Often referred to as the “City on the River”, Mülheim an der Ruhr lies between Duisburg and Essen in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia. It was once home to the founders of Aldi, Karl and Theo Albrecht, as well as the first person to make paper in North America, William Rittenhouse.
Things to do in Mülheim
Occupying an ornate former post office is the Kunstmuseum Mülheim an der Ruhr, where works by German Expressionists and international artists are on display. Browse the drawings and paintings by Max Ernst, Erich Heckel and Max Beckmann, then see the extensive collection of illustrations by Heinrich Zille. In addition to its changing exhibitions, the museum regularly hosts painting classes and artist talks.
On the opposite side of the Ruhr River is the MüGa, a leafy park with cycling and walking trails, picturesque fountains and a lily pond. There are two adventure playgrounds where kids can let off some steam, as well as picnic pavilions and a hedge maze. Located within the park is the Broicher Water Tower, which houses the world’s largest accessible camera obscura in its dome.
A short drive north of Mulheim an der Ruhr is the Aquarius-Wassermuseum, a disused 19th-century water tower that forms part of the Route of Industrial Culture. It houses an award-winning museum that explores the origin and cycle of water through multimedia stations and hands-on exhibits. A highlight of visiting the Aquarius-Wassermuseum is riding the glass elevator through the tower’s 500,000-litre tank.
Getting around Mülheim
Mülheim an der Ruhr is around 20 minutes’ drive from Duisburg and 15 minutes from Essen. Düsseldorf International Airport is 25 minutes from Mulheim an der Ruhr. Regular trains connect to the Mülheim an der Ruhr railway station while both buses and trams travel throughout the city.