Sister cities Münster and Fresno, CA © Stadt Münster/Patrick Schulte

Sister cities and sister states

From the sun-baked fields of Texas to the rustling leaves of upstate New York, US-American cities have already established 33 cultural bridges to NRW, Germany. Aachen and Arlington (Texas) make an alliterative pair. Duisburg’s industrial heart beats in unison with Fort Lauderdale’s sun-drenched coastline. The ancient charms of Cologne echo in the bustling crossroads of Indianapolis, Indiana. Münster’s historic grandeur pairs elegantly with Fresno, the beating heart of California agriculture. While Dortmund, a steel titan, finds a sibling in Buffalo, New York, it has also forged a special bond with its industrial cousin in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In all cases, transatlantic ties have been created that stand as a testament to the power of international friendship.

NRW and the state of Pennsylvania share a particularly special connection. As early as 1683, the first German settlers from Krefeld, NRW, emigrated to Pennsylvania and founded Germantown, which is now part of Philadelphia. More recently, in 2007, a “Memorandum of Understanding” between NRW and the Keystone State was signed. When U.S. Consul General Pauline Kao first visited Düsseldorf in 2022, she and Minister President Hendrik Wüst decided to intensify the cooperation.

For more information about the partnership between Pennsylvania and North-Rhine Westphalia, see the press release (in German).

“The world’s largest peace movement”

City partnerships are sometimes touted as “the world’s largest peace movement”. For Germany, the modern concept of sister cities started out as a grassroots initiative when Europe was recovering from the devastation of World War II. Sister cities bring people from different countries together and serve as an effective tool for long-term cooperation. There have also been economic benefits for both countries: US companies, for example, have established 1,700 headquarters in NRW thanks, in part, to sister city connections. Students also reap the benefits of 98 high school partnerships and 290 university alliances. Many young people owe their first experience abroad to a city partnership.

Das Bild zeigt die Hauptstadt Portland des Bundesstaates Oregon in de USA vor einem herbstlich gefärbten Wal und eine Hügellandschaft am Horizont.
Portland, with a population of about 640,000, is similar in size to Düsseldorf (620,000)

Düsseldorf and Portland – a new match?

About 90% of German municipalities look to cities in the EU to forge partnerships. Nevertheless, NRW and the USA want to take a different approach and increase transatlantic city partnerships, especially in consideration of the mutual benefits.
Düsseldorf, for example, is looking towards Portland, Oregon. And it all started thanks to a Portland resident with a fondness for Düsseldorf who helped initiate the partnering process.

Portland and Düsseldorf are both known for their impressive bridges and river views, vibrant beer-brewing culture and efficient public transport. They each have a rich cultural scene, with Portland known for its indie music, film and arts, while Düsseldorf has a significant influence on electronic/experimental music and hosts a renowned art academy. Both cities have a deep appreciation for nature, evident in their love for green spaces and parks, and they strongly promote cycling, offering bike-friendly infrastructure for locals and tourists alike.

In this era of globalization, the expansion of sister city partnerships between the USA and NRW continues to stimulate economies, nurture institutions and foster global harmony. As Düsseldorf and Portland stand on the verge of a partnership, it underscores the potential of these cross-continental bonds to bridge divides, promote understanding and bring about a more interconnected and peaceful world.

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