Viersen (district)

Viersen (German pronunciation: [ˈfiːɐ̯zn̩]) is a Kreis (district) in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Cleves, Wesel, district-free Krefeld, Neuss, district-free Mönchengladbach, Heinsberg and the Dutch province of Limburg.

Viersen
District
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Adm. region	Düsseldorf
Capital	Viersen
Government
• District admin.	Andreas Coenen (CDU)
Area
• Total	563.29 km2 (217.49 sq mi)
Population  (31 December 2023)[1]
• Total	302,885
• Density	540/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Vehicle registration	VIE, KK
Website	www.kreis-viersen.de

History

Panoramic view of the Remigius square in Viersen.

In 1816, the new Prussian government created the district of Kempen. Originally belonging to the Regierungsbezirk Kleve which was dissolved in 1822, Kempen has since then belonged to Düsseldorf. In 1929 the district was enlarged significantly and renamed Kempen-Krefeld.

In 1975 the district again changed its borders and was renamed Viersen even though Kempen remained the capital. Viersen city replaced Kempen as the capital in 1984.

Twin Cities

The district Viersen has been twinned with Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom since 1983.

Geography

The district is located in the lowlands between the rivers Rhine and Meuse. The highest elevation is at Süchtelner Höhen with 90.7 m (298 ft), whereas the lowest is at Pielbruch with 28.6 m (94 ft).

Coat of arms

The top of the coat of arms shows the black cross of the Cologne bishops, as the district used to belong to the clerical state Cologne. The golden lion on blue ground is the symbol of the duchy of Guelders; the black lion on golden ground the symbol of the duchy of Jülich.

Cities and municipalities

Clickable map of towns and municipalities in the district

district-depending municipalities Brüggen 16.211 inhabitants Grefrath 15.929 inhabitants Niederkrüchten 15.457 inhabitants Schwalmtal 19.279 inhabitants

medium district-depending cities  Kempen 36.323 inhabitants Nettetal 42.434 inhabitants Tönisvorst 30.238 inhabitants Willich 51.939 inhabitants

large district-depending cities Viersen 76.330 inhabitants

based on data from: 31. December 2005>

References

1. "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2024-06-20.

External links

Media related to Kreis Viersen at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (German)

51.27°N 6.4°E / 51.27; 6.4