Tradition of Peace

Dialogues on Peace

"Tolerance through dialog." This principle is the programmatic title of an annual series of events: the "Dialogues on Peace" establish references to current and future issues with changing thematic focuses. In addition to academic lectures and podiums, there are also history plays, an annual school-academy and the meeting of religious communities, which takes place alternately in Osnabrück and Münster.

See more about the Dialogues on Peace

AK 1648

The working group "1648" is inextricably linked to the "Dialogues on Peace". Founded in 2008 as an expert committee of the Alliance for Science Münster, its main focus is on positioning the City of Science in the field of "Peace of Westphalia". The head of the working group is Prof. Dr. Alfons Kenkmann.

International Peace of Westphalia Prize

The International Peace of Westphalia Prize has been awarded every two years since 1998, the 350th anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia, by the Economic Society of Westphalia and Lippe (WWL) in the Peace Hall Münster. Previous winners have included Helmut Kohl, Helmut Schmidt and Kofi Annan.

Further information on the Peace of Westphalia Prize

Award Winning

The importance attached to the sites of the Peace of Westphalia throughout Europe was demonstrated in 2015 with the award of the European Heritage Label, which recognizes milestones in the development of Europe with particular significance for the landscape of ideas and values. The seal can be found on the town hall in Münster (and of course also on its counterpart in Osnabrück) and thus reinforces the mission to keep the tradition as the city of the Peace of Westphalia alive and to make the historical legacy fruitful for the present and future.

Find out more about the European Heritage Label

Peace Office

Maintaining these obligations associated with the European Heritage Label is one of the tasks of the city's Peace Office. However, its main focus lies in its function as a mediation and liaison office between the city administration and the numerous peace activists and movements in Münster, whose work is also made visible and supported with a funding pot.

Learn more about the Peace Office

Working Group "Peace"

The Working Group helps to decide on the allocation of funds from the Peace Office's funding pot. It represents civil society groups and religious communities in Münster. Its members are elected at the Münster Peace Convocation, a joint meeting of peace activists.