Essen - Germany

Essen is a city in the central part of the Ruhr area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Located on the River Ruhr, its population of approximately 579,000 (as of June 30, 2008) makes it either the 7th- or 8th-largest city in Germany. For the year 2010, Essen is the European Capital of Culture on behalf of the whole Ruhr area. Formerly one of Germany’s most important coal and steel centres and historically linked to the centuries-old Krupp family iron works, the city has developed a strong tertiary secto