Quicknation    Germany Bochum

Images of Bochum: G Y AOL AV MSN News of Bochum: G Y Books of Bochum: B

Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area between the cities of Essen and Dortmund. Population (November 2003): 393,324.

Although Bochum was founded in the 14th century, the town was insignificant until the 19th century, when coal mining and steel industry emerged in the Ruhr area, leading to the growth of the entire region. The population of Bochum increased tenfold between 1850 and 1890.

Between 1960 and 1973, all the mines were closed. Other industries, such as car making, compensated for the loss of jobs. In 1965 the Ruhr University was opened, the first university in the Ruhr area and the first new foundation after World War II. In coarse of a comprehensive community reform in 1975 Wattenscheid, an formerly independent city, was integrated into the urban area of Bochum. An exerted local referendum against the integration failed.

The football club, VfL Bochum, recently relegated to the second Bundesliga, is in fierce competition especially with neigbour teams Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 of Gelsenkirchen.

Two castles from the Middle Ages survive on the northern banks of the Ruhr river. More famous are the German Mining Museum, and the nostalgic Train Museum in the borough of Dahlhausen.