Moers (German pronunciation: [ˈmœʁs] ; older form: Mörs; Dutch: Murse, Murs or Meurs) is a German city on the western bank of the Rhine, close to Duisburg. Moers belongs to the district of Wesel.

Moers
Moers Castle (2024)
Moers Castle (2024)
Flag of Moers
Coat of arms of Moers
Location of Moers within Wesel district
Moers is located in Germany
Moers
Moers
Moers is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Moers
Moers
Coordinates: 51°27′33″N 6°37′11″E / 51.45917°N 6.61972°E / 51.45917; 6.61972
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionDüsseldorf
DistrictWesel
Subdivisions3
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Christoph Fleischhauer[1] (CDU)
Area
 • Total
67.68 km2 (26.13 sq mi)
Elevation
23 m (75 ft)
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • Total
105,606
 • Density1,600/km2 (4,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
47441 – 47447
Dialling codes0 28 41
Vehicle registrationMO (alternative: WES or DIN)
Websitewww.moers.de

History

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The County of Moers in 1635

Known earliest from 1186, the county of Moers was an independent principality within the Holy Roman Empire.

During the Eighty Years' War it was alternately captured by Spanish and Dutch troops, as it bordered the Upper Quarter of Guelders. During the war it finally fell to Maurice of Orange. As it was separated from the Dutch Republic by Spanish Upper Guelders it did not become an integral part of the Republic, though Dutch troops were stationed there.

After the death of William III of Orange in 1702, Moers was inherited by the king of Prussia. All Dutch troops and civil servants were expelled.

In 1795 it was annexed by France. At the Congress of Vienna, in 1815 it was returned to Prussia and in 1871 it became part of the German Empire.

A target of the Oil Campaign of World War II, the Steinkohlenbergwerke (English: coal mine) Rheinpreussen synthetic oil plant in Moers,[3] was partially dismantled post-war.

Significant minority groups
Nationality Population (2014)
  Turkey 4,245
  Italy 725
  Poland 586
  Serbia 427
  Croatia 327

Mayors

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The illuminated, 30 meters high mining lamp memorial by Otto Piene on the spoil tip Halde Rheinpreußen in the north of Moers during the blue hour
  • 1815–1820: Wilhelm Urbach
  • 1822–1830: von Nievenheim
  • 1830–1850: Friedrich Adolf Vinmann
  • 1850–1859: Karl von Strampff
  • 1860–1864: Gottlieb Meumann
  • 1864–1897: Gustav Kautz
  • 1898–1910: August Craemer
  • 1910–1915: Richard Glum
  • 1917–1937: Fritz Eckert
  • 1937–1941: Fritz Grüttgen
  • 1943–1945: Peter Linden
  • 1945–1946: Otto Maiweg
  • 1946: Karl Peschken
  • 1946–1952: Wilhelm Müller
  • 1952–1977: Albin Neuse (SPD)
  • 1977–1999: Wilhelm Brunswick (SPD)
  • 1999–2004: Rafael Hofmann (CDU)
  • 2004–2014: Norbert Ballhaus (SPD)
  • 2014–0000: Christoph Fleischhauer (CDU)

Sports

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In 1985, the Moers Sports Club (volleyball) was formed, winning the 1989 Bundesliga championship.

Notable people

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Birthplace of Gerhard Tersteegen

Politics

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Mayor

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The current mayor of Moers is Christoph Fleischhauer of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The most recent mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, with a runoff held on 27 September, and the results were as follows:

Candidate Party First round Second round
Votes % Votes %
Christoph Fleischhauer Christian Democratic Union 15,313 38.4 17,457 57.9
Ibrahim Yetim Social Democratic Party 12,208 30.6 12,679 42.1
Diana Finkele Alliance 90/The Greens 4,534 11.4
Torsten Gerlach Independent 4,350 10.9
Claus Küster Die Grafschafter 1,518 3.8
Dino Maas Free Democratic Party 1,238 3.1
Markus Helmich Independent 706 1.8
Valid votes 39,867 98.6 30,136 99.3
Invalid votes 553 1.4 214 0.7
Total 40,420 100.0 30,350 100.0
Electorate/voter turnout 80,950 49.9 80,906 37.5
Source: City of Moers (1st round, 2nd round)

City council

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Results of the 2020 city council election.

The Moers city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows:

Party Votes % +/- Seats +/-
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 12,431 31.3   3.2 17   2
Social Democratic Party (SPD) 11,593 29.2   8.5 16   4
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) 6,563 16.5   7.5 9   4
Alternative for Germany (AfD) 2,548 6.4 New 3 New
Free Democratic Party (FDP) 1,860 4.7   0.3 2   1
Die Grafschafter (Graf) 1,544 3.9   2.9 2   2
Die PARTEI 1,302 3.3 New 2 New
The Left (Die Linke) 1,125 2.8   3.5 2   1
Free Citizens' List Moers (FBM) 733 1.9 New 1 New
Valid votes 39,699 98.2
Invalid votes 710 1.8
Total 40,409 100.0 54 ±0
Electorate/voter turnout 80,950 49.9
Source: City of Moers

Twin towns – sister cities

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Moers is twinned with:[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Index – Tom Reel 304 : Documents taken from Steinkohlenbergwerk Rheinpreussen, Moers" (PDF). Fischer-tropsch.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Tersteegen, Gerhard" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 660.
  5. ^ "Partnerstädte der Stadt Moers". moers.de (in German). Moers. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
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