City portrait

Quality of life is to a large degree the result of the variety of available living spaces and the high-quality residential areas currently under development. This is accompanied by a wide range of cultural facilities, including the flagship sports football and hockey.

Mönchengladbach is rejuvenating itself through building; the structural changes are in full swing. Whereas the city used to be largely a textile industry location, it now hosts a colourful and healthy mix of industries.

Culture, education, leisure time

Mönchengladbach – my home

Mönchengladbach is great: With its over 275,000 residents, it is the most populous city between the Rhine and Meuse rivers. For many people, it’s more than a city, it’s their home. They’ve either always lived there or have made it their new home. And it’s the people who make Mönchengladbach what it is: their cheerful disposition, their rootedness in traditions and clubs. And Mönchengladbach is in a great location: the Ruhr region, the cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne, Aachen and the neighbouring Benelux countries are all within easy reach. And the quality of life in the city – situated in the heart of the Lower Rhine area, the ancient natural and cultural landscape – is excellent. It is a green city with gardens and parks, palaces and moated castles and a charming surrounding countryside.

The full range of art and cultural offerings

There is plenty to see and hear in Mönchengladbach! Culture is everywhere: exhibitions, events – from music and fine arts to theatre, fringe shows and cabaret. There is “Ensemblia”, for example, the oldest cross-genre cultural festival in the country, the “Sommermusik” event and exciting projects by the city’s young creative scene.

World-renowned artists such as Sting, Shakira and Bryan Adams have performed in the SparkassenPark. Famous classical musicians and actors set the tone in the Kaiser Friedrich Hall or in Rheydt Castle. The over 50-year-old “theatre marriage“ with Krefeld brings the finest performances to the stage.

The Abteiberg Museum is special architectural highlight: A world-renowned architect (Hans Hollein) and world-class art make an impression. Very charming: the historical ambience of Renaissance Rheydt Castle or Wickrath Castle, a magnificent baroque complex and the location of the Rhineland Horse studbook, an important centre of horse breeding. The oldest architectural monument of the city, the over 1000-year-old cathedral, testifies to a long history. Mönchengladbach is culturally cosmopolitan and maintains good relations and cultural exchanges with its Dutch neighbours.

The full range of art and cultural offerings

There is plenty to see and hear in Mönchengladbach! Culture is everywhere: exhibitions, events – from music and fine arts to theatre, fringe shows and cabaret. There is “Ensemblia”, for example, the oldest cross-genre cultural festival in the country, the “Sommermusik” event and exciting projects by the city’s young creative scene.

World-renowned artists such as Sting, Shakira and Bryan Adams have performed in the SparkassenPark. Famous classical musicians and actors set the tone in the Kaiser Friedrich Hall or in Rheydt Castle. The over 50-year-old “theatre marriage“ with Krefeld brings the finest performances to the stage.

The Abteiberg Museum is special architectural highlight: A world-renowned architect (Hans Hollein) and world-class art make an impression. Very charming: the historical ambience of Renaissance Rheydt Castle or Wickrath Castle, a magnificent baroque complex and the location of the Rhineland Horse studbook, an important centre of horse breeding. The oldest architectural monument of the city, the over 1000-year-old cathedral, testifies to a long history. Mönchengladbach is culturally cosmopolitan and maintains good relations and cultural exchanges with its Dutch neighbours.

Mönchengladbach educates

The city is one of the largest study locations for young textile engineers in Europe. Education is an important locational factor for families, for companies and in the search for the clever minds of tomorrow.

Mönchengladbach has a large network of schools and kindergartens, an adult education centre and many other educational establishment. The Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences is known throughout Germany for its textile and clothing technology, ecotrophology, social sciences and economics departments, which are based in Mönchengladbach, as is Textilakademie NRW. By means of its MGconnect foundation, which is supported by Mönchengladbach, the WFMG promotes cooperation between business and schools.

Living

Mönchengladbach as the regional metropolis on the Lower Rhine offers not only numerous advantages as a business location, it is also a great place to live.

EWMG – Entwicklungsgesellschaft der Stadt Mönchengladbach is one of the most important providers of residential property in the city. In addition, Mönchengladbach offers a vibrant cultural life as well as numerous recreational events.

Sports

Sports – the city of Mönchengladbach

Mönchengladbach had a world class football club: In the 1970s, the VfL eclipsed (almost) everything. Not always, but often also on the international stage:

five-time German champion, three-time DFB Cup winner, two-time UEFA Cup winner. The world looked to Mönchengladbach. The legend lives on and so does the love of the fans – in good times and in bad!

The backdrop for the next football victories has been set up: The new stadium in Nordpark was opened in 2004/2005 and can hold up to 54,000 spectators. Everything is under one roof in the new Borussia-Park: today, the club’s own 210,000 sqm grounds is home to all club institutions.

The capital of hockey

Another Mönchengladbach tradition: hockey. The SparkassenPark in Nordpark is a sight to behold – the largest and most modern hockey stadium in Europe. It’s an ideal setting for athletes and 9,000 fans. The first highlight shortly after the grand opening: The SparkassenPark hosts the 2006 men’s hockey world championship. Again, the world had its sights set on Gladbach and saw Germany win: We are the world’s hockey capital. In the same year, the German Hockey Federation moved its headquarters to Mönchengladbach. That feels good and speaks for itself!

What many may not know: Mönchengladbach is outstanding in artistic cycling. RV Adler 1901 Mönchengladbach-Neuwerk is one of the most successful indoor cycling clubs with more than 100 German and 5 European championship titles under its belt.

And incidentally: The SparkassenPark is not only good for the top matches, it’s also a great music venue. It hosts pop concerts by international artists and musicians, which means it’s also in the international league when it comes to culture.