Editing Velbert

{{Infobox German location
|type               = Stadt
|name              = Velbert
|image_flag           = Flagge Velbert.svg
|image_coa            = DEU Velbert COA.svg
|image_photo       = VelbertMuenzbrunnen.jpg
|coordinates       = {{coord|51|20|N|7|3|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan          = Velbert in ME.svg
|state        = Nordrhein-Westfalen
|region  = Düsseldorf
|district             = Mettmann
|elevation              = 230
|area            = 74.9
|postal_code               = 42549–42555
|area_code           = 02051–02053
|licence               = ME
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 05 1 58 032
|divisions         = 3
|website           = [https://www.velbert.de/ www.velbert.de]
|mayor             = Dirk Lukrafka<ref>[https://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw/kommunalwahlen/2020/index_bm.shtml Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020], Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 21 June 2021.</ref>
|leader_term       = 2020&ndash;25
|party             = CDU
}}

'''Velbert''' ({{IPA|de|ˈfɛlbɐt|-|De-Velbert.ogg}}, [[Low Rhenish]]: ''Vèlbed'') is a town in the district of [[Mettmann (district)|Mettmann]], in the German state of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]. The town is renowned worldwide for the production of locks and fittings.

==Geography==
Velbert is located on the hills of 'Niederberg' (meaning ''Lower Mountain''), part of the [[Berg (German region)|Berg region]], approx. 20 kilometres north-east of the capital of [[North Rhine Westphalia]], [[Düsseldorf]], and 12 kilometers north-west of [[Wuppertal]] on the south side of the [[Ruhr (river)|Ruhr]] river.

Velbert stands on the highest part of the Niederberg region and also in its centre.  Its average elevation is around 230 metres above sea level; its highest point, at 303 metres, is the ''Hordt-Berg'', and its lowest, at around 70.6 metres, is in Nierenhof am Deilbach.  The highest point in Velbert itself is 263 metres above sea level, at the corner of Friedrichstraße and Langenberger Straße.

==Incorporation==
As part of the reform of local government districts in North Rhine-Westphalia that came into effect on 1 January 1975, the formerly independent cities of Velbert, Neviges and [[Langenberg (Rhineland)|Langenberg]] were merged to form the present city of Velbert.

==History==
{{main|Velbert (History)}}
Velbert was first mentioned in AD 875 as Feldbrahti and was ruled by the abbey at [[Werden]].

==Administration==
Velbert is divided into three administrative areas, reflecting the three former cities: Velbert-Mitte (''Central Velbert''), Neviges and Langenberg. There are also numerous suburbs, including Tönisheide, Losenburg, Nordpark, Langenhorst, Birth, Röttgen and Hefel.

==Politics==
The current mayor of Velbert has been Dirk Lukrafka of the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU) since 2014. The most recent mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, with a runoff held on 27 September, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! rowspan=2 colspan=2| Candidate
! rowspan=2| Party
! colspan=2| First round
! colspan=2| Second round
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Dirk Lukrafka
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]]
| 12,730
| 40.9
| 12,352
| 50.4
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| Esther Kanschat
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]]
| 6,686
| 21.5
| 12,132
| 49.6
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| Rainer Hübinger
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]
| 5,148
| 16.5
|-
| 
| align=left| August-Friedrich Tonscheid
| align=left| Velbert Differently
| 1,915
| 6.2
|-
| 
| align=left| Cem Demircan
| align=left| Independent Velbert Citizens
| 1,862
| 6.0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Pirate Party Germany}}| 
| align=left| Helmut Stiegelmeier
| align=left| [[Pirate Party Germany]]
| 1,262
| 4.1
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| Birgit Onori
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]]
| 1,009
| 3.2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Marcel Stubbe
| align=left| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| 521
| 1.7
|-
! colspan=3| Valid votes
! 31,133
! 98.3
! 24,484
! 99.4
|-
! colspan=3| Invalid votes
! 540
! 1.7
! 137
! 0.6
|-
! colspan=3| Total
! 31,673
! 100.0
! 24,621
! 100.0
|-
! colspan=3| Electorate/voter turnout
! 65,876
! 48.1
! 65,837
! 37.4
|-
| colspan=7| Source: City of Velbert ([https://wahlen.regioit.de/3/km2020/05158032/html5/Buergermeisterwahl_NRW_84_Gemeinde_Stadt_Velbert.html 1st round], [https://wahlen.regioit.de/3/km2020/05158032/html5/Buergermeisterstichwahl_NRW_92_Gemeinde_Stadt_Velbert.html 2nd round])
|}

