Dortmund Audiotour: Oriëntatiepunten van Erfgoed en Industrie

To spot the Dortmund Regional Court, just look for a grand, pale stone building with rows of tall windows and a flat roof lined with statues-it's right at the corner of Kaiserstraße and quietly impresses everyone who walks by. Now, as you're standing right here in front of it, let me tell you a little secret-this building has seen more drama than a soap opera marathon! The Dortmund Regional Court is one of ten major courts in the region and it has played an important role in keeping law and order across Dortmund, Hamm, Castrop-Rauxel, and pretty much everywhere in between. You’re not just standing by any old courthouse-oh no! This monument is so special it’s been declared a historic landmark, and the stories within these walls could make even the most seasoned judge’s wig curl. Picture this: It’s the late 1920s, the golden era of jazz and wild ideas, but here in Dortmund, the court had its own revolution. They set up one of the first higher labor courts in the region, deciding tough cases and shaping how workers were treated in bustling, industrial Germany. People must have tiptoed in with sweaty palms, nervous to hear their fates. For a while, this very building bustled with heated arguments, the tapping of stern shoes echoing off these stone floors. Then, imagine after World War II, when all the courts in the country were closed down-the entire place would’ve fallen eerily silent, the sort of quiet that makes you feel the weight of history pressing down on your shoulders. But this story has a happy ending! The justice system was rebuilt, and soon enough, the hard questions of life and law echoed here once more. And just between you and me, I always imagine the statues on the roof secretly watching all the comings and goings, judging the judges! So, next time you stroll past, give the building a wink-you never know if it’s keeping score!

Take a look right in front of you: you’ll spot a grand, elegant three-story building with tall white columns, sandstone accents, and a slate-roofed clock tower peeking above the leafy trees-the words “Oberbergamt” proudly carved above its doors. Now, let’s step back in time. Imagine the Ruhr area buzzing with the sound of steam engines, coal carts rattling down tracks, and a thick haze of smoke drifting above newly built factories-this was the Ruhrgebiet, booming with industrialization. But all these mines and machinery needed someone to keep order, and that’s where the State Mining Authority’s story kicks off. Picture this: it’s the late 1700s. A clever, forward-thinking statesman named Freiherr vom Stein realizes the chaos of so many new mines could turn into a real disaster-like ordering a pizza with too many toppings, only with way more coal dust. He urges the Prussian government to put some officials in charge, and in 1792, the very first Oberbergamt opens in the little town of Wetter. Imagine miners, engineers, and mapmakers huddled around tables in an old castle-Burg Wetter-trying to make sense of maps and ledgers scribbled with the locations of every tunnel and shaft. These were the days of the legendary Niemeyer map-a kind of industrial treasure map created from 1787 to 1794, meant to capture the sprawling underground world. But it didn’t take long for things to grow. The seat of the mining authority shifted-first to Essen, then to Bochum, and eventually, in 1815, to the lively heart of Dortmund. That first office, tucked in at the Alte Markt, quickly became too cramped as the industrial boom roared ahead and more mines popped up than mushrooms after a rainstorm. So in 1875, a new home was built on Ostwall, designed by Gustav Knoblauch. But progress waits for no one! By 1910, another move was needed, and that brought us the majestic building in front of you. Picture government architect Fritz Behrendt and city official Rudolf Claren teaming up under the watchful eye of master planner Oskar Delius, sketching the plans for a building worthy of Dortmund’s mining empire. Look up at the elaborate stonework and the clock tower-imagine miners checking the time as they hurry to a meeting with a stern “Berghauptmann” (mining director) whose portrait might have glared at them from the walls inside. This place has seen its share of drama. In World War II, it was badly battered, but unlike a stubborn old miner, the building simply dusted itself off and stood tall after the war, nearly unchanged. In its golden age, this authority didn’t just oversee mines in Dortmund-they watched over mining districts as far south as Oberhausen, Hattingen, Werden, and Witten. If these walls could talk, they’d tell tales of strict laws, heated debates, and maybe a few secret snacks tucked away during meetings. And the parade of mighty “Berghauptleute”-with names like Toussaint von Charpentier and Guntram Polster-guided the region through wars, reforms, and wild times in the mines. By 1970, a merger with Bonn’s mining authority gave birth to the State Mining Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia, calling this building home. Fast-forward to 2001, and the mining authority as it was officially closed. But the building didn’t lose its spirit. Today, it stands proudly preserved as a heritage site, part of the Industrial Heritage Trail-witness to Dortmund’s rise from muddy coalfields to industrial metropolis

