Explore this warm, down-to-earth, straightforward city in North Rhine-Westphalia
Content List
Intro:
Are you planning a trip to Dortmund in North Rhine-Westphalia? For a long time, people associated Dortmund with steel, coal, and beer. But that was then! The city in the Ruhr region is often underestimated, yet there is plenty to discover here. The city in North Rhine-Westphalia has undergone a major transformation. Today, Dortmund is not only a large university city and an important technology hub, but also home to a diverse cultural scene. The city is part of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since North Rhine-Westphalia is so densely populated, many major cities are located in the immediate vicinity of Dortmund. Essen is only about 30 minutes away by car, while Duisburg and Düsseldorf are just under an hour away.
Whether you're taking a day trip or simply passing through, Dortmund can be one of the most exciting destinations in Germany. The map of Dortmund is filled with places that attract tourists. If you're ready to explore Dortmund, you can begin your tour right in the "heart of the city." The center is home to the most memorable sights, numerous shops, and a marketplace. From here, you can easily reach any part of the city and its surroundings. Dortmund is rich in places of worship that can reveal much about the history of old Europe. In Dortmund, you'll experience the boundary between modern life and a history steeped in tradition up close. In winter, Christmas markets are a traditional and popular part of the festive season in Germany. Christmas decorations and unusual toys are especially delightful for younger visitors. Dortmund's Christmas market is a huge success: around 2.5 million visitors attend it every year.

While coal and steel once shaped the city's image, a thriving cultural region has emerged over the past few decades. It includes industrial monuments, green parks, reclaimed slag heaps, and impressive museums. Art and natural landmarks are easy to find here. If you're interested in culture, be sure to visit ExtraSchicht—the Night of Industrial Culture. It's a fantastic event throughout the Ruhr area, offering such a variety of shows, live music, guided tours, hands-on activities, and art that you'll have a hard time deciding what to see!
Last but not least, anyone traveling to Dortmund will quickly notice that everything here revolves around soccer, especially the famous BVB. But Dortmund is also an exciting world beyond soccer culture. In Dortmund, you can explore the city's mining past, for example, at the LWL Industrial Museum. Or discover Dortmund's darker side on a sightseeing tour with the night watchman, swing on the playground with a view of the colliery, or visit the petting zoo in the wildlife park. There is so much to see and do with kids in Dortmund!
After amazing sightseeing, would you like to enjoy searching for meaningful souvenirs from your adventures abroad to help spark a wonderful memory of your trip each time you look at them after returning home? These kitchen-themed souvenirs can be the best choice for upscale table culture and fancy kitchen utensils. We know that a lively kitchen can help people relax and make them happier while cooking. More and more families today pursue a high quality of life and pay greater attention to creating their kitchens. In fact, what we need to know is that the right kitchenware and utensils are essential tools that cannot be ignored when creating a good kitchen. Be inspired by our selection of the best places to find high-quality professional kitchen knives and other kitchen accessories in Dortmund! Be sure to read through our list of the top kitchen-knife shops when you visit Dortmund.
Intro:
Small local shop that has it all. Absolutely top-notch advice and a huge selection of knives and accessories. Die Klinge offers you a wide range of kitchen knives, folding knives, custom-made knives, fixed-blade knives, manicure and pedicure tools, scissors, razors and shaving products, and kitchen accessories. Wonderfully friendly and calm advice—here, they take the time to answer questions and offer suggestions for the care and maintenance of all kinds of blades, etc.
Store information:
(1) Address: Kreuzstraße 44, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
(2)Open hours:
Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours
(3)Die Klinge Details
(4)Phone:+49211915010
Customer Review:
One reviewer says: “If you need anything related to razors, shaving, knives, or similar items, Die Klinge is the place to go. I have been a long-time customer and bought much more during my university years. Excellent service and friendly advice—what more could you ask from a great neighborhood store?”
One reviewer says: “A small, fine specialty shop with a manageable yet diverse selection of knives. I also have to thank Schwiedergoll, who kept a knife aside for me for two months because I couldn’t afford it at the time.”
One reviewer says: “At Die Klinge, you get the best advice—not only about the knives and tools themselves, but also about their purpose and care. The prices are always fair, and the shopping experience is always relaxed and stimulating. A clear recommendation for anyone looking for the right tool for a hobby or profession. The owner is truly knowledgeable about everything he offers. Always happy to return!”
Henriette Hültenschmidt opened “Henriette’s Kitchen Shop” in the heart of downtown Dortmund in March 1980. Here is the story of this store. “At that time, the owner discovered the young natural-food scene through her love of baking bread. The idea was born to open her own specialty store offering organic natural-food products and selected kitchen accessories. Although the store now specializes exclusively in kitchen items and cooking and baking supplies, the personal approach and service, as well as the sustainable quality and carefully selected design of the products, were and remain particularly important to the owner.”
Store information:
(1)Address: Markt 4, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
(2)Open hours:
Monday 11 AM–6 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–6 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–6 PM
Thursday 11 AM–6 PM
Friday 11 AM–6 PM
Saturday 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday Closed
(3)Henriette’s Kitchen Shop Details
(4)Phone:+4971122249320
Customer Review:
One reviewer says: “Great service with great, sometimes unusual products. Super-nice contact via WhatsApp during the COVID-19 pandemic. I used to prefer ordering locally rather than from Amazon, and this is definitely the better choice.”
