Take a walk with us through the town!

Welcome to Bocholt

Welcome to Bocholt! We invite you to take a walk with us through the town, which, with over 75 000 inhabitants is the largest town in West Münsterland.

In the centre of Bocholt stands the historical Town Hall, perhaps the prettiest building of the town, which is over 775 years old. Built between 1618 and 1624, in the Renaissance style of the Netherlands, it is considered to be amongst the most beautiful Town Halls in Germany. Also noteworthy is the new Town Hall in Bocholt, with its cultural centre, and stands on a small island on the River Aa. We are especially proud of the Gothic Georg Church, which is the oldest church in Bocholt. Near by you will also find the birthplace of a world famous Goldsmith and copperplate engraver, Israhel van Meckenem.

In March 1945, over 80% of the town was destroyed by bomb attacks, but, thanks to the unequalled efforts of the townspeople, the town very soon again became the metropolis of Münsterland.

Regardless of where are, Bocholt is quickly reached from all directions, and by most means of transport. Come with us on a entertaining journey through Bocholt, and discover our town on the Aa for yourself.

Bocholt’s moto, the theme of this presentation, shows Bocholt to be an exciting, rural yet cultural Metropolis lying on the border of Germany and the Netherlands. Bocholt is, at the same time, both charming and exciting, and offers much to its visitors. As the town for cyclists and day-tourists alike, Bocholt has made a name for itself beyond the borders of Münsterland. In the pleasant streets around the historical Town Hall, you can plunge yourself into the hurly-burly of a shopping spree, and enjoy the many and varied culinary delights that Bocholt has to offer. Thousands of visitors come again and again to the town, attracted by many events held here.

The Stadtwald, or City Woods, with enclosures for wild animals, and the Aa See, a lake from the River Aa, provide for many leisure activities. Alternatively you could swim and play, seal-like in the Bahia leisure pool centre.

Such is Bocholt: near the border, RURAL, Cultural, A true METROPOLIS !

TO the numerous visitors to the town, Bocholt is an important tourist centre, and offers many opportunities for rest and relaxation. Over 200km of developed cycle paths offer charming tours. The beautiful scenery around Bocholt, to the Netherlands or to the Lower Rhine, offers many varied opportunities for day tours or even longer extended excursions. In passing, it is interesting to note that that the German word "Fahrrad", or bicycle, was invented by the Bocholter, Otto Sarrazin.

Bocholt offers yet more ! Town tours, boating, museum visits or a sunny afternoon at the Aa lake - there is something for every taste! Relaxation and recreation with style and a varied offer of leisure and sport opportunities make Bocholt somewhere special. The shopping here is exciting and varied, and makes Bocholt is the right place for you to come to shop. In Bocholt you can experience the Shopping Arcarden and the Neutorpplatz with its big-city feel, in the pleasant atmosphere of a town full of style, characterised by shops of high quality. The special Weekly and Evening markets, held against the backdrop of the historical Town Hall, as well as the flea-markets, add to this shopping experience.

The countless events such as the “Bokeltsen Treff” where the town opens its doors to all one Sunday in the year, the town festival and many other special occasions add to the town's appeal. Do you really want to shop? Then come to Bocholt ! Not without reason is Bocholt known as a shopping paradise. Time and again Bocholt offers many culinary delights. From the rustic, to the exclusive, through to local specialities. With Bocholt's gastronomy your palate is spoilt for choice. And, it goes without saying, that on the menu, there are also the local Westphalian specialities such as the typical “Bocholter Knockepott”, a large casserole of differing meats cooked slowly over a gentle heat. If you would rather enjoy the local pubs and bars, you will get your money's worth, particularly in the old part of town in Ravardi Street. In Summer, after a bicycle tour, you will be tempted by the many beer gardens and ice cream parlours. If you want to stay longer this is no problem. In Bocholt's hotels and holiday apartments you will enjoy the finest comfort, or you can stay overnight somewhere comfortable, informal and reasonably priced.

