Viersen District

Viersen is a Kreis (district) in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Cleves, Wesel, district-free Krefeld, Neuss, district-free Mönchengladbach, Heinsberg and the Dutch province of Limburg.

History
In 1816, the new Prussian government created the district of Kempen. Originally belonging to the Regierungsbezirk Kleve, it was dissolved in 1822, and since then has belonged to Düsseldorf. In 1929 the district was enlarged significantly and renamed Kempen-Krefeld.

In 1975 the district again changed its borders and was renamed Viersen even though Kempen remained the capital. Viersen city replaced Kempen as the capital in 1984.

Twin Cities
The district Viersen has been twinned with


 * Pardesia in Israel
 * Peterborough in Great Britain
 * Cambridgeshire in Great Britain
 * Lambersart in France
 * Kaniv in Ukraine
 * Panevėžys in Lithuania
 * Calau in Brandenburg, Germany
 * Mittweida in Sachsen, Germany

Geography
The district is located in the lowlands between the Rhine and the Meuse river. Highest elevation is at Süchtelner Höhen with 90.7 m, with the lowest at Pielbruch with 28.6 m.

Cities and municipalities
based on data from: 31. December 2005 >