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{{Infobox German location {{Infobox German location
|type = City |type = City
|image_photo = {{Photomontage|position=centre | image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
|photo1a = Kiel Luftaufnahme 02.jpg
| perrow = 1/2/2/2
|photo2a = Ayuntamiento, Kiel, Alemania, 2019-09-10, DD 96-98 HDR.jpg
| total_width = 280
|photo3a = Schifffahrtsmuseum Kiel 2014.jpg
| align = center
|photo3b = Laboe U995.JPG
| caption_align = center
|photo4a = Kiel Rathaus 0336.jpg
| image1 = Kiel Schwedenkai Ostseekai hafen IMG 3820.JPG
|size = 280
| caption1 = Schwedenkai
|spacing = 2
| image2 = Ayuntamiento, Kiel, Alemania, 2019-09-10, DD 96-98 HDR.jpg
|color = #FFFFFF
| caption2 = city hall
|border = 0
| image3 = Kleiner Kiel with Opera and Town hall.JPG
|foot_montage = Top to bottom, left to right: aerial view including ] and harbor, city hall on ''Rathausplatz'', Maritime Museum, ] and ], City Hall Tower and ] as seen from the ''Kleine Kiel''
| caption3 = Kleiner Kiel
}}
| image4 = Hochbrücken Levensau Nord-Ostsee-Kanal (51901272876).jpg
| caption4 = ]
| image5 = Bootshafen Kiel-msu-2021-2-.jpg
| caption5 = Bootshafen
| image6 = Museumsbruecke Seegarten Kiel-msu-2021-4-.jpg
| caption6 = ]
| image7 = Hoernbruecke Kiel.jpg
| caption7 = ] }}
|image_coa = DEU Kiel (Alt.) COA.svg |image_coa = DEU Kiel (Alt.) COA.svg
|image_flag = Flagge der kreisfreien Stadt Kiel.svg |image_flag = Flagge der kreisfreien Stadt Kiel.svg
Line 39: Line 47:
|ruling_party3 = South Schleswig Voter Federation |ruling_party3 = South Schleswig Voter Federation
}} }}
'''Kiel''' ({{IPAc-en|k|iː|l}} {{respell|KEEL}}, {{IPA|de|kiːl|lang|Kiel.ogg}}) is the capital and most populous city in the northern ] state of ]. With a population of around 250,000, it is Germany's largest city on the ]. It is located on the ] inlet of the ] and lies in the southeast of the ] Peninsula, on the mouth of the ] River, approximately {{convert|90|km}} northeast of ]. The world's busiest artificial waterway, the ], has a terminus in Kiel's ] district.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kusch |first1=Regina |title=Eröffnung des Nord-Ostsee-Kanals Die meistbefahrene künstliche Wasserstraße der Welt |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/eroeffnung-des-nord-ostsee-kanals-die-meistbefahrene.871.de.html?dram:article_id=479034 |website=Deutschlandfunk |date=21 June 2020 |access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref> This canal connects the Baltic to the ], with its other end in ]. Most of Kiel is part of ]. The boroughs north of the ] also belong to ], while those north of the ] are historically part of ].
'''Kiel''' ({{IPAc-en|k|iː|l}}; {{IPA-de|kiːl|lang|Kiel.ogg}}) is the capital and most populous city in the northern ] state of ], with a population of 246,243 (2021).


Kiel lies approximately {{convert|90|km}} north of ], and about the same distance south of the ]. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the ] peninsula on the southwestern shore of the ], Kiel has become one of Germany's major maritime centres, known for a variety of international ] events, including the annual ], which is the biggest sailing event in the world. Kiel is also known for the ], when sailors refused orders to prepare to engage the British Navy in the last weeks of ], sparking the ] which led to the abdication of the ] and the formation of the ]. The Olympic sailing competitions of the ] and the ] were held in the ].<ref>{{cite web Kiel is one of Germany's major maritime centres, known for a variety of international ] events, including the annual ], which is the biggest sailing event in the world. Kiel is also known for the ], when sailors refused orders to prepare to engage the British Navy in the last weeks of ], sparking the ], which led to the abdication of the ] and the formation of the ]. The Olympic sailing competitions of the ] and the ] were held in the ].<ref>{{cite web
| title=General Information | title=General Information
| work=Kieler Woche | work=Kieler Woche
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| access-date=2006-03-13 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051230071223/http://www.kieler-woche.de/eng/Media_English/general_inf_dates_and_events.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2005-12-30}}</ref> | access-date=2006-03-13 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051230071223/http://www.kieler-woche.de/eng/Media_English/general_inf_dates_and_events.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2005-12-30}}</ref>


Kiel has also been one of the traditional homes of the ]'s ] fleet, and continues to be a major high-tech ] centre. Located in Kiel is the ] at the ]. Kiel is an important sea transport hub, thanks to its location on the ] (''Kieler Förde'') and the busiest artificial waterway in the world,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kusch |first1=Regina |title=Eröffnung des Nord-Ostsee-Kanals Die meistbefahrene künstliche Wasserstraße der Welt |url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/eroeffnung-des-nord-ostsee-kanals-die-meistbefahrene.871.de.html?dram:article_id=479034 |website=Deutschlandfunk |access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref> ] (''Nord-Ostsee-Kanal''). A number of passenger ferries to ], ], ] and other countries operate from here. Moreover, today ] is a popular destination for ]s touring the Baltic Sea. Kiel has also been one of the traditional homes of the ]'s ] fleet, and continues to be a major high-tech ] centre. The ], founded in 1665, is home to the ]. Kiel is an important sea transport hub, with passenger ferries to ], ], ] and other countries. Moreover, today the ] is a popular destination for ]s touring the Baltic Sea.


