Experiencing everyday life of the other for one year: Clément and Kim Charlotte set their mark

A strong culture shock, time abroad in a foreign country, dedicated commitment to twin city connections – or perhaps a bit of everything somehow? Kim Charlotte Amelung (22) and Clément Bacholle (22) are currently experiencing daily life of their counterparts: Both are supporting the municipal administrations in Münster and Orléans through the “Franco- German Voluntary Service of Local Authorities” for one year until August 2023, with special focus on activities regarding the town twinning of both cities. During the joint interview, both talk about their motivations and how their everyday lives are structured. The exchange programme is organised and coordinated by the Franco-German Youth Office (DFJW) and the AFCCRE (Association Francoise du Conseil des Communes et Régions d'Europe). To the interview

Celebrations on the Day of German Unity in Münster

More than 30 guests from Mühlhausen travelled to the officially ceremony in the town hall of Münster on the 2nd of October 2022 to celebrate the Day of German Unity together with people from Münster. During a service held at the Clemens Church, peace candles have been lit. On behalf of Lord Mayor Dr Bruns, Councillor René Seyfert took part in the Peace Hall Reception and gave a welcoming speech for the city of Mühlhausen in the festival hall. This year’s guest speaker was Golo berg, who is the General Music Director of the Münster Theatre. The local association Friends of Mülhausen had an interesting programme prepared for the guests. Since the place of celebrations rotates, the Day of German Unity will be celebrated in Mühlhausen in 2023.

European Mobility Week 2022

First Mayor Markus Lewe travelled to Italy for the final conference of this year's European Mobility Week in Bologna. Topics discussed to achieve climate neutrality included local public transport, space for pedestrians, cycle path networks or traffic calming. Bologna and Münster are in contact within the framework of a climate partnership. Both cities are part of the "100 Climate Neutral Cities" mission and would like to meet the challenges of climate protection together through cooperation. Through this mission, the EU is pursuing the goal of supporting and promoting 100 European cities in their systemic transformation towards climate neutrality by 2030.
Official press release

Professional dialogue with Tamale

For the first time, a municipal delegation from Münster travelled to the Ghanaian project partner city Tamale. After the digital kick-off with First Mayor Markus Lewe and Sule Salifu (Mayor of Tamale) in March as well as a visit by people from the metropolitan region of Tamale in May, the travellers from Münster headed towards West Africa with some initial expectations in their luggage - and now back to Westphalia with some tasks. Both cities together determined that expert teams with representatives from the administrational and scientific field, but also other stakeholders, would be introduced in the municipalities to work out strategic solutions for various issues and topics.
Official press release

Tri-national concert: Israel - Germany - Poland: Connected by Culture

The Choir of the Catholic University of Lublin, the Lublin Music Theatre, the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion and the Münster Symphony Orchestra - a total of 160 musicians - performed Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" in two countries and three cities. The musical director was Golo Berg. The tri-national music project thus sent a strong signal for peace, solidarity, and tolerance. In Münster, the gigantic music piece could be enjoyed on the 1st of September in the St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the context of the Russia’s current war against the Ukraine, the concert was of special significance: On the one hand, the choir of the Catholic University of Lublin was supported by singers from Ukraine who have found accommodation in Lublin. On the other hand the concert has gained a special significance, due to the reason that the first concert of the multinational orchestra took place on the anniversary of the invasion of Poland by the German Wehrmacht in 1939. Just over eight decades ago, the world was drowning in the chaos and suffering of the Second World War, in which over 60 million people fell victim. Today our peoples are making music together!

The brochure on the concert unfortunately contains an error in the print version. Here you can download the corrected version: Cover picture of the brochure "Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 2"  (PDF, 4.33 MB)

Trinational Mobility Forum

From 23-26 June,  2022 delegations from our twin cities Orléans and Kristiansand were guests in Münster. Together with experts from Münster, there was an international exchange of experiences on the topic of mobility. A wide-ranging programme with practical experiences and discussions awaited all participants. Urban transport concepts were compared in order to advance future planning, possibly also in a synergetic way. The guests were welcomed by the International Office and the Department for Mobility and Civil Engineering.
Official press release

Theatre group from Lublin visits Münster

The dance and theatre foundation ‘Fundacja tan THEO’ visited Münster from the 16th till the 21st of June 2022. The aim of the visit by the theatre management and actors was to coordinate a cooperation with ‘Cactus Junges Theater’. Technical discussions, joint workshops, rehearsals, and theatre performances were on the agenda. The residents of Münster experienced the dance and theatre group from Lublin at two events: In the context of the ‘Voll geflasht’ (totally flashed) campaign at the Pop-Up-Kinder-Jugend-Kulturhaus and at a 20-minute performance entitled “The only ting that lasts is love” at the ‘Pumpenhaus theatre’ in Münster. The encounter was funded by the GPYO.

