As well as having the world’s largest inland harbour, the harbour district Ruhrort has often been compared with St. Pauli in Hamburg on account of its proximity to the water and its thriving creative scene.
You’d better grab a notebook – here comes a full-on concentrated programme:
Formerly a popular destination for boatspeople and sailors, the area is now a home and a place to meet for artists and creatives. Tourists also make their way here, keen not to miss out on this idyllic location.
So – what exactly does Ruhrort have to offer?
One absolute must is the harbour tour. Massive ships from all around the world trans-ship their cargos here. A good 20,000 call at the port in Duisburg annually and this is a great way to admire a few of them.
As a follow-up, we recommend a visit to the Museum der Deutschen Binnenschifffahrt (German Inland Waterways Museum), which is located in a former art nouveau swimming pool. In fact, if you visit before taking the harbour tour, you’ll be able to show off how much you know later on.
Care for a little culture that’s not directly shipping-related? Here too, the harbour district’s got you covered. Stroll around and you’ll find plenty of bars and cafés that regularly host concerts or readings, plus a liberal sprinkling of
galleries and artists’ studios.
If you’re in the mood for something a bit more suspenseful, you can follow in the footsteps of Inspector Schimanski from Tatort, the popular German crime series. The Duisburg harbour district has proved a popular location for filmmakers; in fact, it’s even been the
backdrop for a number of other crime series and their protagonists, such as Klaus Löwitsch as the eponymous harbour detective in Peter Strohm or Maren Kroymann as the widowed shipping company owner in Vera Wesskamp.
If you have the option, it’s worth timing your visit to coincide with the annual harbour festival. For four days, thousands of visitors pour into the district to enjoy funfair amusements and stage events, the undisputed highlight being the spectacular firework display Ruhrort in Flames.
OK then – full speed ahead for Ruhrort!
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