Kiel's ] began in the 13th century. Before then, in the eighth century, it was a Danish village. Until 1864 it was administered by ] in ]. In 1866 the city was annexed by ] and in 1871 it became part of Germany. Kiel's ] began in the 13th century. Before then, in the eighth century, it was a Danish village. Until 1864 it was administered by ] in ]. In 1866 the city was annexed by ] and in 1871 it became part of Germany.
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] ]
The capital of the county (later duchy) of ], Kiel was a member of the ] from 1284 until it was expelled in 1518 for harbouring ]. The ''Kieler Umschlag'' (]), first held in 1431, became the central market for goods and money in thr Duchy of Holstein. It began to decline {{Circa|1850}} and ceased in 1900. The capital of the county (later duchy) of ], Kiel was a member of the ] from 1284 until it was expelled in 1518 for harbouring ]. The ''Kieler Umschlag'' (]), first held in 1431, became the central market for goods and money in the Duchy of Holstein. It began to decline {{Circa|1850}} and ceased in 1900.


=== Modern times === === Modern times ===
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] ]


From 1773 to 1864, the town belonged to the king of ]. However, because the king ruled Holstein as a fief of the ] only through a ], the town was not incorporated as part of Denmark proper. Thus Kiel belonged to Germany, but it was ruled by the Danish king. Even though the empire was abolished in 1806, the Danish king continued to rule Kiel only through his position as Duke of Holstein, which became a member of the ] in 1815. When ] and Holstein rebelled against Denmark in 1848 (the ]), Kiel became the capital of Schleswig-Holstein until the Danish victory in 1850.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hook |first=Alison |title=Kiel, Germany – Coventry's twin towns and cities |url=https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory-record/49243/kiel-germany |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Coventry City Council |language=en}}</ref> From 1773 to 1864, the town belonged to the king of ]. However, because the king ruled Holstein as a fief of the ] only through a ], the town was not incorporated as part of Denmark proper. Even though the empire was abolished in 1806, the Danish king continued to rule Kiel only through his position as Duke of Holstein, which became a member of the ] in 1815. When ] and Holstein rebelled against Denmark in 1848 (the ]), Kiel became the capital of Schleswig-Holstein until the Danish victory in 1850.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hook |first=Alison |title=Kiel, Germany – Coventry's twin towns and cities |url=https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory-record/49243/kiel-germany |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Coventry City Council |language=en}}</ref>


During the ] in 1864, Kiel and the rest of the duchies of ] and ] were conquered by a ] alliance of the ] and the ]. After the war, Kiel was briefly administered by both the Austrians and the Prussians, but the ] in 1866 led to the formation of the ] and the annexation of Kiel by Prussia in 1867. On 24 March 1865 King ] based Prussia's Baltic Sea fleet in Kiel instead of ]. The ] was established in 1867 in the town.{{cn|date=August 2022}} During the ] in 1864, Kiel and the rest of the duchies of ] and ] were conquered by a ] alliance of the ] and the ]. After the war, Kiel was briefly administered by both the Austrians and the Prussians, but the ] in 1866 led to the formation of the ] and the annexation of Kiel by Prussia in 1867. On 24 March 1865 King ] based Prussia's Baltic Sea fleet in Kiel instead of ]. The ] was established in 1867 in the town.{{cn|date=August 2022}}


When William I of Prussia became Emperor ] of the ] in 1871, he designated Kiel and ] as ''Reichskriegshäfen'' ("Imperial War Harbours"). The prestigious ] was established in 1887 with ] as its patron. Emperor Wilhelm II became its ] in 1891.{{cn|date=August 2022}} When William I of Prussia became Emperor ] of the ] in 1871, he designated Kiel and ] as ''Reichskriegshäfen'' ("Imperial War Harbours"). The ] was established in 1887 with ] as its patron. Emperor Wilhelm II became its ] in 1891.{{cn|date=August 2022}}


