Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

🇩🇪 Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a state district capital. Münster is known as the bicycle capital of Germany.

Münster is a part of the Euregio metropolitan region which includes Enschede, Hengelo, Gronau, and Osnabrück.

Münster is situated on the river Aa, approximately 15 km (9 miles) south of its confluence with the Ems in the so-called Westphalian Bight, a landscape studded with dispersed settlements and farms – the "Münsterland". The Wolstonian sediments of the mountain ridge called "Münsterländer Kiessandzug" cross the city from north to south. The highest elevation is the Mühlenberg in the north-west of Münster, 97 metres above sea level. The lowest elevation is at the Ems, 44 m above sea level. The city centre is 60 m above sea level, measured at the Prinzipalmarkt in front of the historic city hall.

The Dutch city of Enschede lies about 65 km (40 mi) north-west of Münster. Other major cities nearby include Osnabrück, about 44 km (27 mi) to the north, Dortmund, about 61 km (38 mi) to the south, and Bielefeld, about 62 km (39 mi) to the east.

Münster is one of the 42 agglomeration areas and one of Germany's biggest cities in terms of area. But it includes substantial sparsely-populated rural districts which were formerly separate local government authorities until they were amalgamated in 1975. Thus nearly half the city's area is agricultural, resulting in a low population-density of approximately 900 inhabitants per km².

City boroughs The city is divided into six administrative districts or Stadtbezirke: "Mitte" (Middle), "Nord" (North), "Ost" (East), "West", "Süd-Ost" (South-East) and "Hiltrup". Each district is represented by a council of 19 representatives elected in local elections. Heading each council is the district mayor, or Bezirksvorsteher. Every district is subdivided into residential quarters (Wohnbereiche). This official term, however, is not used in common speech, as there are no discrete definitions of the individual quarters. The term "Stadtteil" is used instead, mainly referring to the incorporated communities. The districts are also divided into 45 statistical districts.

The following list names each district with its residential and additional quarters. These are the official names, which partly differ from the usage in common speech. • Mitte: ◦ Kernbereich (Centre) • Nord: ◦ Münster-Coerde|Coerde ◦ Kinderhaus ◦ Sprakel with Sandrup • Ost: ◦ Dyckburg, consisting of Mariendorf and Sudmühle ◦ Gelmer with Gittrup ◦ Handorf with Kasewinkel, Kreuzbach, Laer, Dorbaum and Verth on the left bank of the Ems and Werse ◦ Mauritz-Ost and Mondstraße, combined better known as St. Mauritz • West: ◦ Albachten ◦ Gievenbeck ◦ Mecklenbeck ◦ Nienberge with Häger, Schönebeck and Uhlenbrock ◦ Roxel with Altenroxel and Oberort ◦ Sentruper Höhe • Süd-Ost: ◦ Angelmodde with Hofkamp ◦ Gremmendorf with Loddenheide ◦ Wolbeck • Hiltrup: ◦ Amelsbüren with Sudhoff, Loevelingloh and Wilbrenning ◦ Berg Fidel ◦ Hiltrup The centre can be subdivided into historically evolved city districts whose borders are not always strictly defined, such as • Aaseestadt • Erphoviertel • Geistviertel • Hansaviertel • Herz-Jesu-Viertel • Kreuzviertel • Kuhviertel • Mauritzviertel • Neutor • Pluggendorf • Rumphorst • Schlossviertel • Südviertel • Uppenberg • Zentrum Nord.

Economy The city is considered the "creative desk of Westphalia". Greater Münster is home to many industries such as those of public authorities, consulting companies, insurance companies, banks, computer centres, publishing houses, advertising and design. The service sector has created several thousand jobs. Retailers have approximately 1.9 billion euro turnover. The city still has traditional merchants' townhouses as well as modern outlets.

The job market situation in Münster is "comparatively good". Of the approximately 130,000 employees subject to social insurance contribution more than 80% work in the tertiary sector, about 17% work in the secondary sector and 1% work in the primary sector.: 95 

Education Münster is home to many institutions of higher education, including the University of Münster and University of Applied Sciences. The city also has 92 primary and secondary education schools. The city had 61,441 students in 2015/16.

Air Münster Osnabrück International Airport serves the city of Münster. The airport provides flights to European destinations mostly.

Bicycling Münster claims to be the bicycle capital of Germany. It states that in 2007, vehicle traffic (36.4%) fell below traffic by bicycle (37.6%), even though it is unclear how such a figure is defined. The city maintains an extensive network for bicycles including the popular "Promenade" which encircles Münster's city centre. While motorised vehicles are banned, there are paths for pedestrians. Additional bicycle paths link all city districts with the inner city and special traffic lights provide signals for bicyclists. Bicycle stations in Münster offer bicycle rentals.

Train Münster's Central Station is on the Wanne-Eickel–Hamburg railway. The city is connected by Intercity trains to many other major cities in Germany.

Public transportation Historically, Münster had a historic tramway system, but it closed in 1954. Today, Münster does have some public transportation, which includes bus expresses, sightseeing buses, "waterbuses", Lime scooters and bicycle rentals. It is the largest German city without a U-Bahn or an S-Bahn system.