Bielefeld

Bielefeld
City
Bielefeld as seen from Sparrenburg Castle
Bielefeld as seen from Sparrenburg Castle
Flag of Bielefeld
Flag
Coat of arms of Bielefeld
Coat of arms
Districts of Bielefeld: Bielefeld-Mitte (downtown), Brackwede, Dornberg, Gadderbaum, Heepen, Jöllenbeck, Schildesche, Senne, Sennestadt and Stieghorst
Bielefeld is located in Germany
Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Coordinates: 52°01′16″N 08°32′05″E / 52.02111°N 8.53472°E / 52.02111; 8.53472
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionDetmold
DistrictUrban district
Founded1214
Subdivisions10 districts
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Pit Clausen[1] (SPD)
Area
 • City
257.8 km2 (99.5 sq mi)
Elevation
118 m (387 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • City
338,410
 • Density1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
 • Urban
591,862
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
33602–33739
Dialling codes0521, 05202, 05203, 05205, 05206, 05208, 05209
Vehicle registrationBI
Websitebielefeld.de
Logo of the City of Bielefeld

Bielefeld (German pronunciation: [ˈbiːləfɛlt] ⓘ) is a city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 341,755,[3] it is also the most populous city in the administrative region (Regierungsbezirk) of Detmold and the 18th largest city in Germany.

The historical centre of the city is situated north of the Teutoburg Forest line of hills, but modern Bielefeld also incorporates boroughs on the opposite side and on the hills. The city is situated on the Hermannsweg, a hiking trail which runs for 156 km along the length of the Teutoburg Forest.[4]

Bielefeld is home to a significant number of internationally operating companies, including Dr. Oetker, DMG Mori (former Gildemeister), Möller Group, Goldbeck and Schüco. It has a university and several technical colleges (Fachhochschulen). Bielefeld is also known for the Bethel Institution.

  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 19 June 2021.
  2. ^ "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 20 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Aktuelle Einwohnerzahlen". Bielefeld.de. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Hiking in NRW: Hermannsweg". Retrieved 5 July 2020.