EURO 2024

The largest number of Bundesliga clubs, the oldest clubs, the German Football Museum, the most emotional derbies. All or nothing! There’s nothing in between. Black and yellow will never turn into blue and white, and a love of Cologne will never morph into one of Mönchengladbach. It takes no more to understand that the heart of football beats in North Rhine-Westphalia.

It’s clear that culture belongs to NRW the same way that the great cathedral belongs to Cologne. What’s particularly nice is that the culture in NRW is incredibly diverse. Six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, around 1,000 museums, and numerous events and festivals all year round make North Rhine-Westphalia one of the densest cultural regions in Europe. Culture has always been an integral part of NRW, and you can feel that.

The best way to get to know the people and the mentality is in a brewery, or at the Trinkhalle. No other part of Germany has such a diverse and extensive culture of beer and brewing as NRW. Every corner of the state offers its own special styles, tastes, and traditions for visitors to discover – from tiny microbreweries to international best-sellers.