Because of its new role as Germany's main naval base, Kiel very quickly increased in size in the following years, from 18,770 in 1864 to about 200,000 in 1910. Much of the old town centre and other surroundings were levelled and redeveloped to provide for the growing city. The ], opened in 1881, had been enlarged to 10 lines, with a total route length of {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}}, before the end of the ].{{cn|date=August 2022}} Because of its new role as Germany's main naval base, Kiel very quickly increased in size in the following years, from 18,770 in 1864 to about 200,000 in 1910. Much of the old town centre and other surroundings were levelled and redeveloped to provide for the growing city. The ], opened in 1881, had been enlarged to 10 lines, with a total route length of {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}}, before the end of the ].{{cn|date=August 2022}}
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] capsized in the docks at Kiel after being hit in an RAF raid on the night of 9/10 April 1945.]] ] capsized in the docks at Kiel after being hit in an RAF raid on the night of 9/10 April 1945.]]
] ]
During the ], Kiel remained one of the major naval bases and shipbuilding centres of the German Reich. There was also a ] ] for the local industry.<ref>{{cite web|author=Victor, Edward|title=Alphabetical List of Camps, Subcamps and Other Camps|url=http://www.edwardvictor.com/Holocaust/List%20of%20Camps.htm|access-date=2008-07-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216205741/http://edwardvictor.com/Holocaust/List%20of%20Camps.htm|archive-date=2010-12-16}}</ref> Owing to its status as a naval port and as production site for submarines, Kiel was heavily bombed by the ] during this period. The bombing destroyed more than 80% of the remaining old town, 72% of the central residential areas, and 83% of the industrial areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kiel.de/Aemter_01_bis_20/05/City_history/2history.htm|title=The Navy changed the face of Kiel|publisher=City of Kiel|work=Kiel — a portrait of the city|access-date=2008-07-25}}</ref> During the RAF bombing of 23/24 July 1944, Luftwaffe fighters tried to intercept the spoof (i.e. decoy) force instead of the main force attacking Kiel,<ref name=Jones>{{cite book |last=Jones |first=R. V. |author-link=Reginald Victor Jones |year=1978 |title=Most Secret War: British Scientific Intelligence 1939–1945 |location=London |publisher=Hamish Hamilton |isbn=0-241-89746-7 |page= |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/mostsecretwar0000jone/page/466 }}</ref> and there was no water for three days; trains and buses did not run for eight days and there was no gas available for cooking for three weeks.<ref name=diary> {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070706011932/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/jul44.html |date=2007-07-06 }}, {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070706011932/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/diary.html |date=2007-07-06 }}. Accessed 4 May 2007</ref> During the ], Kiel remained one of the major naval bases and shipbuilding centres of the German Reich. There was also a ] ] for the local industry.<ref>{{cite web|author=Victor, Edward|title=Alphabetical List of Camps, Subcamps and Other Camps|url=http://www.edwardvictor.com/Holocaust/List%20of%20Camps.htm|access-date=2008-07-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216205741/http://edwardvictor.com/Holocaust/List%20of%20Camps.htm|archive-date=2010-12-16}}</ref> Owing to its status as a naval port and production site for submarines, Kiel was heavily bombed by the ] during this period. The bombing destroyed more than 80% of the remaining old town, 72% of the central residential areas, and 83% of the industrial areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kiel.de/Aemter_01_bis_20/05/City_history/2history.htm|title=The Navy changed the face of Kiel|publisher=City of Kiel|work=Kiel — a portrait of the city|access-date=2008-07-25}}</ref> During the RAF bombing of 23/24 July 1944, Luftwaffe fighters tried to intercept the spoof (i.e. decoy) force instead of the main force attacking Kiel,<ref name=Jones>{{cite book |last=Jones |first=R. V. |author-link=Reginald Victor Jones |year=1978 |title=Most Secret War: British Scientific Intelligence 1939–1945 |location=London |publisher=Hamish Hamilton |isbn=0-241-89746-7 |page= |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/mostsecretwar0000jone/page/466 }}</ref> and there was no water for three days; trains and buses did not run for eight days and there was no gas available for cooking for three weeks.<ref name=diary> {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070706011932/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/jul44.html |date=2007-07-06 }}, {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070706011932/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/diary.html |date=2007-07-06 }}. Accessed 4 May 2007</ref>