Right in front of you, you should spot St. Franziskus by its tall, sharp steeple topped with a golden cross, rising above a sturdy facade of gray stone peeking out from behind the leafy trees-just look up and you can't miss it! Now, take in the sight and let me spin the story of this special place! Imagine Dortmund way back in the Middle Ages, the city humming with the voices of monks and city folk, the smell of freshly baked bread drifting from little market stalls. It’s the 13th century, and here the first brothers of the Order of St. Francis set up their cloister right on this spot. They arrived between 1232 and 1244-back when a “talking clock” meant someone yelling the hour from a tower! Life wasn’t always peaceful for these early Franciscans. In 1297, their beloved monastery was nearly consumed by fire, forcing them to rebuild their home brick by brick. At the height of their influence, the convent even claimed one Johannes Schneider, who went from humble monk to being named an auxiliary bishop by the Pope himself. That’s a pretty impressive career change if you ask me! Even so, religious politics got heated-at one point, the Franciscans and their Dominican neighbors were locking theological horns with the local clergy, fighting for the right to preach and hear confessions. Gossip must have been even juicier than today’s social media! Fast-forward to the upheaval of 1805: the winds of secularization swept through, and the long-standing monastery was dissolved. Imagine the echoes of centuries of prayer suddenly falling silent-the cloister and its church were demolished, leaving only memories and scattered stones. Then, as Dortmund’s factories belched steam and the city boomed with industry in the late 1800s, waves of workers from far-off places, especially Poland, settled here. The city’s only surviving Catholic church was bursting at the seams. Enter, stage left, our Franciscan heroes making a dramatic comeback! In 1895, new brothers-a lively bunch with roots in Saxony and Silesia-set up shop in a modest house nearby. With space just for 150 people, their house chapel probably felt more crowded than a bus on match day! So, in 1896, they boldly secured this very plot of land to build something bigger and better. The church you see now is built in the neo-Gothic style, with its soaring spire and three-aisle basilica layout. Designed by the local architect Johannes Klomp, it’s got all the gravitas of a cathedral-if cathedrals ever had to compete with the sound of steam engines out back! The foundation stone was laid on St. Francis’ feast day, October 4, 1898, and by June 1902, the doors were open, welcoming streams of new parishioners. But Dortmund wasn’t always kind to its buildings. During WWII, bombs fell thick and fast, leaving deep scars-a major hit in May 1944 left much of the monastery in ruins, and later raids finished off the sacristy. Yet, in a Christmas miracle for 1949, the church reopened for worship, bringing warmth and hope when it was needed most. As years rolled by, St. Franziskus became more than just a parish church. It hosted a student residence, nourished local youth, helped traveling pilgrims, and even gave shelter to the city’s homeless with hot breakfasts-a bit like a spiritual and culinary lifeline. If you listen hard, you might still hear the echoes of “Jordan-Treff,” ringing with laughter and clinking breakfast mugs. One of the most beloved Franciscans here was Brother Jordan Mai, who served as doorkeeper from 1907 until his death in 1922. People say he lived such a saintly life that many still hope he’ll be made officially blessed someday. When his remains were moved from the cemetery next door to rest inside this church in 1950, nearly 100,000 people turned up. Imagine that crowd-a true Dortmund homecoming! Take a peek at the windows and altar next time you peer inside: you’ll find stained glass scenes telling the stories of saints and even a grand, wood-carved altarpiece brought all the way from Osnabrück. The organ, too, is a modern marvel-39 registers and a mind-boggling 10,000 programmable settings. Whoever said monks only sang Gregorian chants would be in for a real treat. Through centuries of fire, war, migration, and renewal, St. Franziskus has watched over Dortmund’s Catholic life-its steeple pointing to the sky like a signpost of hope, resilience, and a little Franciscan humor. After all, not every church comes with a breakfast bar! So, give a nod to old Brother Jordan, breathe in the history, and maybe listen for the bells-they’re cast in melodious e, f-sharp, and g-sharp, and they still ring out, calling everyone home.