One reviewer says: “Great assortment, everything is somehow eclectic and quaint, but quite expensive. Nice staff, and it’s just fun to go into this shop. But be careful with the prices—you can sometimes pay significantly less elsewhere. There are very exclusive things here that you won’t find everywhere.”
One reviewer says: “A great insider shop. I've already found something suitable for many friends' birthdays. Sometimes, however, cheaper alternatives from other shops work just as well. The advice there is definitely excellent.”
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH, headquartered in Essen, is a German department store chain. Since November 2018, GALERIA Kaufhof GmbH and Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH have worked closely together. From March 2019, Karstadt and Kaufhof operated under the joint name GALERIA Karstadt Kaufhof. Zwilling J. A. Henckels AG is a German knife manufacturer based in Solingen, Germany. It is one of the largest and oldest manufacturers of kitchen knives for domestic and professional use, having been founded in June 1731 by Peter Henckels. The brand is named after Johann Abraham Henckels (1771–1850), who renamed it under his leadership. J.A. Henckels is one of the leading manufacturers of chef's knives.
Store information:
(1)Address: Westenhellweg 30-36, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
(2)Open hours:
Monday 9:30AM-8PM
Tuesday 9:30AM-8PM
Wednesday 9:30AM-8PM
Thursday 9:30AM-8PM
Friday 9:30AM-8PM
Saturday 9:30AM-8PM
Sunday Closed
(3)GALERIA Dortmund ZWILLING Details(4)Phone:+4923154390
Customer Review:
One reviewer says: “The address where all your needs are met—high quality at a reasonable price. The staff is very attentive to customers.”
One reviewer says: “Huge shop with a huge variety of products. There are many floors, each dedicated to specific products. You may need a minimum of three hours to cover the entire area.”
One reviewer says: “I've always found what I was looking for there. The staff is extremely helpful, and most speak English if you need it. Even when they don't, they do their best to help you.”
Intro:
WMF was originally called Metallwarenfabrik Straub & Schweizer and was opened as a metalworking workshop. Through mergers and acquisitions, by 1900 it had become the world's largest producer and exporter of household metalware, mainly in the Jugendstil, or Art Nouveau, style. These products were designed at the WMF Art Studio under Albert Mayer, a sculptor and designer who served as director from 1884 to 1914. The group, which owns six brands—WMF, Silit, Kaiser, Schaerer, Hepp, and Curtis—is represented in more than 40 locations worldwide and has almost 200 company-owned branches in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The WMF Group produces household and hotel goods, including cookware, kitchen appliances, cutlery, drinking glasses, and professional coffee machines.
Store information:
(1) Address: Potgasse 4, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
(2)Open hours:
Monday 10AM-6PM
Tuesday 10AM-6PM
Wednesday 10AM-6PM
Thursday 10AM-6PM
Friday 10AM-6PM
Saturday 10AM-6PM
Sunday Closed
(3)WMF Dortmund Details
(4)Phone:+49231571851
Customer Review:
One reviewer says: “Good and fast advice. I bought a knife and was allowed to try and test it extensively.”
One reviewer says: “A shop selling small and medium-sized household items, very well organized, but above all, its products are of the highest quality, and the prices are justified by the high-quality materials used. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff.”
One reviewer says: “The staff is super friendly. Great advice. Always a pleasure.”
Intro:
The Hollandsche Eenheidsprijzen Maatschappij Amsterdam, or H.E.M.A., opened its first department store in Amsterdam on 4 November 1926. Founders Leo Meyer and Arthur Isaac wanted to open a department store for "ordinary" people. Before this, department stores were very much aimed at wealthy people, and most store personnel spoke French. HEMA, as it would later become known, was the first department store of its kind in the Netherlands. Products were priced at 10, 25, or 50 cents. From day one, the essence of HEMA was defined as optimistic, unique, clear, reliable, accessible, and typically Dutch.
Store information:
(1) Address: Westenhellweg 52-54, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
(2)Open hours:
Monday
Tuesday 10AM-8PM
Wednesday 10AM-8PM
Thursday 10AM-8PM
Friday 10AM-8PM
Saturday 10AM-8PM
Sunday Closed
(3)HEMA Details
(4)Phone:+4923158939174
Customer Review:
One reviewer says: “A Dutch Krims Krams store. You can get everything here. The staff was friendly—when I asked where I could find a certain product, the employee practically took me there because the product was on a different floor. One minor issue here is that the products on the ground and first floors could be sorted better.”
One reviewer says: “An excellent three-level store with a huge assortment of goods for the home and decor, as well as women's products (body, hair, and decorative cosmetics, etc.) on the lower level. On the second level, everything for various holidays and anniversaries. The top level has children's products: accessories, clothes, etc. Prices are quite affordable. I recommend visiting.”
One reviewer says: “A great shop for decorations, gifts, kitchen utensils, and much more. Friendly staff.”