Ahlen

Geography

Neighbouring towns

Surrounding Ahlen are the towns of Sendenhorst, Ennigerloh, Beckum, Lippetal, Heessen (District of the city of Hamm) and Drensteinfurt.

Town districts

Ahlen (downtown) with the farming communities of Borbein, Brockhausen, Ester, Halene, Oestrich and Rosendahl (area of the former town sections of Alt- and Neuahlen) all make up the core of the town.

Outlying villages

Dolberg

Vorhelm

Tönnishäuschen

History

Early times

The first recorded mention of Ahlen is in the Vita Liudgeri, dating to about the year 850. The reason for the name, which means "eels", are unknown. An eel bedecked with a crown and feathers is on the town's coat of arms.

The start of settlement was likely due to there being a crossing over the river Werse, which was also the crossing of two key roads (Hamm–Ahlen–Warendorf and Beckum–Ahlen–Herbern), and the beginning of a third road (Ahlen–Münster).

In its early centuries, the fledgling settlement was built around an episcopal court. Within the safe haven of this church fortification, the first settlers were craftsmen and merchants who traded with the local farmers and peasants of the court.

Long-distance trading started in the second half of the 12th century — proof being the names of Ahlen merchants found on invoices from merchants in Lübeck. Ahlen was also part of the north German Hanse. During this time a town wall with five towers was built (about 1271). The stripping away of the town wall had begun in the year 1765 and the last hint of it was gone by 1929.

Ahlen grew quickly during the 13th century and in or about the year 1285, the population was so high that a new church (St. Marien) was founded next to the old one (St. Bartholomäus). This leads to the likelihood that Ahlen was one of the 18 biggest towns in Westphalia, at that time.

However, the town's growth was hindered in the 14th century by the Black Death. According to the town's census book of 1389, only 63 families were left in Ahlen. But the town rebounded. In 1454, a citizen list showed 212 families living in Ahlen; seven noble families and their attendants lived in the episcopal court as well. Based on this number of families, a calculated population estimate of 1,300 citizens would be realistic. By this time the town had four quarters — all of which being about the same size and each quarter being named after its own town gate.

Each quarter was responsible for defending its part of the town wall and gate.

National Socialism and World War II

In 1938 the people of Ahlen destroyed the Ahlen synagogue. By November 1938, there were no more Jews in Ahlen.

Politics

Coat of arms

Blazon: “In red, a gold crowned, inwardly curved, seven-fold winged silver eel. Above the coat of arms a three-tower wall crown with gate. ”The oldest seal shows the pious eel in the city gate, above it Saint Bartholomew. This saint is the patron saint of Ahlen. The seal has appeared since the 13th century: Certificate v. May 21, 1255 - "The city of Ahlen enters into a state of peace with the city of Cologne". Since the 17th century, only the eel has been represented, both in the city coat of arms and in the seal. In its current form, the coat of arms was awarded by the Prussian state on December 5, 1910.

Mayors

1809–1813 Bernard Heinrich Hahues

1813–1817 Bernard Anton von Hatzfeld

1817–1822 Heinrich Anton Nacke

1823–1856 Franz Wächter

1857–1863 Theodor von Cloedt

1863–1869 Wilhelm Diederich

1869–1870 Ludwig Fry

1870–1898 Johann Heinrich Hagemann

1898–1923 Eduard Corneli

1923–1934 Georg Rasche

1934–1937 Franz Hackethal

1938–1945 Otto Jansen

1946–1946 Friedrich Niemeyer

1946–1948 Hermann Dreisilker (Waldmann)

1948–1950 Hugo Stoffers

1951–1957 Heinrich Lenfert

1957–1969 Heinrich Linnemann

1969–1984 Herbert Faust

1984–1996 Horst Jaunich

1996–1999 Günter Harms

1999–2015 Benedikt Ruhmöller

2015–2025 Alexander Berger

since 2025 Matthias Harman

Town Directors/Main Civil Servants

1945–1945 Wilhelm Buschhoff (set as mayor from English occupying troops in the function as town director)

1945–1951 Wilhelm Kiwit

1951–1963 Hugo Stoffers

1963–1975 Johannes Baldauf

1975–1985 Walter Priesnitz

1985–1995 Gerd Willamowski

2008 Benedikt Ruhmöller

Economy and Administration

One of the best known companies in Ahlen is Franz Kaldewei GmbH & Co. KG, one of the biggest bathtub manufacturers worldwide. Also well known is LR Health & Beauty Systems, which was bought by Apax Partners in 2004.

Transport

Ahlen station is on the Hamm–Minden railway and is served every hour by the Rhein-Weser-Express and the Ems-Börde-Bahn.

Education

Albert-Schweitzer-Schule

Augustin-Wibbelt-Schule in the quarter Vorhelm

Barbaraschule

Diesterwegschule

Don-Bosco-Schule

Freiligrath Grundschule

Lambertischule in the quarter Dolberg

Ludgerischule

Marienschule

Martinschule

Paul-Gerhardt-Schule

GHS Bodelschwinghschule

Overbergschule

Geschwister-Scholl-Schule

Städtische Realschule Ahlen (closed)

Städtische Sekundarschule (closed)

Therese-Münsterteicher Gesamtschule (former Städtische Gesamtschule)

The Sekundarschule and TMG used the building of the former Realschule

Gymnasium St. Michael

Städtisches Gymnasium Ahlen

Fritz-Winter-Gesamtschule

Johanna-Rose-Schule

Berufskolleg Ahlen

Berufskolleg St. Michael

Places of interest

Buildings

St. Bartholomäus Catholic Church

St. Marien Catholic Church

Residential Buildings

Burgmannshöfe

Ahlen Water Tower

Museums

Heimatmuseum

Kunstmuseum

Fritz Winter-Haus

Clubs

Rot Weiss Ahlen

KunstVerein Ahlen

Initiative Bürgerzentrum Schuhfabrik e.V.

Ditib Ahlen Sporkulübü (ASK Ahlen)

ASG Aramäer Ahlen 1983 e.V.

Ahlener Sport Gemeinschaft e.V. (ASG)

Vorwärts Ahlen

FSG Ahlen

Westfalia Vorhelm

Eintracht Dolberg

Economy

Ahlen's economy was dominated by the coal industry for nearly one century.

Twin towns – sister cities

Ahlen is twinned with:

Differdange, Luxembourg

Penzberg, Germany

Teltow, Germany

Tempelhof-Schöneberg (Berlin), Germany

Ahlen is a member of the Hanse.

Notable people

Max Reimann (1898-1977), politician and member of the Bundestag

Andreas Dombret (born 1960), Board member of German central bank Deutsche Bundesbank

Curro Torres (born 1976), footballer

Lamya Kaddor (born 1978), writer and scholar of Islamic studies of Syrian ancestry, member of the Bundestag

Erkan Teper (born 1982), professional boxer

Alexander Klaws (born 1983), singer

LaVive's band member Sarah Rensing is from Ahlen

Hans Blomberg (born 1977), radio moderator and music expert

Christian Süß (born 1985), table tennis player