===City council===
[[File:2020 Velbert City Council election.svg|thumb|350px|Results of the 2020 city council election.]]
The Velbert city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows:

{{election table}}
! colspan=2| Party
! Votes
! %
! +/-
! Seats
! +/-
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU)
| 9,471
| 30.4
| {{decrease}} 4.2
| 21
| ±0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| 
| align=left| [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] (Grüne)
| 6,543
| 21.0
| {{increase}} 10.2
| 15
| {{increase}} 8
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD)
| 5,435
| 17.4
| {{decrease}} 9.7
| 12
| {{decrease}} 5
|-
| 
| align=left| Independent Velbert Citizens (UVB)
| 2,343
| 7.5
| {{increase}} 2.2
| 5
| {{increase}} 2
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD)
| 1,998
| 6.4
| New
| 4
| New
|-
| 
| align=left| Velbert Differently (Anders)
| 1,643
| 5.3
| {{decrease}} 1.3
| 4
| ±0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP)
| 1,392
| 4.5
| {{increase}} 0.4
| 3
| ±0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|The Left (Germany)}}| 
| align=left| [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] (Die Linke)
| 1,174
| 3.8
| {{decrease}} 1.6
| 3
| ±0
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Pirate Party Germany}}| 
| align=left| [[Pirate Party Germany]] (Piraten)
| 1,177
| 3.8
| {{increase}} 1.3
| 3
| {{increase}} 1
|-
| colspan=7 bgcolor=lightgrey|
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}| 
| align=left| Independent
| 18
| 0.1
| New
| 0
| New
|-
! colspan=2| Valid votes
! 31,194
! 98.5
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Invalid votes
! 471
! 1.5
! 
! 
! 
|-
! colspan=2| Total
! 31,665
! 100.0
! 
! 70
! {{increase}} 8
|-
! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout
! 65,875
! 48.1
! {{increase}} 1.1
! 
! 
|-
| colspan=7| Source: [https://wahlen.regioit.de/3/km2020/05158032/html5/Ratswahl_NRW_85_Gemeinde_Stadt_Velbert.html City of Velbert]
|}

==Coat of arms==
The first coat of arms was created in 1882 and abolished in local government reform of 1975. It showed the lion of the Counts, later Dukes, of Berg (originally the symbol of Limburg) and keys referring to locksmithing, a traditional industry in Velbert.

After 1975 a new coat of arms was created that included heraldic symbols for all three formerly independent towns. The key, referring to Velbert's main traditional industry, was retained with a simpler design. Langenberg is represented by an oak leaf, referring to the oak in the old arms of Langenberg. The chevrons in the bit of the key refer to the coat of arms of the lords of Hardenberg, from the coat of arms of Neviges.

==Economics==
The main traditional industry of Velbert is small scale manufacturing, mostly metal based, typical products include locks, hinges, small tools, hoseclamps. Most companies are small to medium scale and many evolved from backyard forges. There are also companies producing parts for the automotive industry, for example the suppliers of vehicle access systems [[Witte Automotive]] and Huf. As well as this Stein & Co Gmbh, the makers of [[Sebo]] vacuum cleaners, are based in the city.

==Transportation==

The autobahns serving Velbert are the Aachen-Kassel [[Bundesautobahn 44|A 44]] and the Velbert-Sonnborner Kreuz [[Bundesautobahn 535|A 535]].

