Uerdingen
Encyclopedia
Uerdingen is a district of the city of Krefeld
, Germany
, with a population of 18,507, though Uerdingen received its charter as a city as early as 1255, well before Krefeld. Uerdingen was merged with Krefeld in 1929, after which the term “Krefeld-Uerdingen” was used, until, eventually, the use of the term “Uerdingen” fell away altogether. Until the reapportionment in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia
in 1975, Uerdingen, as a part of the city of Krefeld, had a fairly unique special status within Germany. The former Rhine city had special rights and privileges. One sign of this can still be seen today in Krefeld’s city coat of arms
(“Wappen”), which still has the Uerdinger arms in its right half.
The most important employers in Uerdingen, as well as in Krefeld, are the Bayer
concern, which has its second largest plant in Uerdingen, and Lanxess
(in 2004 most of the chemical and approximately a third of synthetics activities were spun off from Bayer AG), aside from the rail car manufacturer DUEWAG
(today Siemens Transportation Systems
). After the local “Uerdinger” brand of gin, Uerdingen is perhaps best known for its tradition-steeped soccer team F.C. Bayer 05 Uerdingen, now known as KFC Uerdingen 05
.
.
of Uerdingen show the keys
of Saint Peter
in gold upon a divided background, blue above and red below. Blue and red are said to be the colors of Saint Peter, whereby blue would be said to represent heaven
and red to symbolize hell
. The colors of Uerdingen are likewise blue and red.
is still spoken in Uerdingen, a variety known locally as “Oedingsch Platt,” oedingsch signifying “of Uerdingen” in the dialect, and “Platt
” being a northern German term for the varieties of Low German in general. Oedisch Platt should not be confused with Krieewelsch Platt, the Krefeld Platt variety of Low German, as there are small, subtle differences between the two. The best known Uerdingen song in Platt is “Oeding blievt Oeding” (os Städtsch am Rhien) by Andreas Otto Kickers, sometimes considered to be the Uerdinger Hymn. The song describes life and history of the city and of its inhabitants. The “Rhienstädter” sing this at all occasions, and thereby cultivate the local Oedingsch Platt dialect a bit longer.
At the northeastern edge of the city runs the isogloss
known as the Uerdingen Line
.
were overwhelmingly inclined towards the SPD
, the Social Democratic Union. At both of the most recent municipal elections, however, the CDU
, the Christian Democratic Union, received the most votes.
Uerdingen accounts for the largest part of the Bezirksvertretung Uerdingen (“District Representation of Uerdingen”), but the area of the electoral district reaches beyond Uerdingen proper.
District representation since 2004:
Total, 15 seats / 100%
District manager: Elmar Jakubowski (CDU
)
, produced here the “Uerdinger Schienenbus,” a type of light locomotive largely for passenger service on side rail lines. The plant today belongs to Siemens Transportation Systems
. The name “Waggonfabrik,” referring to the Uerdinger Waggonfabrik works, still comes up in everyday conversation among locals.
church, as well.
Churches
Krefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, with a population of 18,507, though Uerdingen received its charter as a city as early as 1255, well before Krefeld. Uerdingen was merged with Krefeld in 1929, after which the term “Krefeld-Uerdingen” was used, until, eventually, the use of the term “Uerdingen” fell away altogether. Until the reapportionment in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
in 1975, Uerdingen, as a part of the city of Krefeld, had a fairly unique special status within Germany. The former Rhine city had special rights and privileges. One sign of this can still be seen today in Krefeld’s city coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
(“Wappen”), which still has the Uerdinger arms in its right half.
The most important employers in Uerdingen, as well as in Krefeld, are the Bayer
Bayer
Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:...
concern, which has its second largest plant in Uerdingen, and Lanxess
Lanxess
Lanxess AG is a specialty chemicals group based in Germany, with headquarters and major operations in Leverkusen. It was founded in 2004 when Bayer AG spun off its chemicals operations and parts of its polymer activities. As measured by sales, Lanxess is the fourth largest chemicals group in Germany...
(in 2004 most of the chemical and approximately a third of synthetics activities were spun off from Bayer AG), aside from the rail car manufacturer DUEWAG
DUEWAG
The DUEWAG AG was one of Germany's major manufacturers for rail vehicles. The business was sold in 1999 to Siemens transportation.- History :The company was founded in 1898 as Waggonfabrik Uerdingen AG in Uerdingen...
(today Siemens Transportation Systems
Siemens Transportation Systems
Siemens Mobility is a division of the German Siemens AG conglomerate. The Mobility sub-division brings together Siemens competencies in rail, road, and air traffic solutions....
). After the local “Uerdinger” brand of gin, Uerdingen is perhaps best known for its tradition-steeped soccer team F.C. Bayer 05 Uerdingen, now known as KFC Uerdingen 05
KFC Uerdingen 05
KFC Uerdingen 05 is a German association football club in the Uerdingen district of the city of Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. The one time Bundesliga side enjoyed its greatest successes in the 1980s, but most recently has been part of fifth and sixth tier competition.-History:The club was...
.
