© Stadt Dinslaken / Michelle Müller
DINSLAKEN
Historical overview of the town of Dinslaken
The history of the town began around 800 years ago with the construction of a castle and a small settlement in the middle of a marshy area. The first record of its existence dates back to 1163 when the town was documentarily mentioned with a Dinslaken noble family. It was granted town rights in 1273. As the third-largest town in the Duchy of Kleve, the city was for many centuries the suburb of the surrounding countryside as well as the seat of countess widows. The people endured wars and quartering of soldiers and during the Reformation, the citizens were largely tolerant. The population of the agrarian town grew from 1900 onwards in the course of industrial development. At the end of the 19th century, Thyssen built a rolling mill, and in 1912 coal mining started at the Lohberg colliery. The mine was closed at the turn of the year 2005/2006. Since then the area has been one of the most important urban development projects. Today, Dinslaken is characterised by medium-sized companies and lively cultural life.
© Stadt Dinslaken / Marcel Sturm
Key events in the history of Dinslaken:
12th c.
Construction of a castle and first documentary mention.
1273
Elevation to the status of a town in the Duchy of Kleve.
1420
Extension of the castle, including a 40-metre-high main tower, which was used as a prison for witches and Anabaptists.
1478
Granting of the right to hold markets.
1770
Damage to the main tower of the castle due to lightning. Reconstruction of the rest of the castle complex. It became the seat of the regional official, the Rentmeister.
1816
Foundation of the first district of Dinslaken, which extended from Duisburg to Schermbeck. It existed until 1823.
1850
Start of industrialisation. A glue factory was built, later a spark plug factory and the first rolling mill.
1853
Sale of the castle to private persons.
1870
Conversion of the church of the former monastery Marienkamp into a synagogue.
1883
Foundation of the St. Vincent Hospital, a little later it became a Protestant hospital.
1885
Establishment of a Jewish orphanage for the Rhine Province.
1894
Development of the town into a cattle trading centre on the lower Lower Rhine.
1903
The townspeople are supplied with running water by waterworks and the streets are lit with lanterns.
1909
Conversion of the former castle complex into the district hall. Shortly before the occupation, a major fire destroyed parts of the building.
1912
Coal mining begins at Lohberg Colliery.
1914-18
Effects of the First World War, such as a starving population and occupation, are noticeable in Dinslaken.
1920
Occupation of the city by the "Red Army" (rebelling workers and soldiers). The works director of the Lohberg colliery was murdered.
1923
Occupation by Belgian soldiers because of overdue reparation payments. Inflation and general unrest made life difficult and temporarily brought the Lohberg mine to a standstill.
1938
Destruction of the Jewish synagogue and the orphanage, as well as of shops and homes of Jewish citizens by the National Socialists.
1945
Destruction of about 80% of the town by the bombing of the Allied during the Rhine crossing. Thereby, the Second World War (1939 – 1945) ended. Hundreds of civilians and soldiers lost their lives.
1950
End of the large cattle markets.
1960
Workers for mining and heavy industry arrived as guest workers from Italy, later also from Greece, Korea and Turkey.
2005
Cessation of coal mining in Lohberg, closure of the Lohberg mine.
2010
Dinslaken is part of the Capital of Culture RUHR.2010.
2014
Opening of the Neutor Gallery.
2016
Opening of the city history centre with the Voswinckelshof Museum and the city archive.