Velbert's [[Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn|S-Bahn]] service runs every 30 minutes [[S9 (Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn)|line S9]], from [[Recklinghausen Hauptbahnhof|Recklinghausen]] / [[Haltern am See station|Haltern am See]]&ndash;- [[Gladbeck West station|Gladbeck]] to [[Bottrop Hauptbahnhof|Bottrop]]&ndash;  [[Essen Hauptbahnhof|Essen]]-'''[[Velbert-Nierenhof station|Nierenhof]] - [[Velbert-Langenberg station|Langenberg]]-[[Velbert-Neviges station|Neviges]] - [[Velbert-Rosenhügel station|Rosenhügel]]'''-[[Wuppertal Hauptbahnhof|Wuppertal]] - [[Hagen Hauptbahnhof|Hagen]], which is an attractive line to commuters though substantially to the east of the old town of Velbert, which has no railway connection left. The operational stations serving the city are [[Velbert-Langenberg station|Langenberg]], [[Velbert-Neviges station|Neviges]], [[Velbert-Nierenhof station|Nierenhof]] and [[Velbert-Rosenhügel station|Rosenhügel]].

In 2011 most of the former railway line within the city was converted to a cyclepath. The former station buildings at Velbert-West and Velbert-Central are now restaurants, and the station at Velbert-Tönisheide is disused.  All three were on the discontinued [[Niederberg Railway]] ([[Wülfrath]]-Velbert-[[Heiligenhaus]]&ndash;[[Kettwig Stausee station|Kettwig]]).

Velbert also used to have a tram service, and was the meeting point of tramlines from [[Heidhausen]], Neviges, Wülfrath and [[Hösel]] with Heiligenhaus.  Nowadays a number of  bus routes connect Velbert to the surrounding cities.  The city belongs to the ''[[Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr]]''.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}
Velbert is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref name=twins>{{cite web |title=Partnerstädte|url=https://www.velbert.de/stadtinfo/internationale-kontakte/partnerstaedte/|website=velbert.de|publisher=Velbert|language=de|access-date=2021-02-21}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Châtellerault]], France (1965)
*{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Corby]], England, United Kingdom (1966)
*{{flagicon|GRC}} [[Igoumenitsa]], Greece (2012)
*{{flagicon|KOS}} [[Podujevë]], Kosovo (2019)

===Friendly cities===
Velbert also has friendly relations with:<ref name=twins/>
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Hacıbektaş]], Turkey (2000)
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Gmina Morąg|Morąg]], Poland (2016)

==Sites of interest==

===Theatres===
* The central theatre of the town is in Forum Niederberg.

===Museums===
The town's museum is also located in Forum Niederberg. It is the ''German museum for locks and metal fittings''. The museum exhibits a broad variety of keys and locks.

===Buildings===
* [[Maria, Königin des Friedens]], or Nevigeser Wallfahrtsdom, also known as Mariendom, in Neviges which was designed by the famous architect [[Gottfried Böhm]]
* Hardenberg Castle in Neviges
* Historical town centres in Neviges and Langenberg
* Event Church in Langenberg
* [[Bürgerhaus]] (Citizen's house) in Langenberg
* [[Sender Langenberg|Transmission towers in Langenberg]] for MW, FM and TV (303.7 m and 170m high)
* City hall incl. Thomas-Carré in Velbert-Mitte
* The Art Nouveau church called Christuskirche (Christ Church) in Velbert-Mitte

==Notable people==
*[[Lüder Lüers]] (1926–2022), German horticultural architect, engaged in founding [[Kindernothilfe]]
*[[Alexander Mies]] (born 1992), German racing driver
*[[Dieter Ramsauer]] (1939–2021), German engineer
*[[Walter Schlüter]] (1911–1977), German racing driver

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Horst Degen, Christoph Schotten, Stefan Wunsch (authors), Bergischer Geschichtsverein Abteilung Velbert / Hadenberg e.V. (editor): ''Velbert – Geschichte dreier Städte'', J.P. Bachem Verlag, [[Cologne]], 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-7616-1843-1}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}} {{in lang|de}}

{{Cities and towns in Mettmann (district)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Mettmann (district)]]