Dülmen Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Dülmen

Dülmen is a town situated in the district of Coesfeld, located within the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Positioned in the southern portion of the Münsterland region, the local landscape sits between the Baumberge hills to the north, the Ems river to the east, and the Lippe river to the south. The densely populated Ruhr area lies just to the south of this region. The town shares borders with several surrounding municipalities, including Haltern, Reken, Coesfeld, Billerbeck, Nottuln, Senden, and Lüdinghausen.

Historically, the settlement was first recorded in the year 889 under the name Dulmenni as a property associated with Werden Abbey. Dülmen was officially granted town privileges in 1311 and later joined the Hanseatic League in 1470. Over the centuries, governance shifted from the Prince-Bishopric of Münster to the House of Croÿ, the Duchy of Arenberg, and subsequently French control in 1811. Following the defeat of Napoleon, the area was incorporated into the Prussian Province of Westphalia. During World War II, an oil plant in the town became a military target, leading to the destruction of ninety percent of the municipality before it was subsequently rebuilt. The population reached twenty thousand by 1973.

The modern town structure reflects local administrative reforms enacted in 1975, which organized Dülmen into seven official subdivisions: Dülmen, Kirchspiel, Buldern, Hausdülmen, Hiddingsel, Merfeld, and Rorup. Among these outlying areas, Merfeld was first mentioned in historical documents in 890 and is particularly recognized for its herd of Dülmen Ponies. The district of Rorup carries a documented history extending back to 1050. Internationally, Dülmen maintains a sister city partnership with Charleville-Mézières in France.

Transportation to and throughout the area is facilitated by both road and rail infrastructure. Motorists can access Dülmen via the A43 autobahn. Dülmen station acts as a rail junction served by the Essen–Wanne-Eickel–Münster line, historically established by the Cologne-Minden Railway Company, alongside the Dortmund–Gronau line built by the Dortmund-Gronau-Enschede Railway Company. Air travel is supported by two nearby landing sites, specifically Münster-Osnabrück Airport in Greven and Düsseldorf Airport.