Bocholt, Germany
Template:Infobox Town DE Bocholt is a town in the north-west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, part of the district Borken. As of 2005 it had a population of 73,117 and is situated 4 km south of the border with the Netherlands.
History
Bocholt was first written about in 779, when Charlemagne won a battle against the Saxons nearby. However the settlement was probably much older. Bishop Dietrich III von Isenburg from Münster gave Bocholt city rights in 1222.
In the 15th century the city flourished. The engraver Israhel van Meckenem lived and worked in the city.
Bocholt is twinned with Rossendale, United Kingdom, Aurillac, France and Bocholt, Belgium.
Economy
Bocholt is a manufacturing town, in the beginning of the industrialization era many textile factories settled down, in present times most of them have disappeared. Most workstations are provided by Siemens (Communications) and Engineering Industries. Besides Bocholt attracts shoppers from the surrounding towns with its outdoor and indoor malls.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms shows a beech tree, which has been the symbol for the city since the 13th century. Bocholt translated into English roughly means "beechwood".
Education
Mariengymnasium Bocholt (MGB): bilingual grammar school (students age 10 to 19). More than 50% of the students take lessons in Geography, History and Civics in English in addition to their normal English language and literature courses. Foreign languages taught: Englisch, French, Latin and Dutch. MGB offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities and is known for a very peaceful and positive environment both for pupils and teachers. Students usually continue their education at German and Dutch universities after graduation. MGB is a former grammar school for girls which has been coeducative since 1975. The percentage of girls has since then dropped to less than two thirds. The MGB was this year (2007) by far the most popular school in Bocholt for parents of 10 year old pupils chosing a grammar school for their children.
Transportation
Bocholt is the last stop on a 25 minute 2-way-1-track train route starting in Wesel traveling north to Bocholt. From Wesel one can transfer to trains that travel south to Düsseldorf International Airport, Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof or northwest to Amsterdam.
External links
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