Essen is a city located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. It serves as the central hub of the Ruhr area and holds the distinction of being the largest urban area in Germany. The city is situated within the larger Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, which ranks as the second-largest by GDP in the European Union.
With a population of 574,682, Essen is the fourth-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia and the tenth-largest city in Germany. It is part of the cultural area of Rhineland and is frequently referred to as the "secret capital" of the Ruhr due to its central location.