Present and Past

Located at the crossroads of important roads and railways as well as right next to the Kiel Canal, Rendsburg is at the very centre of Schleswig-Holstein. With approximately 30,000 citizens, the district city of Rendsburg is the centre of an economic region with around 60,000 inhabitants. Rendsburg is a cosmopolitan city, characterized by its infrastructure and the way of life of its people and their attitude.

As early as 1100 a castle was built on the ‘Eider’ island, where the main military and trade routes met and crossed the river Eider. Soon afterwards, the castle was named ‘Reinholdsburg’, and later abbreviated into ‘Rendsburg’.

Rendsburg was mentioned for the first time in an official document in 1199. At the beginning of the 12th century, a town was built close to the neighbouring castle and received its town charter in 1252.

One line of the House of Schauenburg, which was feoffed with Holstein, chose Rendsburg as its residence. In the 13th century they gained power and Duke Gerhard III, named ‘the Great’ ruled over the biggest part of Holstein as well as over the duchy of Schleswig and at times over the whole of Denmark. He gave the city of Rendsburg its constitution and territory in 1339; he also enlarged the estate of the city as a gift.

Rendsburg developed into a trading city in the 14th and 15th century. Countless native sailors travelled the river Eider, merchants from Rendsburg traded with wood and grain from the surrounding areas and took part in the transit trade between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

In 1539, Rendsburg changed and turned into an important military base of the Danish king, who had been the sovereign of Schleswig-Holstein since 1460. The importance of the city of Rendsburg can also be seen in the fact that the reformation of 1542 found its official ending in a meeting of the parliament in Rendsburg.

During the Thirty Years’ War, Wallenstein’s troops occupied Rendsburg for two years. Swedish troops arrived in 1645 and occupied the city and caused great damage. Two decades later the government in Copenhagen decided to enlarge Rendsburg into a more powerful military base of the duchies. The first enlargement (1669-1673) was followed by another one in 1690, causing immense change: Extensive modern embankments could then be found on both banks of the river Eider, which were situated to the north and south of the Old Town. The southern ‘Neuwerk’ was a new part of the city, which spread out in a fan-like shape. The contrast of the middle-aged Old Town and baroque ‘Neuwerk’ contributes to Rendsburg’s attractiveness.

The enlargement into a fortress turned Rendsburg into a powerful centre with a large garrison, however, it had a negative influence on the city’s economic development for about 150 years. The construction of the Eider Canal was one of the first steps to improving the economic situation, however, the ditches and bastions stopped the city from expanding and attracting new trades and business. Hence, Rendsburg remained focussed on one-sided military orientation.

Bild: Die Rendsburger Hochbrücke, Luftansicht

Rendsburg was the focus of military actions during the war between Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark from 1848 to 1850. The provisional government was also situated in Rendsburg in the first five months of the war. After the failure of the uprising, the Danish government ordered the fortifications of Old Town and Kronwerk to be levelled to the ground and the walls of Neuwerk were left to rot. This was the end of the fortress, which turned out to be an advantage for the development of the city. Rendsburg kept a garrison, but was also able to develop its trade and business. The crucial trigger was the building of the Kiel Canal, which turned Rendsburg into a seaport located inland. The development of docks and shipyards as well as larger companies was made possible from then on. The ‘Hollersche Calrshütte’ has become the biggest iron-processing company in northern Germany and was founded in 1827. After the Kiel Canal had been broadened, the railway bridge was constructed in 1913. The 2,5 km long steel construction has become Rendsburg’s landmark. The road swing bridge, which had been built at the same time, was replaced by a four-lane tunnel in 1961. A tunnel for pedestrians was added in 1965.

The city of Rendsburg endured the Second World War almost without any damage. The integration of refugees, increasing Rendsburg’s population from 20,000 to 37,000, was the biggest communal achievement in the post-war period.

Rendsburg – economy, culture, recreation and leisure time

Today Rendsburg is the centre of the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde. Over the centuries Rendsburg developed into a traditional location for industry and services. Since then, its economic structure has included the design and construction of tools and machines, fine processing, printing products, electronics, shipbuilding, construction and civil engineering, the power industry, the grain trade, food and luxury articles, meat processing, bank offices, plastics as well as wood processing. Skilled employees, apprenticeship placements, an excellent economic climate, high-capacity ports (deep-sea port inland) and excellent infrastructure as well as future-orientated advanced technology support the work of businesses located in Rendsburg. The openness of Rendsburg in Europe is not only reflected in its infrastructure, but also in friendships with other cities abroad: Rendsburg is twinned with Vierzon in France, Lancaster in England, Aalborg in Denmark, Haapsalu in Estonia, Kristianstad in Sweden and Skien in Norway.

Rendsburg, being right in the middle of Schleswig-Holstein, is in the process of redefining its role in the new political landscape developing in the federal state. The traditional farmers’ capital and old Danish stronghold strives for an independent profile as “a showcase for Schleswig-Holstein”.

With its own trade fair area (MESSEGELÄNDE) situated right at the Kiel Canal, the ‘NORLA’ ( a large agriculture trade fair) and a huge range of individual exhibition venues, Rendsburg offers excellent conditions for trade fairs and exhibitions as well as congresses and seminars.

The military tradition of the city is continued in the form of a large garrison. Furthermore, Rendsburg provides all the necessary cultural as well as educational institutions for its citizens and outlying areas.

The city covers an area of 2,372 ha: Around 350 ha are trade, industrial or specialised areas, which offer lots of space for new businesses. This land is fully developed and available at low costs.

Being the partner for investments in the so-called technology region K.E.R.N. e.V. (Kiel, Eckernförde, Rendsburg, Neumünster), Rendsburg is prepared and ready for competition in Europe, while still offering enough room to live, relax as well as for business opportunities.