Marriage is "in": 348 couples say "I do" in Bocholt

In 2021, 348 couples said "I do" in Bocholt. This is the result of the annual statistics of the registry office Bocholt. 314 weddings took place last year in the historic town hall. 27 couples married in Spork at Gut Heidefeld, six times the Hotel Residenz was chosen as the wedding venue and once the Bocholt Textile Museum.

Marriages

"In terms of weddings, we had a very good year - despite Corona and the associated restrictions," explains Thomas Purwin-Probst, head of the Bocholt registry office. "There were many couples who initially postponed their wedding ceremony, but then eventually said "yes." And there were also couples who consciously "got married" during this time and took the chance for a "small wedding" - without much hoopla, without many guests."

The average age of brides in 2021 was 34 (the same as last year), while the average age of grooms was 37 (last year: 36). "The youngest bride was 18 years old, and the oldest was 68. The youngest groom was 19 years old, the oldest 81," Purwin-Probst reports.

1,121 births in Bocholt

In 2021, 1,121 children were born in Bocholt (previous year: 1,023), 552 of them girls and 569 boys. "What is striking is that we have seen a significant increase in births. Corona may perhaps also play a certain role there - but of course it cannot be proven," said Thomas Purwin-Probst. "In the coming year, we expect a further increase in births, as the maternity ward in Borken will be closed."

The most popular girls' names this time were Emilia and Marie; eleven parents each gave their daughters these names. They are followed by Ella, Johanna, Leni and Mia (9 each) and Ida and Lea (8 each). The most popular boys' names are currently Ben, Jonas, Leo and Noah (10 each), followed by Felix and Liam (8 each) and Carlo, Elias, Finn, Jakob and Leon (7 each).

Deaths

Last year, 1,024 people died in Bocholt (previous year: 1,041), of whom 515 were women and 509 men. "Of these, 711 persons had their residence in Bocholt," Purwin-Probst explains.

Birth and death statistics show people who were born or died in Bocholt, regardless of their place of residence.