Münster
Münster
Mönster (Westphalian) | |
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Aerial view of Münster | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Location of Münster | |
Münster Münster | |
| Coordinates: 51°57′45″N 07°37′32″E / 51.96250°N 7.62556°E | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Admin. region | Münster |
| District | Urban district |
| Founded | 793 |
| Subdivisions | 6 |
| Government | |
| • Lord mayor (2025–30) | Tilman Fuchs (Greens) |
| • Governing parties | Greens / SPD / Volt |
| Area | |
• Total | 302.89 km2 (116.95 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Population (2024-12-31) | |
• Total | 308,258 |
| • Density | 1,017.7/km2 (2,635.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 48143–48167 |
| Dialling codes | 0251 02501 (Hiltrup, Amelsbüren) 02506 (Wolbeck, Angelmodde) 02533 (Nienberge) 02534 (Roxel) 02536 (Albachten) |
| Vehicle registration | MS |
| Website | www.muenster.de |
Münster (German: [ˈmʏnstɐ] ⓘ; Westphalian: Mönster) is an independent city (Kreisfreie Stadt) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and the historic capital of the Westphalia region, as well being the centre of a state district. During the Protestant Reformation, Münster was the location of the Anabaptist rebellion. Münster and Osnabrück were the sites of the signing of the Treaties of Westphalia which ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648. Today, it is known as the bicycle capital of Germany.
Münster gained the status of a Großstadt (major city) with more than 100,000 inhabitants in 1915. As of 2014, there are 300,000 people living in the city, with about 61,500 students, only some of whom are recorded in the official population statistics as having their primary residence in Münster. Münster is a part of the international Euregio region with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants (Enschede, Hengelo, Gronau, Osnabrück).