General
The young city of Bergkamen lies at the north-eastern edge of the Ruhrgebiet area, bordering the Münsterland area between the large cities of Dortmund and Hamm. The city, which was founded in 1966 as a result of integrating six villages, was already known as a mining city with Europe's largest mine. Today, it is in the midst of structural change and is known for its variety of athletic and leisure activities as well as its cultural highlights.
An excursion to the Westfälische Sportbootszentrum - Rünthe Marina on the Datteln-Hamm Canal is highly recommended. The marina, open year-round, attracts not only sporting boaters, but also puts numerous visitors in a holiday mood with its Mediterranean flair. Bergkamen wrote world history with its Roman fort, which housed 12,000 Roman soldiers in 11 B.C.E. You can experience this interesting period during the history of Bergkamen with documentation and archaeological finds displayed in the city museum and at the excavation site in the city district of Oberaden.
The cultural offerings at the “studio theater” and at the “sohle 1” gallery draw delighted audiences from near and far. Celebrating in Bergkamen also has a special quality. Events like the Lichtermarkt on the last Friday in October of the Hafenfest in June are popular throughout the region due to the exceptional atmosphere.