the Hanseatic Cities in modern times.
1989
XVth All University Games Duisburg ´89.
1990
Opening of the free harbour.
1991
275th anniversary of Duisburg's Rhine/Ruhr Harbour.
1992
Opening of the city railway. Work starts on transforming the inland harbour.
1993
Krupp-Hoesch-Hüttenwerk mill is closed.
1994
Gerhard Mercator Year to celebrate the 400th anniversary of his death. The University is renamed Gerhard Mercator University.
1997
Election of first full time lady mayor.
1999
Inauguration of the Jewish Community Centre.
1999
The mayor is elected directly for the first time.
2000
Logport Project begins (general reorganisation plan for Krupp/Rheinhausen), Lehmbruck Foundation established, 50 years twinning with Portsmouth.
2001
1st marina in the inland harbour opened, foundation stone for a mosque is laid in Bruckhausen.
2002
Opening of the Westspiel Casino in the Alte Post building, inauguration of the new Police Services Centre at the Inland Harbour.
2003
Universities of Duisburg and Essen merge, foundation stone for the MSV Arena is laid, inauguration of the Fatih Mosque in Bruckhausen.
2004
Opening of the "Atlantis" Childrens' Museum, CDU majority in local elections for the first time since 1946, first CDU mayor since 1948.
2005
Demolition of the Mercator Hall, foundation stone laid for the City Palais.
Read on and you will find out a great deal more! Or if you are really interested in Duisburg's history, why not visit its Museum of Culture and Local History?
Beginning of the 5th century Romans stationed in the Old Town of Duisburg to protect the passage over the Rhine and mouth of the Ruhr.
about 420
New settlers in the Old Town of Duisburg. Franconians from central Germany replace the Romans. They establish a royal court on Burgplatz.
883
The Normans conquer Duisburg and spend the winter here. Records mention Duisburg for the first time.
10th century
Duisburg royal court is extended and becomes a royal palace.
about 1120
City fortifications are built.
1129
King Lothar III allows Duisburgers to break stones in the woods. The oldest deed in the city archives dates back to this year.
1136
Foundation of the Abbey of Hamborn.
1145
King Conrad III approves the building of the residences which had already sprung up around the palace.
about 1145
The Knights of St. John of Jerusalem found their first settlement on German ground. The Hohenstaufen predecessor of Salvator Church is built.
after 1200
The course of the Rhine flows away from Duisburg.
1234
A citizen of Duisburg founds a Cistercian convent in Duissern.
1274 - 1275
The constitution of the council is established with two mayors.
1290
King Rudolph of Habsburg pledges the city to the Duke of Cleves.
13 th century
City walls are built, their remains can still be seen today.
1316
Work on the gothic Salvator Church is underway.
1350
Pogrom against the Jews in Duisburg.
1371
Ruhrort is founded as customs post on "Homberger Werth".
1392
Ruhrort's harbour is mentioned in records for the first time.
1407
Duisburg is incorporated again in the Hanseatic League.
1445
Duisburgers ward off an attack by the Archbishop of Cologne.
1479
The foundation stone of the Salvator Church's present tower is laid.
1513
The guilds rise up in vain against the leading families.
1549
"Beecker" Fair is mentioned for the first time.
1552
Gerhard Mercator (1512 - 1594) settles in Duisburg.
1555
The miraculous Salvator statue is removed from the church; the Reformation finally prevails.
1566
Johannes Corputius completes his coloured plan of the city.
1579
The first printed city chronicle appears.
1608
The Duissern nuns acquire the three-gabled house.
1613
Iconoclasm in Duisburg churches.
1655
Inauguration of the University of Duisburg (to 1818).
1665
A bargemen's guild is established in Ruhrort.
1666
Duisburg and the Duchy of Cleves finally falls to Brandenburg.
1674
Regular shipping traffic (market boat service) links Duisburg to Nimwegen.
1712
First shipyard in Ruhrort.
1716
Ruhrort Municipality decides to build an appropriate harbour.
1756
The first house to be built outside the Ruhrort city walls was the so-called Hanielsche Pack-/Gründerhaus as it is known today.
1770
Twelve colonist families from Hessen-Darmstadt found the present day Neudorf district.
1824
Development of large-scale chemical industry begins with Fr. W. Curtius' sulphuric acid factory.
1829
Franz Haniel establishes a shipyard in Ruhrort to build steamships.
1833
Demolition of the last mediaeval city gate.
1856
"Ruhrort-Homberger Rhein Trajektanstalt" railway ferry starts operations.
1865
Friedrich Albert Lange publishes the "Bote vom Niederrhein" newspaper in Duisburg.
1867
Coal mining begins in Hamborn.
1873
Duisburg becomes a self-governing city.
1894
Meiderich is given the status of a city.
1902
Inauguration of the new city hall.
1905
The cities of Duisburg, Ruhrort and Meiderich merge.
1910
Brothers Karl and Peter Strack take off in Duisburg on the first engine powered flight.
1911
Hamborn is given the status of a city.
1912
Opening of Duisburg City Theatre.
1921
Homberg is given the status of a city.
1929
The cities of Duisburg, Hamborn and "South Duisburg" merge. Rheinhausen is given the status of a city in 1934.
1934
Opening of Duisburg Zoo.
1945
80 per cent of the residential buildings have been destroyed or severely damaged in the war.
1950
After its destruction and partial rebuilding, the City Theatre is reopened.
1958
Walsum is given the status of a city.
1962
Last coal extracted from the Neumühl pit.
1964
Wilhelm-Lehmbruck Museum is opened.
1968
Teaching commences at the Duisburg Division of the Ruhr College of Education.
1972
University of Duisburg (amalgamated university) founded.
1975
Duisburg, Walsum, Homberg, Rheinhausen, Rumeln-Kaldenhausen and Baerl are combined to form the new city of Duisburg.
1976
The newly restored three-gabled house is given a new function as an atelier for artists.
1979
The Museum of German Inland Waterways is opened in Duisburg-Ruhrort.
1983
City Jubilee - 1100 Years Duisburg.
1986
6th Conference of the Hanseatic Cities in modern times.
1989
XVth All University Games Duisburg ´89.
1990
Opening of the free harbour.
1991
275th anniversary of Duisburg's Rhine/Ruhr Harbour.
1992
Opening of the city railway. Work starts on transforming the inland harbour.
1993
Krupp-Hoesch-Hüttenwerk mill is closed.
1994
Gerhard Mercator Year to celebrate the 400th anniversary of his death. The University is renamed Gerhard Mercator University.
1997
Election of first full time lady mayor.
1999
Inauguration of the Jewish Community Centre.
1999
The mayor is elected directly for the first time.
2000
Logport Project begins (general reorganisation plan for Krupp/Rheinhausen), Lehmbruck Foundation established, 50 years twinning with Portsmouth.
2001
1st marina in the inland harbour opened, foundation stone for a mosque is laid in Bruckhausen.
2002
Opening of the Westspiel Casino in the Alte Post building, inauguration of the new Police Services Centre at the Inland Harbour.
2003
Universities of Duisburg and Essen merge, foundation stone for the MSV Arena is laid, inauguration of the Fatih Mosque in Bruckhausen.
2004
Opening of the "Atlantis" Childrens' Museum, CDU majority in local elections for the first time since 1946, first CDU mayor since 1948.
2005
Demolition of the Mercator Hall, foundation stone laid for the City Palais.