There were several bombing raids of the port area during the period 20 February – 20 April 1945 which successfully eliminated many ], and the few large warships (cruisers ], ], and ]) still afloat at that time. Although the town was beyond the stop-line set for the western Allies in the ], it and its port, its scientists, and the canal were seized by a British ] led by Major ] on 5 May 1945.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Living history chronicles |last=Jones |first=Gwilym Thomas |year=2001 |publisher=General Store Publishing House |isbn=1-894263-50-2 |pages=102–104 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w4Yv4RWOXGoC&q=%22T-Force%22%2BKiel&pg=PA103 |access-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217202713/http://books.google.lk/books?id=w4Yv4RWOXGoC&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=%22T-Force%22+Kiel&source=bl&ots=UoBwdJwN4j&sig=2u82SValvyuwGokQgCoaagqXuI4&hl=en&ei=rIqbSo__OYTY7AOLut3bBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#v=onepage&q=%22T-Force%22%2BKiel&f=false |archive-date=17 February 2012 }}</ref><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023090459/http://www.arcre.com/archive/wwii/targetforce/tforceh |date=2014-10-23 }} ARCRE—Archive research & document copying</ref> This forestalled capture of the town by the Soviets, whom the western Allies expected to advance from Germany to ] in violation of the ].<ref name=EclipseHistoryLearning>{{cite web|url=http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/operation_eclipse.htm|title=Operation Eclipse|work=History Learning Site}}</ref> There were several bombing raids of the port area during the period 20 February – 20 April 1945 which successfully eliminated many ], and the few large warships (cruisers ], ], and ]) still afloat at that time. It and its port, and the canal were seized by a British ] led by Major ] on 5 May 1945.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Living history chronicles |last=Jones |first=Gwilym Thomas |year=2001 |publisher=General Store Publishing House |isbn=1-894263-50-2 |pages=102–104 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w4Yv4RWOXGoC&q=%22T-Force%22%2BKiel&pg=PA103 |access-date=31 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217202713/http://books.google.lk/books?id=w4Yv4RWOXGoC&pg=PA103&lpg=PA103&dq=%22T-Force%22+Kiel&source=bl&ots=UoBwdJwN4j&sig=2u82SValvyuwGokQgCoaagqXuI4&hl=en&ei=rIqbSo__OYTY7AOLut3bBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#v=onepage&q=%22T-Force%22%2BKiel&f=false |archive-date=17 February 2012 }}</ref><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023090459/http://www.arcre.com/archive/wwii/targetforce/tforceh |date=2014-10-23 }} ARCRE—Archive research & document copying</ref> <ref name=EclipseHistoryLearning>{{cite web|url=http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/operation_eclipse.htm|title=Operation Eclipse|work=History Learning Site}}</ref>


Like other heavily bombed German cities, the city was rebuilt after the war. In 1946, Kiel was named the seat of government for ], and it officially became the state's capital in 1952.{{cn|date=August 2022}} Like other heavily bombed German cities, the city was rebuilt after the war. In 1946, Kiel was named the seat of government for ], and it officially became the state's capital in 1952.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
Today, Kiel is once again an important maritime centre of Germany, with high-tech shipbuilding, ] construction and one of the three leading institutions in the field of marine sciences in Europe, the IFM-GEOMAR. Regular ferries to Scandinavia and Lithuania, as well as the largest sailing event in the world called the ] (Kieler Woche) in German and The Kiel Regatta in English. The ''Kieler Umschlag'' is another festival, which has been taking place again since 1975. Kiel is also home to a large service sector and a number of research institutions including the ], which is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious university in the state.{{cn|date=August 2022}} Today, Kiel is once again an important maritime centre of Germany, with high-tech shipbuilding, ] construction and one of the world's largest ocean research centers, the GEOMAR. Regular ferries to Scandinavia and Lithuania, as well as the largest sailing event in the world called the ] (Kieler Woche) in German and The Kiel Regatta in English. The ''Kieler Umschlag'' is another festival, which has been taking place again since 1975. Kiel is also home to a large service sector and a number of research institutions including the ], which is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious university in the state.{{cn|date=August 2022}}


== Geography == == Geography ==
{{moresources|section|date=August 2022}} {{moresources|section|date=August 2022}}
=== Climate === === Climate ===
Kiel has an ] (]: ''Cfb''; ]: ''Dolk''). Located on the Baltic Sea coast, the temperature fluctuates less than inland, with warm winters and cool summers throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from {{convert|2|C|F}} in winter to {{convert|17|C|F}} in summer. Days with a temperature above {{convert|30|C|F}} are rare, with an average of only 2.8 days per year.<ref name=WMO/>
Kiel has an ] (''Cfb'' in the ]).

The Kiel weather station has recorded the following extreme values:<ref name=sklima/>
* Highest Temperature {{convert|36.5|C|F}} on ].
* Warmest Minimum {{convert|22.1|C|F}} on 1 August 1994.
* Coldest Maximum {{convert|-15.4|C|F}} on 12 February 1940.
* Lowest Temperature {{convert|-24.8|C|F}} on 13 February 1940.<ref name=wetterzentrale/>
* Highest Daily Precipitation {{convert|104.2|mm|in|abbr=on}} on 27 August 1989.
* Wettest Month {{convert|252.0|mm|in|abbr=on}} in August 2011.
* Wettest Year {{convert|964.4|mm|in|abbr=on}} in 2002.
* Driest Year {{convert|454.4|mm|in|abbr=on}} in 1959.<!--
* Earliest Snowfall: 4 November 1966.
* Latest Snowfall: 28 April 1985.-->
* Longest annual sunshine: 2,115.3 hours in 1959.
* Shortest annual sunshine: 1,299.4 hours in 1987.


