Agriculture – Mining – Chemical Industry – Leisure Activities

The area around Bergkamen was dominated for centuries exclusively by agrarian structures. During the 19th century, around 3,000 people lived within the modern city limits. The onset of coal mining beginning in 1890 radically changed the area. At the same time the mine shafts were drilled, the population of Bergkamen quadrupled. During the 1970s, Bergkamen was the largest mining city in Europe. In summer of 2001, the last active mine in the city limits, Haus Aden, was abandoned.

Instead of mining, today the chemical industry as well as small and medium enterprises in the service sector, skilled trades and especially advanced training and qualification offer future growth opportunities. In addition, leisure activities and tourism have become important factors for the local economy of Bergkamen in recent years.