Geography
Uerdingen is bounded on its west by the Krefeld city districts of Bockum, Gartenstadt, and Elfrath; on the northwest by Traar; on the north by Duisburg-Rumeln-Kaldenhausen; and on the northeast by Hohenbudberg in the direction of Duisburg-Rheinhausen. To the east of Uerdingen, across the Rhine, lies Duisburg-Mündelheim, and on the south lies the Krefeld city district of LinnKrefeld-Linn
Linn has been a part of the City of Krefeld, Germany, since its incorporation into that city in 1901. Linn lies with its historic city center within the lower Rhenish lowlands about east of the Krefeld city center....
.
Arms
The armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Uerdingen show the keys
Keys of Heaven
In ecclesiastical heraldry, the Papal coat of arms contain the keys of the office of St. Peter. The Keys of Heaven were, according to Christian tradition, received by Saint Peter from Jesus, marking Peter's ability to take binding actions. Thus, the Keys are seen as a symbol of Papal authority...
of Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
in gold upon a divided background, blue above and red below. Blue and red are said to be the colors of Saint Peter, whereby blue would be said to represent heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
and red to symbolize hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
. The colors of Uerdingen are likewise blue and red.
Language
A dialect of Low GermanLow German
Low German or Low Saxon is an Ingvaeonic West Germanic language spoken mainly in northern Germany and the eastern part of the Netherlands...
is still spoken in Uerdingen, a variety known locally as “Oedingsch Platt,” oedingsch signifying “of Uerdingen” in the dialect, and “Platt
Platt
Platt may refer to:Places* Platt, Florida, an unincorporated community in DeSoto County, Florida, United States* Platt, Austria* Platt, Kent, EnglandPeople* Platt * Platt Baronets, two baronetcies of the United KingdomOther uses...
” being a northern German term for the varieties of Low German in general. Oedisch Platt should not be confused with Krieewelsch Platt, the Krefeld Platt variety of Low German, as there are small, subtle differences between the two. The best known Uerdingen song in Platt is “Oeding blievt Oeding” (os Städtsch am Rhien) by Andreas Otto Kickers, sometimes considered to be the Uerdinger Hymn. The song describes life and history of the city and of its inhabitants. The “Rhienstädter” sing this at all occasions, and thereby cultivate the local Oedingsch Platt dialect a bit longer.
At the northeastern edge of the city runs the isogloss
Isogloss
An isogloss—also called a heterogloss —is the geographical boundary of a certain linguistic feature, such as the pronunciation of a vowel, the meaning of a word, or use of some syntactic feature...
known as the Uerdingen Line
Uerdingen line
The Uerdingen Line is the isogloss within West Germanic languages that separates dialects which preserve the -k sound at the end of a word from dialects in which the word final -k has changed to word final -ch...
.
Politics
Uerdingen voters after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
were overwhelmingly inclined towards the SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
, the Social Democratic Union. At both of the most recent municipal elections, however, the CDU
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
, the Christian Democratic Union, received the most votes.
Uerdingen accounts for the largest part of the Bezirksvertretung Uerdingen (“District Representation of Uerdingen”), but the area of the electoral district reaches beyond Uerdingen proper.
District representation since 2004:
Total, 15 seats / 100%
- CDUChristian Democratic Union (Germany)The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
(Christian Democrats) (6 seats / 38.78%) - SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(Social Democrats) (5 seats / 34.32%) - Alliance '90/The GreensAlliance '90/The GreensAlliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir...
(2 seats / 10.58%) - FDPFree Democratic Party (Germany)The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
(liberal) (1 seat / 7.72%) - UKB (1 seat / 5.30%)
- KWG (0 seats / 3.30%)
District manager: Elmar Jakubowski (CDU
Christian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
)
Economy
The economic life of Uerdingen is dominated by the large chemical plants of Bayer AG, which produce synthetics, pigments, and chemical feedstock here. Another important branch of local industry is the assembly of vehicles. The vehicle producer Uerdingen Waggonfabirk, founded in 1898, later a part of DUEWAGDUEWAG
The DUEWAG AG was one of Germany's major manufacturers for rail vehicles. The business was sold in 1999 to Siemens transportation.- History :The company was founded in 1898 as Waggonfabrik Uerdingen AG in Uerdingen...
, produced here the “Uerdinger Schienenbus,” a type of light locomotive largely for passenger service on side rail lines. The plant today belongs to Siemens Transportation Systems
Siemens Transportation Systems
Siemens Mobility is a division of the German Siemens AG conglomerate. The Mobility sub-division brings together Siemens competencies in rail, road, and air traffic solutions....
. The name “Waggonfabrik,” referring to the Uerdinger Waggonfabrik works, still comes up in everyday conversation among locals.
Religion
The Uerdingen population adheres largely to Roman Catholicism. There are at present three Catholic churches, as well as a Catholic church in Hohenbudberg and an EvangelicalEvangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
church, as well.
Churches
- Sankt Peter Kirche, Saint Peter’s Church (Catholic)
- Sankt Heinrich Kirche, Saint Henry’s Church (Catholic)
- Sankt Paul Kirche, Saint Paul’s Church (Catholic)
- Sankt Matthias Kirche, Saint Matthew’s Church (Catholic)
- Michaelskirche, Michael’s Church (Evangelical)
External links
- Information and addresses (http://www.uerdingen.de/)
- Uerdingen information on the official home page of the City of Krefeld