{{Weather box {{Weather box
Line 116: Line 138:
|Dec record high C = 14.8 |Dec record high C = 14.8
|year record high C = 36.5 |year record high C = 36.5
|Jan avg record high C = 10.0
|Feb avg record high C = 10.8
|Mar avg record high C = 15.3
|Apr avg record high C = 21.3
|May avg record high C = 24.6
|Jun avg record high C = 27.4
|Jul avg record high C = 29.3
|Aug avg record high C = 30.0
|Sep avg record high C = 24.7
|Oct avg record high C = 19.2
|Nov avg record high C = 13.9
|Dec avg record high C = 10.8
|year avg record high C = 31.4
|Jan high C = 4.0 |Jan high C = 4.0
|Feb high C = 4.6 |Feb high C = 4.6
Line 155: Line 190:
|Dec low C = 0.9 |Dec low C = 0.9
|year low C = 5.8 |year low C = 5.8
|Jan avg record low C = -8.3
|Feb avg record low C = -7.5
|Mar avg record low C = -4.2
|Apr avg record low C = -2.2
|May avg record low C = 0.2
|Jun avg record low C = 5.2
|Jul avg record low C = 8.2
|Aug avg record low C = 8.0
|Sep avg record low C = 5.1
|Oct avg record low C = 0.5
|Nov avg record low C = -2.9
|Dec avg record low C = -6.1
|year avg record low C = -10.4
|Jan record low C = -20.8 |Jan record low C = -20.8
|Feb record low C = -24.8 |Feb record low C = -24.8
Line 196: Line 244:
|Dec precipitation days = 19.3 |Dec precipitation days = 19.3
|year precipitation days = 190.7 |year precipitation days = 190.7
|Jan sun = 40.2 |Jan snow depth cm = 4.9
|Feb sun = 60.5 |Feb snow depth cm = 7.1
|Mar sun = 115.4 |Mar snow depth cm = 4.1
|Apr sun = 190.3 |Apr snow depth cm = 0.2
|May sun = 243.7 |May snow depth cm = 0
|Jun sun = 228.3 |Jun snow depth cm = 0
|Jul sun = 242.2 |Jul snow depth cm = 0
|Aug sun = 216.7 |Aug snow depth cm = 0
|Sep sun = 155.1 |Sep snow depth cm = 0
|Oct sun = 106.2 |Oct snow depth cm = 0
|Nov sun = 50.3 |Nov snow depth cm = 1.1
|Dec sun = 31.4 |Dec snow depth cm = 3.5
|year sun = 1673.2 |year snow depth cm = 11.5
|Jan humidity = 86.7
|Feb humidity = 84.1
|Mar humidity = 80.3
|Apr humidity = 74.8
|May humidity = 73.4
|Jun humidity = 73.9
|Jul humidity = 73.8
|Aug humidity = 75.5
|Sep humidity = 79.4
|Oct humidity = 82.5
|Nov humidity = 86.5
|Dec humidity = 88.0
|unit snow days = 1.0 cm |unit snow days = 1.0 cm
|Jan snow days = 5.0 |Jan snow days = 5.0
Line 234: Line 270:
|Nov snow days = 0.6 |Nov snow days = 0.6
|Dec snow days = 2.8 |Dec snow days = 2.8
|year snow days = |year snow days =
|humidity colour = green
|Jan humidity = 86.7
|Feb humidity = 84.1
|Mar humidity = 80.3
|Apr humidity = 74.8
|May humidity = 73.4
|Jun humidity = 73.9
|Jul humidity = 73.8
|Aug humidity = 75.5
|Sep humidity = 79.4
|Oct humidity = 82.5
|Nov humidity = 86.5
|Dec humidity = 88.0
|Jan sun = 40.2
|Feb sun = 60.5
|Mar sun = 115.4
|Apr sun = 190.3
|May sun = 243.7
|Jun sun = 228.3
|Jul sun = 242.2
|Aug sun = 216.7
|Sep sun = 155.1
|Oct sun = 106.2
|Nov sun = 50.3
|Dec sun = 31.4
|year sun = 1673.2
|source 1 = ]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web |source 1 = ]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231012161156/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Kiel-Holtenau_10046.csv |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231012161156/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Kiel-Holtenau_10046.csv
Line 243: Line 305:
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = 12 October 2023}}</ref> |access-date = 12 October 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = DWD (extremes)<ref> |source 2 = DWD Open Data<ref name=wetterzentrale>
{{cite web {{cite web
|url = https://www.wetterzentrale.de/extremes_mon.php?station=2565&maand=1&country=1&order=1&extreem=X_TX |url = https://www.wetterzentrale.de/extremes_mon.php?station=2565&maand=1&country=1&order=1&extreem=X_TX
Line 255: Line 317:
|publisher = DWD |publisher = DWD
|language = de |language = de
|access-date = 18 November 2023}}</ref> |access-date = 18 November 2023}}</ref><ref name=sklima>{{cite web
|url = http://sklima.de/datenbank_auswertung.php?tab=2
|title = Monatsauswertung
|website = sklima.de
|publisher = SKlima
|language = de
|access-date = 29 October 2024}}</ref>
}} }}

===Note=== ===Note===
{{notelist}} {{notelist}}
Line 263: Line 332:
]Kiel has about 40 districts, but there is no standard division. The districts are traditionally grouped into 30 boroughs (Stadtteile). Another, more recent structure summarizes the districts in 18 political districts (Ortsteile). The city has 25 electoral districts. ]Kiel has about 40 districts, but there is no standard division. The districts are traditionally grouped into 30 boroughs (Stadtteile). Another, more recent structure summarizes the districts in 18 political districts (Ortsteile). The city has 25 electoral districts.


