Waltrop (German pronunciation: [ˈvaltʁɔp] is a town in the district of Recklinghausen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the Datteln-Hamm Canal, approximately 15 km east of Recklinghausen and 15 km north-west of Dortmund.

Waltrop
Saint Peter Church
Saint Peter Church
Coat of arms of Waltrop
Location of Waltrop within Recklinghausen district
Recklinghausen (district)North Rhine-WestphaliaDortmundBochumHerneGelsenkirchenEssenWesel (district)BottropUnna (district)Coesfeld (district)Borken (district)GladbeckRecklinghausenDattelnOer-ErkenschwickCastrop-RauxelMarlHertenWaltropHaltern am SeeDorsten
Waltrop is located in Germany
Waltrop
Waltrop
Waltrop is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Waltrop
Waltrop
Coordinates: 51°37′N 07°23′E / 51.617°N 7.383°E / 51.617; 7.383
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionMünster
DistrictRecklinghausen
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Marcel Mittelbach[1] (SPD)
Area
 • Total46.98 km2 (18.14 sq mi)
Elevation
67 m (220 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • Total29,586
 • Density630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
45731
Dialling codes02309,
02363 (Oberwiese)
Vehicle registrationRE

Division of the town

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The town of Waltrop is surrounded by the Bauerschaften (rural boroughs) Lippe (Unterlippe/Oberlippe), Elmenhorst, Brockenscheidt, Leveringhausen, Oberwiese and Holthausen.

History

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People already settled in this area about 2,000 years ago.

The village developed around the parish church of St. Peter which was built in the 9th/10th century. It is known that in 1432 Waltrop was a part of the county Dortmund. After the Soest Feud, the archbishops of Cologne could intervene against the counts of Mark, so that Waltrop became a part of Vest Recklinghausen.

The production of coal in the mine started in 1905. As a consequence, Waltrop grew larger and became an industrial town. One coal mine was closed down in 1979, the other closed in 1992.

In 1939, Waltrop got its municipal rights.

Governance

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The town council of Waltrop consists of 36 seats, which are divided into 6 parliamentary groups since September 2020:

Since 2020 Marcel Mittelbach (SPD) is mayor of Waltrop.

Notable places

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Waltrop is home to a museum of old ship lifts, including the Henrichenburg boat lift and a historical coal mine, called Zeche Waltrop.

Local industry

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  • Manufactum, upscale retailer for traditionally-made household goods
  • Langendorf, a tipping trailer manufacturer

Notable people

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Twin towns – sister cities

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Waltrop is twinned with:[3]

References

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  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 29 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 2024-06-20.
  3. ^ "Partnerstädte". waltrop.de (in German). Waltrop. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
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