Münster scores as the "capital" of Westphalia with an attractive mix of tradition, modern culture, the GOOD LIFE and a very special flair. Many people have already fallen in love with the cycling city and have been infected with the "Münster feeling", which numerous inhabitants proudly carry to the outside world. Around 300,000 people live here. A warm welcome!
The Westphalian metropolis has apopulation of around 300,000 and was voted the most liveable city in the world back in 2004 - and it has lost none of its appeal to this day.
This is certainly also due to the exciting contrasts in the rather small city centre: Westphalian customs and traditions go hand in hand here with great cosmopolitanism, tolerance and a great deal of civic commitment. The more than 65,000 students also characterise the diverse cultural, music and start-up scene. The historic Prinzipalmarkt - one of the filming locations for the popular Münster crime series - is just as impressive as the Promenade, a green belt around the entire old town, where cyclists can ride freely under large lime trees. The theatre, the Christmas market, the Aasee lake and the 30 or so churches that can be found in the city centre alone are also impressive. Numerous well-known personalities are also associated with Münster, Götz Alsmann being just one of them. The lively alternative café and pub culture, the internationally renowned Skulptur Projekte, the Vainstream and Dockland festivals, the large independent cultural scene and Gleis 22, one of the oldest and most active clubs for concerts by alternative bands, are also impressive.
Münster is located in the west of Germany and in the north of North Rhine-Westphalia, south-west of Osnabrück. Warendorf and Gütersloh lie to the east, the Ruhr region beckons to the south and Dülmen, Coesfeld and Ahaus lie to the west of the Westphalian metropolis before the Dutch border. As you can see, Münster and the Münsterland are growing ever closer together. You are quickly in the countryside as well as in the smaller towns in the surrounding area - and vice versa.
You can reach Münster-Osnabrück Airport (FMO) in just 25 minutes by car and Düsseldorf Airport in just over an hour. You can get to Düsseldorf almost as quickly by train and, depending on the connection, you can even travel through. It is only 30 minutes to Dortmund by Intercity train and 55 minutes by car. Osnabrück is around 50 minutes away, and the shopping city of Enschede is around an hour away by car or train. Bielefeld is best reached by train in one hour and 15 minutes - and Hamburg and Berlin are also very well connected: You can be in the northern Hanseatic city in just over two hours by train and in the capital in around three and a half hours.
By the way: cycling is not only a good way to get around Münster. There is also a well-developed network of cycle paths to neighbouring municipalities. Find out more about the cycle routes here.
Masematte is a regional sociolect that used to be spoken in the city's slums and dates back to around 1870. Masematte was initially characterised and spoken by cattle traders, craftsmen and day labourers, including a high proportion of Jews, Sinti and Roma. They were mostly immigrants who were not always welcomed by the local population. The special language developed as a reaction to this rejection.
Masematte is now almost extinct and is rarely used in everyday language - but some words have survived to this day. Münster natives in particular, but also people throughout the Münsterland region, like to use them. Probably the best known of these is "Leeze", the affectionate term of endearment for the bicycle. Other words include "jovel" and "schovel", which translate as "good" and "bad". In summer, the Münster native also likes to go "plümpsen", i.e. swimming. Also important in connection with water: "meimeln". This means "to rain". And before going to the weekly market, city dwellers make sure to put on their "plinte" and pocket their "patte": Pants on - and don't forget your wallet!
And even though the special language is rarely spoken today, it will be declared a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2024! You can find more information about this here.