The biggest districts, by population, are Gaarden (23,000), Mettenhof (20,000) and Elmschenhagen (17,000). Gaarden, located at the southern end of the fjord, is a traditional working-class district that used to be home to mainly shipyard workers. Mettenhof is a large housing estate (satellite town) that was built in the 1960s and 1970s on the western outskirts of the city. The biggest districts, by population, are Wik (20,100), Gaarden-Ost (19,200) and Mettenhof (19,900).<ref>https://www.kiel.de/de/kiel_zukunft/statistik_kieler_zahlen/_kleinraeumige_berichte/Statistischer_Bericht_Nr._296_-_Kieler_Stadtteile_2023.pdf</ref> Gaarden, located at the southern end of the fjord, is a traditional working-class district that used to be home to mainly shipyard workers. Mettenhof is a large housing estate (satellite town) that was built in the 1960s and 1970s on the western outskirts of the city.
The city districts of Düsternbrook, Schreventeich, Ravensberg and Blücherplatz, north of the city centre, are popular places to live with many 19th century buildings, villas and tree-lined streets. The government offices, ministries and parliament of the state of ] are also mainly based in these neighbourhoods, particularly Düsternbrook. In contrast to the heavy bomb damage inflicted on the central parts of the city during the ], most of the residential areas were not severely damaged. Hence, Kiel's more modern-style inner city and Kiel's more historic/elaborate residential areas stand in architectural contrast to one another. The city districts of Düsternbrook, Schreventeich, Ravensberg and Blücherplatz, north of the city centre, are popular places to live with many 19th century buildings, villas and tree-lined streets. The government offices, ministries and parliament of the state of ] are also mainly based in these neighbourhoods, particularly Düsternbrook. In contrast to the heavy bomb damage inflicted on the central parts of the city during the ], most of the residential areas were not severely damaged. Hence, Kiel's more modern-style inner city and Kiel's more historic/elaborate residential areas stand in architectural contrast to one another.
There are plans for large-scale improvement and building efforts for the inner city, providing better pavements, better access to and view of the waterfront, and a generally more attractive feel to the place. These plans, most notably the "Kleiner Kiel Kanal", a restoration of a historic canal that was filled in to make place for road infrastructure, are to be implemented in the next few years.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Kleiner Kiel Kanal|url = http://www.kleiner-kiel-kanal.de/|website = kleiner-kiel-kanal.de|access-date = 2015-08-27}}</ref> There are plans for large-scale improvement and building efforts for the inner city, providing better pavements, better access to and view of the waterfront, and a generally more attractive feel to the place. These plans, most notably the "Kleiner Kiel Kanal", a restoration of a historic canal that was filled in to make place for road infrastructure, are to be implemented in the next few years.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Kleiner Kiel Kanal|url = http://www.kleiner-kiel-kanal.de/|website = kleiner-kiel-kanal.de|access-date = 2015-08-27}}</ref>
Line 292: Line 361:


== Population == == Population ==
{{Historical populations|1300|1000|1450|2000|1682|3310|1750|4500|1871|31764|1900|107977|1919|205330|1925|213587|1933|218335|1939|273735|1951|259629|1956|256727|1961|273284|1966|270309|1971|269437|1976|259403|1981|249786|1986|243626|1990|245567|2001|232242|2011|235782|2022|249132|footnote=Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions. {{Historical populations|1300|1000|1450|2000|1682|3310|1750|4500|1871|31764|1900|107977|1919|205330|1925|213587|1933|218335|1939|273735|1951|259629|1956|256727|1961|273284|1966|270309|1971|269437|1976|259403|1981|249786|1986|243626|1990|245567|2001|232242|2011|235782|2022|249132|2023|250412footnote=Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.
Source:<ref>]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=August 2019}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Germany: States and Major Cities|url=https://citypopulation.de/en/germany/cities/}}</ref>}} Source:<ref>]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=August 2019}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Germany: States and Major Cities|url=https://citypopulation.de/en/germany/cities/}}</ref>}}<ref>https://www.kiel.de/de/kiel_zukunft/statistik_kieler_zahlen/_kleinraeumige_berichte/Statistischer_Bericht_Nr._296_-_Kieler_Stadtteile_2023.pdf</ref>


Kiel has a population of 247,000. In 1946, when Kiel became the capital of ] state, it had about population of 214,000. Kiel is not only the largest German city located on the sea, but the only state capital located on the sea. In the 1950s Kiel, with its marine port, attracted members of the navy. Kiel had its highest peak of population in 1973 at 273,000. The population declined since then. Many people moved away from this city and Kiel became very poor and had a big problems with unemployed people at that time. Kiel is now a city with universities and active marine stations which attracts many young students and marines to Kiel. Kiel has a population of 247,000. In 1946, when Kiel became the capital of ], its population was about 214,000. Kiel is Germany's largest coastal city and its only state capital located on the sea. In the 1950s Kiel, with its marine port, attracted members of the navy. Kiel had its highest peak of population in 1973 at 273,000. The population declined since then. Many people moved away from this city and Kiel became very poor and had a big problems with unemployed people at that time. Kiel is now a city with universities and active marine stations which attracts many young students and marines to Kiel.


