Krefeld

Introduction

Krefeld is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in western Germany, lying northwest of Düsseldorf. Its centre sits just a few kilometres west of the Rhine, while the borough of Uerdingen stands directly on the river. Because of its economic past, Krefeld is often referred to as the "Velvet and Silk City".

You can reach the city by autobahn: the A57 runs from Cologne to Nijmegen, and the A44 links Aachen, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Kassel.

Before you go

Krefeld's roots reach back to a settlement first recorded as "Krimvelde" around 1005, and its later fortunes were tied to the counts of Moers, who secured the right to raise it to city status in 1373. The city centre grew in stages and follows a grid layout of grand buildings, and it carries the nickname "Velvet and Silk City" from an industry that has since faded, though heavy industry remains in the form of a large steel plant and a major global rail rolling stock manufacturer.

There is also a transatlantic thread worth knowing before you arrive: Quaker families from Krefeld were invited to settle in what became Philadelphia's Germantown district, a connection both cities marked with a festival in 1983. Because Krefeld sits close to Düsseldorf, it works well as a base if you want an alternative to staying in the more expensive capital.

Getting there

Krefeld is well connected by rail, with Krefeld central station (Hauptbahnhof) served by frequent regional trains from Cologne (about 40 minutes), Duisburg (15–25 minutes), Mönchengladbach (about 20 minutes), Kleve (about an hour) and Aachen. An ICE train also arrives once a day from Berlin, Hanover and Aachen. Otherwise, you will usually need to change in Düsseldorf, from where the underground runs to Krefeld every 20 minutes, or in Duisburg. Regional lines serving the city include RE 7 (Rheine–Münster–Hamm–Unna–Hagen–Wuppertal–Cologne–Dormagen–Neuss–Krefeld), RE 10 (Kleve–Weeze–Krefeld–Düsseldorf), RE 42 (Münster–Dülmen–Gelsenkirchen–Essen–Duisburg–Krefeld–Viersen–Mönchengladbach), RB 33 (Essen–Duisburg–Krefeld–Mönchengladbach–Geilenkirchen–Aachen), RB 35 (Gelsenkirchen–Oberhausen–Duisburg–Krefeld–Mönchengladbach) and RB 37 (Krefeld–Meerbusch–Neuss). A second station, Krefeld-Uerdingen, is a smaller regional stop served by RE 42, RB 33 and RB 35; it is the terminus of tram 043 and buses, including services to Moers and across the Rhine to Duisburg's southern suburbs, and is disabled accessible.

By plane, Düsseldorf Airport, with many international connections, lies about 20 km from Krefeld; the journey from the terminal to Krefeld main station by public transport (S-Bahn and underground) takes roughly an hour. Travellers on low-cost carriers such as Ryanair may instead arrive at Weeze/Niederrhein Airport, about 50 km away, from where a bus and train connection reaches Krefeld main station in around an hour.

Getting around

Krefeld is compact enough that most of what you want to see is reachable by tram, bus or on foot. The network is run mainly by the municipal company SWKmobil, with regional operators filling in routes to neighbouring towns. All tram lines converge in front of the central station, which makes changing routes straightforward, and they share a stretch of track along Ostwall through the centre. The U76 light rail links Krefeld directly to the Düsseldorf system, so you can travel between the two cities without leaving the rails. Trams run in every direction until about midnight, and on weekend nights they keep going later, with night buses supplementing them. Most vehicles are low-floor, which helps with luggage or a pushchair, though at some stops you still board from the middle of the street, so take care when crossing.

Buses cover the neighbourhoods away from the tram lines and run out to surrounding towns and cities; if you are heading to a district without a tram, the bus is usually your option. Buy your ticket before boarding — tickets are valid across the network. The stop in front of Krefeld station has been undergoing modernisation, which can mean temporary changes or bus replacement services, so check with SWK for the latest before you travel. Regional trains from the central station connect directly to Cologne, Duisburg, Mönchengladbach, Aachen and Kleve, with a daily ICE service from Berlin, Hanover and Aachen; for most other long-distance journeys you change at Düsseldorf or Duisburg. A second station, Krefeld-Uerdingen, is a smaller regional stop, the terminus for one of the trams and for buses heading to Moers and across the Rhine to Duisburg's southern suburbs, and it is accessible for disabled travellers. Taxis are available as a fallback when trams and buses have stopped for the night. Walking between the centre and nearby sights is pleasant thanks to the extensive parks and tree-lined avenues, and the network is dense enough that you can combine walking with short rides rather than relying on a car.

