Heide

Heide
Flag of Heide
Coat of arms of Heide
Location of Heide within Dithmarschen district
Heide is located in Germany
Heide
Heide
Heide is located in Schleswig-Holstein
Heide
Heide
Coordinates: 54°11′46″N 9°5′36″E / 54.19611°N 9.09333°E / 54.19611; 9.09333
CountryGermany
StateSchleswig-Holstein
DistrictDithmarschen
Government
 • MayorOliver Schmidt-Gutzat (SPD)
Area
 • Total31.8938 km2 (12.3143 sq mi)
Elevation
11 m (36 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[1]
 • Total22,114
 • Density690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
25746
Dialling codes0481
Vehicle registrationHEI
Websitewww.heide.de

Heide (German pronunciation: [ˈhaɪdə] ; Holsatian: Heid) is a town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis (district) Dithmarschen. Population: 22,000.

The German word Heide means "heath". In the 15th century four adjoining villages decided to build a church in the "middle of the heath". This remained the town's name to date. The exact foundation date is now unknown, but by 1447 Heide was already the main village of Dithmarschen. At this time Dithmarschen was an independent peasant republic. Heide became a town in the 19th century.

Heide has the largest un-built-upon market square in Germany, with 4.7 hectares. It is used primarily as a parking lot and has approximately 500 parking spaces. In 2016, the city staged 3 car-free Sundays on the market square for the first time.

  1. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden in Schleswig-Holstein 4. Quartal 2022" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Amt für Hamburg und Schleswig-Holstein.