{|class="wikitable" {|class="wikitable"
Line 325: Line 394:


== Politics == == Politics ==
===City Council===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Seats in City Council after 2023 Vote<ref name="p931">{{cite web | title=Gemeindewahl 2023 in Kiel, Amtliches Endergebnis, Statischer Bericht Nr. 287| last=Stadtamt Kiel | url=https://www.kiel.de/de/kiel_zukunft/statistik_kieler_zahlen/_statistische_wahlberichte/Statistischer_Bericht_Nr._287_-_Gemeindewahl_2023_in_Kiel_-_amtliches_Endergebnis.pdf | access-date=2024-11-27}}</ref>
|-
! Party !! Seats
|-
| ] (Grüne) || 14
|-
| ] (CDU) || 11
|-
| ] || 11
|-
| ] (SSW) || 4
|-
| ] (AfD) || 3
|-
| ] || 2
|-
| ] (Die Linke) || 2
|-
| ] (Die Basis) || 1
|-
| ] || 1
|-
| Total || 49
|}
The current governing faction in the city council is formed by the Greens and the SPD, who have a current cooperation agreement from 2023 to 2028.<ref name="r617">{{cite web | title=Kieler-Kooperationsvereinbarung-Gruene-und-SPD-2023-2028
| url=https://gruene-kiel.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/69/2023/08/Kieler-Kooperationsvereinbarung-Gruene-und-SPD-2023-2028.pdf | access-date=2024-11-27}}</ref>
=== Mayor === === Mayor ===
The current mayor of Kiel is ] of the ] (SPD). The most recent mayoral election was held on 29 October 2019, and the results were as follows: The current mayor of Kiel is ] of the ] (SPD). Kämpfer has stated that he will not run for a third five year term.<ref name="i118">{{cite web | last=Müller | first=Kay | title=Kieler Oberbürgermeister Ulf Kämpfer tritt nicht für dritte Amtszeit an | publisher=shz.de | date=2024-08-27 | url=https://www.shz.de/lokales/kiel/artikel/ulf-kaempfer-will-nicht-erneut-buergermeister-von-kiel-werden-47651687 | language=de | access-date=2024-11-28}}</ref> His current term ends in 2026. The results of the 29 October 2019 election were as follows.:


{{election table}} {{election table}}
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|} |}


=== City council === ===Prior Elections===
] ==== City council ====
]
The Kiel city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 6 May 2018, and the results were as follows: The Kiel city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The results of the city council election on 6 May 2018 were as follows:


{{election table}} {{election table}}
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== Culture == == Culture ==
=== Sports === === Sports ===
There are a number of sports venues in Kiel, most notably the ] (formerly known as Baltic Sea Hall or ''Ostseehalle''), which is the home ground of one of the most successful ] clubs in the world and multiple German champion, ]. ], an ] club, which plays at ], will play in the ] in the 2024-2025 season for the first time in club's history. There are a number of sports venues in Kiel, most notably the ] (formerly known as Baltic Sea Hall or ''Ostseehalle''), which is the home ground of one of the most successful ] clubs in the world and multiple German champion, ]. ], an ] club, which plays at ], will play in the ] in the 2024–2025 season for the first time in the club's history.


== Education and scientific research == == Education and scientific research ==
Line 514: Line 612:


There are twelve ] in Kiel, of which the Kieler Gelehrtenschule, founded in 1320 as a humanistic gymnasium, is the oldest. Other secondary schools include the Gymnasium Elmschenhagen and the Max-Planck-Schule with a focus on natural sciences. There are many comprehensive schools – partially with secondary schools – all over the city area, as well as private schools. There are twelve ] in Kiel, of which the Kieler Gelehrtenschule, founded in 1320 as a humanistic gymnasium, is the oldest. Other secondary schools include the Gymnasium Elmschenhagen and the Max-Planck-Schule with a focus on natural sciences. There are many comprehensive schools – partially with secondary schools – all over the city area, as well as private schools.

BZ am NOK (Berufsbildungszentrum am Nord-Ostsee-Kanal)is a vocational training center provides education and training in over 40 professions. It includes dual training programs, vocational schools, technical colleges, and vocational grammar schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbz-nok.de/en/about-us/|access-date=2024-11-15 |title=About us - BBZ am NOK, Europaschule }}</ref>


== Economy and infrastructure == == Economy and infrastructure ==
Line 572: Line 672:


===Transport=== ===Transport===
] ]
Kiel is situated near an important pan-European motorway, the ], which connects northern Europe with central and southern Europe. Kiel is situated near an important pan-European motorway, the ], which connects northern Europe with central and southern Europe.