Ukraine: “We want to develop joint projects”

In a joint declaration signed on the 6th of June 2022 in Lublin, the Mayors Dr. Krzysztof Żuk (Lublin), Mathieu Klein (Nancy), Dr. Clemens Cremer (Karlsruhe) and Münster’s Mayor Angela Stähler promoted cooperation with cities in Ukraine. They wanted to develop and implement beneficial projects for Ukrainian cities and strengthen cooperation with partners in Ukraine through, including but not limited to, city partnerships and  by incorporating Ukrainian cities in networks of European municipalities.
Official press release

Münster intensifies the exchange of expertise with California

Münster and Enschede will intensify the exchange of expertise with their Californian twin cities Fresno and Palo Alto. In concrete terms, the city quartet wants to learn from each other about topics regarding ‘the redensification through affordable housing’, ‘energy-efficient public transport connection stations’, ‘safe bicycle mobility’, and ‘internal security with the police and fire brigade’ as well as topics related to other scientific and economic tasks concerning the cities’ surroundings. During a five-day delegation trip in the last week of May, in which besides Lewe also the Mayor of Enschede, Roloef Bleker, Münster’s IHK-chief executive Dr. Fritz Jaeckel, Münster’s new police commissioner Alexandra Dorndorf and the rector of WWU Münster Prof. Dr. Johannes Wessels participated, the corresponding contacts were established and further expanded. First Mayor Markus Lewe: “In the contemporary age of new technologies, digital media are a very helpful tool to exchange ideas with our partners in the USA. Nevertheless, cooperation is only efficient when you first got to know and appreciate each other in person.” Official press release

The EU supports Münster’s goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2030

Under the motto “Our climate 2030”, the city of Münster aims for climate neutrality by the year 2030 and adaption to the consequences of climate change. As one out of 100 cities from all over Europe, Münster has received support from the European Union to reach that goal: Earlier this year, the EU launched a competition with the aim of selecting 100 cities to lead the way in implementation the green deal and achieve climate neutrality by 2030. The city of Münster participated in that competition and was selected as the winner. Now, the city has easier access to European funding and can draw on a comprehensive range of advice from European climate experts.

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Experience Europe: Cycling from Münster to Enschede

In the context of the Europe Week NRW 2022, the international office invited people from Enschede and Münster, who are enthusiastic of cycling, to a joint cycling tour from Münster to Enschede. The 95-kilometres-long route offered sufficient time to talk to each other, form new contacts and relationships to the twin cities, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Western Münsterland and the region Overijssel. We have put together some impressions of the cycling tour for you. Be there next time!
Impressions of the cycling tour

Münster-Lublin Support Association appeals for donations for Lublin

Lublin is the largest Polish city near the border with Ukraine and has been chosen as a nationwide hub for humanitarian aid. Lublin organises transports, warehouses, and green corridors for aid goods and supplies. Additionally, a considerable number of refugees from the war are already accommodated locally. In coordination with the city of Lublin, the Münster-Lublin Support Association would like to provide support and is asking for monetary donations to its account at Sparkasse Münsterland Ost DE 44 4005 0150 0022 0041 05, specifying the reference "Lublin helps Ukraine". Municipal assistance for refugees from Ukraine

First Mayor Markus Lewe supports the twinning of Münster and Ryazan

First Mayor Markus Lewe has strongly spoken out in favour of the continuation of the town twinning between Münster and Ryazan. "Through town twinning, civil society groups in particular find each other - thus also people who do not necessarily agree with the decisions of their government. It would be bitter if we were to break off these last opportunities for a relationship, so we are using this chance to exchange messages of peace." The International Office is in regular contact with the city administration of Ryazan at the working level and also asks the many citizens and institutions in Münster that have contacts with Ryazan not to break off the dialogue with the people in the twin city.

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Annual meeting of the twinning associations 2022

Every year, the International Office invites to the traditional annual meeting of the twinning associations. Unfortunately, this year the meeting had to be held digitally again. Nevertheless, the atmosphere was positive. The twinning associations exchanged information about their activities in times of Corona. Thanks to various digital communication possibilities, it was possible to successfully implement new event formats, so that one remained connected with the twin towns throughout the year. Nevertheless, everyone is looking forward the time when face-to-face meetings will be possible again. Therefore, hopefully this year the traditional citizens' trips to the twin towns will take place as planned.

First Mayor speaks with city leaders of Ryazan

At the beginning of February 2022, in the views of the tense global political situation, First Mayor Markus Lewe and the deputy mayor of Ryazan, Larissa Maksimova, and the head of the Ryazan city administration, Elena Sorokina exchanged opinions in a video call regarding the twinning of Münster and Ryazan. In the conversation, both sides emphasised the deep bond and friendship between the people of Ryazan and Münster. Lewe and the city leaders of Ryazan agreed that the city partnership, which has existed for 33 years, and the many personal contacts must be cultivated and expanded more intensively than ever before. Official press release

International Holocaust Memorial Day 2022

On the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism, the Youth Department and the International Relations Department of the City of Rishon LeZion organised a virtual commemoration ceremony for their twin cities, in which the city of Münster also actively participated.