In front of you, you’ll spot a statue of an elderly man in a heavy coat, carved in dark, weathered bronze, standing somberly before a stone with two crossed mining hammers at the top-so keep your eyes peeled for this impressive monument peeking out from the shade under thick tree branches! Alright, welcome to the Ostenfriedhof Dortmund! Take a good look around and let yourself drift back in time, perhaps to the year 1876, when the whole city was buzzing with excitement-and the clang of hammers and shouts of workers echoed across Dortmund. This isn’t just a cemetery, it’s a leafy, 16-hectare park, filled with winding paths, proud old trees, and some pretty fancy final addresses. Psst, want to know a secret? Many of Dortmund’s richest and most famous folks from days gone by are buried just steps from where you’re standing! (No pressure-no one will ask you for your autograph.) But let’s paint the scene. Back when Dortmund’s population exploded from just 4,000 to over 50,000 practically overnight-thanks, industrial revolution!-this place became the city’s “east-side” answer to a growing need for resting places and a bit of green escape. The very first burial happened on April Fools’ Day, 1876. Now, I don’t know if the dearly departed found that funny, but it certainly set the tone for a place that’s seen sorrow, resilience, and a few surprises over the centuries. Old family crypts line many paths, and if you look at the statues and gravestones, you’ll see history written in stone and bronze. Take that statue right ahead: it looks nearly alive, doesn’t it? That’s part of the artistry of Benno Elkan, a Jewish sculptor who left a legacy of somber, beautifully detailed figures scattered through this cemetery. He could make marble weep-and if you see any statues playing flutes or kneeling, you’ve probably spotted one of his works. The cemetery isn’t only calm and green, though; it’s steeped in dramatic tales. One of the most important corners here is the Jewish section, Field 14. Established in 1898, it became a silent witness to both joy and disaster. World War II was brutal here. Bombs fell and, unfortunately, so did acts of vandalism, especially during the years of Nazi rule, when the Jewish section suffered greatly-three bombs right in that tiny area. After the war, Dortmund promised to repair the damage: bomb craters were filled in, grass and new paths laid down, and a memorial built for the Jewish victims of the Nazis. When you see stones linked by chains, those bear the names of various concentration camps-an everlasting, quiet reminder of lives lost. People buried here shaped more than Dortmund-they shaped Germany itself! Just inside, on the right, is the grave of Henriette Davidis, one of the first superstar cookbook authors in Germany (the TV chefs of the 19th century, you could say). Farther west, you’ll find the resting place of women’s rights pioneer Marie Reinders-she wasn’t just good at opening doors, she built entire new rooms for others to enter! This cemetery also watches over the founders of the mighty Hoesch steel dynasty, and if you follow the main path south from the entrance, you’re taking the same route many industrial titans of the region took-hopefully in less somber circumstances. There's even a tomb designed for the family of Caspar Heinrich Jucho that was inspired by the 1898 Paris World’s Fair. Not many folks can say their afterlife got the Parisian touch! Oh, and don’t miss the many memorials to Dortmund’s miners-the real heroes under the city. On August 19, 1893, 61 miners perished in the Kaiserstuhl I mine. Forty-eight of them lie together here, their names etched on iron stelae, beside a monument large enough to make even the gruffest miner tear up. And if you see a particularly dramatic iron grave, that’s probably the Bäumer family’s, with swirling Art Nouveau ironwork that could almost wave in the wind. If you want a bit of extra drama, the grave of Carl Wilhelm Tölcke-champion of Germany’s earliest workers’ unions-lies just around the corner. He fought for justice but, alas, his actual grave is gone. Still, his spirit probably hangs around for a rousing debate! Every path here has its own legend. Every stone tells a story of love, tragedy, ambition, or sometimes just a really good recipe. So as you wander under these leafy giants, breathe in the quiet and listen-if you pay close attention, maybe you’ll hear not just the birds, but a whisper from Dortmund’s past, calling out in the language of memory. Maybe that’s why the birds sing so loud here-they’re just trying to get the last word in! Intrigued by the jewish part of the eastern cemetery, important personalities and graves or the sculptures and tombstones by benno elkan? Explore further by joining me in the chat section below.