Bocholt is pure enjoyment and full of atmosphere. In the past years, Bocholt has developed into the most significant business location in West Münsterland. Lying between the industrial belt of the Rhine Ruhr and the Netherlands industrial centres of Arnhem and Enschede, Bocholt is the industrial and cultural centre/focus of attention of the region. In recent years, the town has invested particularly in its infrastructure and the development of new, pioneering industrial areas, an example of which is the large and accessible North Rhine Westphalia industrial park. The establishment of an innovation centre at the technology park with ties to the technical college is a noteworthy contribution to the business environment. As a dependable partner to local industry, the town offers an attractive location together with a positive investment climate. Bocholt is the industrial location for the future.

Come with us on a journey through time through the exciting and interesting history of Bocholt! The textile museum, with its working weaving looms and a historical weaving factory, attracts thousands of visitors every year. In the town museums you will discover everything that has been important to the town since the first reference to Bocholt in the year 779. Bocholt’s history is impressively and graphically chronicled in the many other museums and various sights worth seeing in and around the town. It is worth your while to see the historical story of this modern town, Bocholt.

Bored? This is a foreign word in Bocholt, where the many and varied cultural offerings of the town leave no wish unfulfilled. Opera, theatre plays or comedy shows cater for your entertainment. Whether it be comedy shows, concerts or an enjoyable evening at the cinema – every taste will be satisfied. For Rock music fans, the open-air concert in the Stadion am Hünting is open all the year. Passionate fans have gone wild to Rock stars such as Bryan Adams, Joe Cocker, Sascha, BAP and Deep Purple. Not only do Bocholters enjoy the cultural offerings of the town, but they take part actively in them as well. Over 30 000 Bocholters combine fun, recreation and friendship through the various clubs. Bocholt offers cultural enjoyment for all tastes.

The proximity of the Netherlands border is one of Bocholt's highlights. The neighbouring Netherlands towns of Aalten, Dinxperlo and Winterswijk are quickly reached. Of especial interest are the unique border towns of Dinxperlo and Süderwick, where the Dutch-German border runs directly through the villages. Bocholt also nurtures its contacts with the neighbouring towns of Rhede, Isselburg and Hamminkeln. We have friends all over Europe. Partnerships exist with Rossendale in Great Britain, Aurillac in France and the Belgian town, Bocholt. We also have close ties with Akmene in Lithuania and Wuxi in China. The Europa fountain in the marketplace, only a few paces away from the historical town hall, is symbolic of the close connection with Europe. In 1993, Bocholt was awarded the highest honour for a european town, the European Prize. Bocholt gives an experience without borders.

Education opportunities are as varied as life in Bocholt. Facilities such as the advanced technical college and the adult education centres with evening classes for the whole family are as well attended as is the music school, whose reputation spreads beyond Bocholt, and has produced much talent. The technical college offers, among other courses, Information and Communication Technology, Mechtronics (or Mechanics together with Electronics), as well as Business Studies (Economics). Bookworms and lovers of literature are spoiled for choice in the spaciously designed Media Centre. Bocholt offers an education that is both lively and, informative.

As well being full of life, and endearing and pleasant to visit, Bocholt is a wonderful town in which to live. The town has successfully combined its historical aspects together with modern architecture. The beautiful brick-built, old villas, typical of this area, provide a charming backdrop to the town, as does the newly built Bocholt-Feldmark suburb. Architectural highlights include the Grachten housing estate on the Aasee and the terraced apartments in the Löverick estate. The widespread greenery is a pleasure to see. Our town offers green oases for relaxation in the form of Langenbergpark in the heart of the town, the Aasee, the Stadtwald and the Mosse residents park. For well being and a full life, come to Bocholt, the town on the Aa. so, that was our small trip through Bocholt, which we hope you enjoyed. We look forward to welcoming you to Bocholt once more. As you have seen, Bocholt deserves more than a short visit. And who knows? Perhaps we will meet each other on a cycle tour, on a shopping trip, at a pleasant meal in a restaurant, at Bahia, in the textile museum, at the bar in the Brauhaus, in the town museum, on a walk around the Aa, in the Stadt Theatre, at the weekly market....

Bruno Wansing (07.02.08 15:14 Uhr)