First Mayor Markus Lewe sent a message of greeting to Münster's Israeli twin city on the 27th of January. Mayor Klaus Rosenau, pupils from the Peace School, members of the Young Forum of the German Israeli Society of Münster, and representatives of the International Office took part in the event. The pupils from Münster read a poem during the virtual ceremony; pupils from other twin cities of Rishon LeZion such as Debrecen, Krasnodar, Lublin, Kharkiv or Nimes participated as well. Particularly impressive was the contribution of contemporary witness Rose Lipszyc.

First Mayor Markus Lewe declares his support for German-Russian friendship

Early January 2022 with a letter to the First Mayor of the city of Ryazan and a video message for the people in Münster's Russian twin city, First Mayor Markus Lewe sets an accent against the worsening situation in the Ukraine conflict. "Many people in Europe are worried," Lewe says in the video. "Right now we have to stick together. Perhaps we will succeed in sending a sign of peace with this."

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Mayors renew the partnership oath in Orléans

On the 24th of September 1960, the partnership with the French city Orleans was sealed in Münster in the Friedenssaal (Hall of Peace) of the municipality. Exactly 61 years later, first mayor Markus Lewe and mayor Serge Grouard signed the renewal of the partnership oath in the Hôtel Groslot, the historical city hall of Orléans. Another occasion for the visit was the traditional “Festival de Loire”, at which Münster presented itself to the citizens of Orléans. Within the framework of the work meetings between the municipalities, topics such as economic development, mobility, as well as climate protection and climate adaptation in the two cities were highlighted among others. Official press release

Twin cities Münster – Enschede is official

After a joint meeting of the administrative boards of Enschede and Münster on the 21st of September 2021, the mayor of Enschede, Onno van Veldhuizen, and first mayor Markus Lewe signed the twinning certificate in the Friedenssaal (Hall of Peace). First mayor Markus Lewe referred to the long tradition of cooperation with Enschede as well as the equally long list of future projects. “With projects like this, we will still have lots of joy together”, said Lewe. Colleague Onno van Veldhuizen comment on the signing of the certificate: “That was a great start for a very good future.” The certificate should have already been signed in May 2020. Due to the Corona pandemic, the ceremony has been postponed to 2021. Official press release

The city twinnings with Lublin and Rishon LeZion have been celebrated

This year, the city of Münster celebrates 40 years of city twinning with Rishon LeZion and 30 years of city twinning with Lublin. Moreover, the cities are closely connected through a triangular partnership. Upon the invitation by Markus Lewe a delegation from Lublin, lead by the city president Dr. Krzysztof Żuk, came over to Münster. Through an official holiday on the 2nd of September 2021, the many years of twinning have been honoured adequately. Unfortunately, the Israelian city government could not visit Münster as planned, due to the Covid travel restrictions. Raz Kinstlich, mayor of Rishon LeZion, very much regrets this and expressed his hopes to meet both his colleagues in person in 2022.

Twin City Games 2021

"Experience sport together for fair play in an international context" was the motto of this year's Twin City Games in Münster. For the first time since the beginning of the Corona pandemic, an event with real international encounters took place. The anticipation for the event was huge. Some of the foreign guests even accepted a quarantine after returning home. For five days, young people from Enschede (NL), Kristiansand (NO), Lublin (PL), Rishon LeZion (ISR) and Münster exchanged sports and ideas together. In addition to sports activities in multinational teams, there were workshops on the topics of fair trade and fair play. The highlight of the encounter was the sports festival on the sports campus of the WWU. The Twin City Games were organized in cooperation with the City Sports Association Münster and the University Sports Center Münster. The meeting was sponsored by the Minister of Europe of North Rhine-Westphalia through the program "Europe at Home". For the production of the jerseys and gym bags for the participants, attention was paid to sustainability and fair trade. A big thank you to Vamos e.V. and WEED e. V. for organizing the workshops.

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1945 – 2020: 75 years of peace

Commemoration after the World War II

The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Causing over 60 million deaths, the Second World War was the bloodiest conflict in the history of the world. A war that was started in Germany brought horror over Europe and the whole world. The majority of Germans stands by the historical responsibility that arises from this war. As a city of peace, Münster wanted to take on this responsibility in particular. Together with its twin towns, the city of Münster commemorated the terrible events on November 20 and at the same time set a sign for peace in Europe and worldwide. Due to the corona pandemic, the memorial event took place via video conference.
Impressions from the video conference