Where to stay

Krefeld has a large number of hotels in and around the town, so you can choose a base to suit your trip. A few named options include the Mercure Parkhotel Krefelder Hof on Uerdinger Straße, Villa Medici on Schönwasserstraße, and the TRYP Dusseldorf Krefeld Hotel in the Europark Fichtenhain area.

• Mercure Parkhotel Krefelder Hof — Uerdinger Straße
• Villa Medici — Schönwasserstraße
• TRYP Dusseldorf Krefeld Hotel — Europark Fichtenhain

Food & drink

What to see and do

Krefeld's historic core rewards a slow wander. The centrepiece is Burg Linn on Rheinbabenstraße, a water castle with an exhibition on medieval history; beside it stand a Baroque hunting château furnished with bourgeois rooms and an archaeological museum. In the city centre, the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum on Karlsplatz is the place for art, while the Old Imperial Main Post Office on Ostwall, an 1894 building now used as offices, and the Liebfrauenkirche are worth a look as you pass. Architecture buffs can seek out the neo-classicist Gymnasium am Moltkeplatz and the church of St. Dionysius, and in Uerdingen the Michaelskirche is notable for its unusual round church tower. Further out, the 1905 Drehbrücke at the harbour is a working swingbridge with fine metalwork, reachable by tram to the Rheinhafen terminus, and the Autobahnkapelle Geismühle is a small roadside chapel at a rest area.

For open air, head to the Stadtwald, a city park with walkways and a lake. Families can spend a day at the Badezentrum Bockum, large indoor and outdoor pools with plenty of greenspace to lie down on. Sport fans have two options: the Grotenburg-Stadion, home of KFC Uerdingen, offers an authentic and affordable football experience in the regional league, and the Horse Race Course at An der Rennbahn holds race meetings. The Zoo Krefeld on Uerdinger Straße is another draw, with reduced admission for children, students and disabled visitors and a family ticket available.

Three days in Krefeld

Day one: Arrive in Krefeld, the Velvet and Silk City, and get your bearings around the Hauptbahnhof before heading out to explore. Regional trains make it easy to reach the city from Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Mönchengladbach, Kleve, Moers, Cologne, Nijmegen and Aachen, while an ICE from Berlin or Hanover via Düsseldorf can bring you in from further afield. Once settled, spend your first afternoon wandering the centre and getting a feel for the place, then plan an evening meal around the city's own character rather than rushing off elsewhere.

• Arrive at Krefeld Hauptbahnhof
• Orient yourself in the city centre
• Note onward connections for later in your trip

Day two: Give the day to Uerdingen, the district on the Rhine, and take in its riverside setting and historic character. Krefeld's identity was built on velvet and silk, and the city's textile past is part of what makes it distinctive within North Rhine-Westphalia. If you want a change of scene, the wider region is well connected: Cologne, Düsseldorf, Nijmegen and Aachen are all within reach, as are Rheine, Münster, Hamm, Unna and Hagen on the regional network.

• Explore Uerdingen and its Rhine frontage
• Look into Krefeld's velvet and silk heritage
• Consider a regional day trip if time allows

Day three: Use your last day to fill in whatever you missed, whether that means more time in the centre or a final look at the Rhine at Uerdingen. Krefeld's links reach back across the Atlantic too: Quaker families from Krefeld and the surrounding area, including Krimvelde, settled in Philadelphia and Germantown, so the city's story stretches well beyond Germany. When it is time to leave, the Hauptbahnhof connects you onward to Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Mönchengladbach, Kleve and beyond.

• Revisit anything you missed in the centre
• Reflect on Krefeld's emigrant and Quaker connections
• Depart from Krefeld Hauptbahnhof