Krefeld

The Lower Rhine plain defines the setting of Krefeld — the city spreads across level ground west of the Rhine, where urban districts meet a traditionally agricultural river landscape. Known as Germany’s “velvet and silk city,” Krefeld built its reputation on textile manufacture, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries; that legacy is explored at the German Textile Museum in the Linn district. Modern architecture also has a firm place here: Haus Lange and Haus Esters, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, are now used by Krefeld’s art museums. The historic district of Uerdingen recalls the city’s connection with the Rhine. View additional webcams nearby to better understand how Krefeld relates to the Lower Rhine and its surroundings.

Built around the Rhine trade corridor and the Ruhr coal-and-steel belt, North Rhine-Westphalia grew into Germany’s most populous state. The Rhine crosses its western side, linking Cologne, Düsseldorf and Bonn, while the Ruhr became one of Europe’s defining industrial regions. Dortmund, near these coordinates, reflects that legacy alongside a major football and brewing tradition. Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, remains the state’s best-known monument, and Essen’s Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex records the scale of its mining past. Forested uplands in the Sauerland and Teutoburg Forest broaden a region often associated only with cities and factories. Explore additional webcams nearby to better understand how North Rhine-Westphalia connects the Rhine, the Ruhr and its surrounding uplands.

Germany stretches from the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts to the Alps on its southern border, encompassing northern plains, river valleys and forested uplands. The Rhine, Danube and Elbe have long connected its regions, while the Black Forest and Bavarian Alps give the south a more dramatic relief. Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island reflect the capital’s role in German history and culture. Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rises above the Rhine, and the Bauhaus movement, founded in Weimar in 1919, transformed modern design far beyond Germany. Regional cooking, Christmas markets and brewing traditions bring further character to daily life. Browse additional webcams from the surrounding area to extend your view of Germany.