Datteln

Datteln is a city in the North Rhine-Westphalia Region of Germany. It sits on the border of the Ruhr region and Münsterland on a crossroads of four canals (Datteln-Hamm Canal, Wesel-Datteln Canal, Dortmund-Ems Canal and Rhein-Herne Canal), which makes it the biggest canal junction in the world.

Understand

In the Middle Ages, Datteln was a large parish in Vest Recklinghausen. Around the parish of St. Amandus there were numerous farms on church land. These later developed into farming communities and small villages, all very rural in character. Datteln grew together through several municipal reforms from Pelkum, Meckinghoven, Hagem, Stutum, Wentrup, Hachhausen, Drybern and Klostern. Oer-Erkenschwick belonged to the Datteln district until 1965. Other districts are Beisenkamp, Hötting, Dümmer, Ahsen, Horneburg, Natrop, Emscher-Lippe and Schwackenburg.

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, a lot changed in Datteln. Firstly, in 1899, after eight years of construction, the Dortmund-Ems Canal was ceremoniously opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II. In 1914, the Datteln-Hamm Canal and the connection to the Rhine-Herne Canal followed, and finally the Wesel-Datteln Canal in 1930. Little by little, the largest canal junction in the world was created. Secondly, Datteln also became a mining town with the Emscher-Lippe mine in 1906, and the Beisenkamp garden town was also created as a mining settlement. The canal and mining resulted in a sharp increase in the number of inhabitants.

Neighbouring towns of Datteln are in the Münsterland: Olfen, Selm, Waltrop, and towards the Ruhr area: Castrop-Rauxel, Recklinghausen, Oer-Erkenschwick and Haltern am See.

In 2023, Datteln had a population of 35,000.

Visitor information

Get in

By plane

The nearest airports are Münster Osnabrück Airport FMO IATA, Düsseldorf Airport DUS IATA and Dortmund Airport DTM IATA.

The Loemühle airfield in Marl is used by private aircraft.

By train

The railway line through Datteln is now only used for freight traffic; the nearest passenger stations are in Castrop-Rauxel and Recklinghausen.

By bus

Bus lines operated by Vestische connect Datteln with neighbouring towns. The X-Bus X13 travels with a few stops from Datteln via Waltrop, DO-Mengede and DO-Dorstfeld to Dortmund University. Other lines lead to neighbouring towns and districts, such as the express buses S91 to Lüdinghausen, SB22 to Castrop-Rauxel, SB24 to Recklinghausen and Dortmund-Mengede or the 288 to Haltern am See.

The1 Datteln bus station is southwest of the centre.

By road

The B235 federal highway from Castrop-Rauxel to Lüdinghausen and several state roads run through Datteln. On the motorway A2 you can reach the city centre of Datteln after 6 km on the Symbol: AS11 Henrichenburg.

By ship

Datteln can be reached by motorboat or canoe on all four canals. There are various moorings and water hiking spots.

By bicycle

The long-distance cycle route of the same name runs along the Dortmund-Ems Canal.

Get around

By bus

Local buses are run by Vestische.

See

Do

Buy

  • The 🌍 Hohe Straße is the shopping and pedestrian zone in the city centre, it starts at the Tigg.
  • The 🌍 Neumarkt is the modern centre of the city centre, where the shopping area ends.

Eat

Some hotels also have restaurants.

Drink

Sleep

Connect

Go next

  • Waltrop is 7 km to the east. Get there by driving, on the SB24 or X13 bus, or by walking along the Dortmund-Ems Canal.
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