To help you spot the last stop, look for a building or entrance marked with a bold red sign displaying the name "MATERNA" in large white letters-it's impossible to miss against the red backdrop. Welcome to the headquarters of Materna, one of Dortmund’s digital giants! Picture it: the year is 1980, and Dortmund is buzzing not just with football, but with sparks of technological ambition. The city’s skyline of smokestacks and industrial towers hides a duo of young innovators-Winfried Materna and Helmut an de Meulen-poring over computer networks and coffee mugs. These two didn’t just meet by chance; it was a university research project at Dortmund that set them on their way. Soon, in a small office, Dr. Materna GmbH was born, and their very first client was none other than Nixdorf, a major computer manufacturer. Back then, the job was simple but essential: connect the world through computer networks. But don’t imagine rows of blinking server lights just yet-envision tangled cables, stacks of punch cards, and the click-clack of keyboards filling the air. Fast-forward to the early 1990s, and Materna is facing a new challenge: the world of government software. Tasked by the powerful German Federal Ministry of Finance, they cooked up ATLAS, a tool that would let customs officers wave goodbye to stacks of paperwork. Suddenly, customs went digital, and a little bit of magic-okay, a lot of coding-meant goods could flow across borders smoother than butter on a summer’s day. The 90s rolled on, and Materna wasn’t about to miss the party that was the mobile revolution. In 1995, they took over the SMS service for Mannesmann D2, a company that’s now known as Vodafone. If you ever sent a “call me!” text in those days, there’s a good chance Materna’s tech sent it zooming through the air. Their message centers were so busy by the year 2000, they were firing out 300 million SMS a month. Imagine the excitement-and maybe a few panicked button-pushers when something went wrong! But Materna doesn’t just deal in texts and tickets. Over the decades, they've become the wizards behind the curtain for digital administration in Germany. From helping public authorities go paperless, to crafting online forms for emissions reports and background checks, they’re the team making sure your digital paperwork doesn’t get stuck in a bureaucratic jungle. Even the accounting systems for prisons are powered by Materna-talk about a company that knows what it means to secure things behind bars! Their daughter company, Materna IPS, took their talents around the globe, installing smart check-in systems at more than 70 airports. So if you’ve dropped your suitcase on a self-service belt in Tokyo, Toronto, or Dusseldorf, you just met Materna on its travels. Don’t be surprised if your luggage makes a smoother trip than your in-flight meal! Of course, no tech adventure is without its cliffhangers. In March 2023, Materna faced a cyberattack-a tense digital standoff as hackers tried to invade their systems. For a while, key services went dark, while their experts wrestled in the shadows. But Materna, true to form, bounced back quickly, making their network fortress even stronger than before. Today, Materna’s reach is global: with partnerships stretching from Canada to Japan, and projects in every corner of Europe and beyond, they’re not just Dortmund’s pride, but a tech trailblazer for the world. Their research teams cooperate with universities and institutes, exploring everything from smarter government to life-saving telemedicine. The heart of the company still beats in Dortmund, but their ideas cross oceans-sometimes faster than a text message. And even inside these walls, their story is full of twists: debates on bonuses, employee councils, and a drive for fairness for all their people. Materna’s journey is one of growth, challenge, and more than a dash of humor. Think of them as the silent digital partner you never knew you had-whether you’re clearing customs, sending a text, or racing to catch a flight. So next time you spot that bold red MATERNA sign, remember: behind it lies a world of stories, every bit as lively and unpredictable as the city that gave it life.