Latest revision as of 04:12, 28 November 2024

German city, capital of Schleswig-Holstein For other uses, see Kiel (disambiguation).
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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City in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Kiel
City
Schwedenkaicity hallKleiner KielLevensau High BridgeBootshafenMuseum BridgeHörn Bridge
Flag of KielFlagCoat of arms of KielCoat of arms
Location of Kiel
Kiel is located in GermanyKielKiel Show map of GermanyKiel is located in Schleswig-HolsteinKielKiel Show map of Schleswig-Holstein
Coordinates: 54°19′24″N 10°08′22″E / 54.32333°N 10.13944°E / 54.32333; 10.13944
CountryGermany
StateSchleswig-Holstein
DistrictUrban district
Subdivisions18 districts
Government
 • Lord mayorUlf Kämpfer
 • Governing partiesSPD / Greens / South Schleswig Voter Federation
Area
 • City118.6 km (45.8 sq mi)
Elevation5 m (16 ft)
Population
 • City247,717
 • Density2,100/km (5,400/sq mi)
 • Metro643,594
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes24103–24159
Dialling codes0431
Vehicle registrationKI
Websitewww.kiel.de

Kiel (/kiːl/ KEEL, German: [kiːl] ) is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. With a population of around 250,000, it is Germany's largest city on the Baltic Sea. It is located on the Kieler Förde inlet of the Bay of Kiel and lies in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula, on the mouth of the Schwentine River, approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) northeast of Hamburg. The world's busiest artificial waterway, the Kiel Canal, has a terminus in Kiel's Holtenau district. This canal connects the Baltic to the North Sea, with its other end in Brunsbüttel. Most of Kiel is part of Holstein. The boroughs north of the Schwentine also belong to Wagria, while those north of the Kiel Canal are historically part of Southern Schleswig.

Kiel is one of Germany's major maritime centres, known for a variety of international sailing events, including the annual Kiel Week, which is the biggest sailing event in the world. Kiel is also known for the Kiel Mutiny, when sailors refused orders to prepare to engage the British Navy in the last weeks of World War I, sparking the German Revolution, which led to the abdication of the Kaiser and the formation of the Weimar Republic. The Olympic sailing competitions of the 1936 and the 1972 Summer Olympics were held in the Bay of Kiel.

Kiel has also been one of the traditional homes of the German Navy's Baltic fleet, and continues to be a major high-tech shipbuilding centre. The University of Kiel, founded in 1665, is home to the GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. Kiel is an important sea transport hub, with passenger ferries to Sweden, Norway, Lithuania and other countries. Moreover, today the Port of Kiel is a popular destination for cruise ships touring the Baltic Sea.

Kiel's recorded history began in the 13th century. Before then, in the eighth century, it was a Danish village. Until 1864 it was administered by Denmark in personal union. In 1866 the city was annexed by Prussia and in 1871 it became part of Germany.

Kiel was one of the founding cities of the original European Green Capital Award in 2006. In 2005 Kiel's GDP per capita was 35,618, which is well above Germany's national average, and 159% of the European Union's average.

History

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Middle Ages

The city of Kiel was founded in 1233 as Holstenstadt tom Kyle by Count Adolf IV of Holstein, and granted Lübeck city rights in 1242 by Adolf's eldest son, John I of Schauenburg. As a part of Holstein, Kiel belonged to the Holy Roman Empire and was situated only a few kilometres south of the Danish border.

Kiel in the 16th century

The capital of the county (later duchy) of Holstein, Kiel was a member of the Hanseatic League from 1284 until it was expelled in 1518 for harbouring pirates. The Kieler Umschlag (trade fair), first held in 1431, became the central market for goods and money in the Duchy of Holstein. It began to decline c. 1850 and ceased in 1900.

Modern times

The University of Kiel was founded on 29 September 1665 by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. A number of important scholars, including Theodor Mommsen, Felix Jacoby, Hans Geiger and Max Planck, studied or taught there.

Schleswig-Holstein with Kiel Fjord at the Baltic Coast

From 1773 to 1864, the town belonged to the king of Denmark. However, because the king ruled Holstein as a fief of the Holy Roman Empire only through a personal union, the town was not incorporated as part of Denmark proper. Even though the empire was abolished in 1806, the Danish king continued to rule Kiel only through his position as Duke of Holstein, which became a member of the German Confederation in 1815. When Schleswig and Holstein rebelled against Denmark in 1848 (the First Schleswig War), Kiel became the capital of Schleswig-Holstein until the Danish victory in 1850.

During the Second Schleswig War in 1864, Kiel and the rest of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein were conquered by a German Confederation alliance of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. After the war, Kiel was briefly administered by both the Austrians and the Prussians, but the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 led to the formation of the Province of Schleswig-Holstein and the annexation of Kiel by Prussia in 1867. On 24 March 1865 King William I based Prussia's Baltic Sea fleet in Kiel instead of Danzig (Gdańsk). The Imperial shipyard Kiel was established in 1867 in the town.

When William I of Prussia became Emperor William I of the German Empire in 1871, he designated Kiel and Wilhelmshaven as Reichskriegshäfen ("Imperial War Harbours"). The Kiel Yacht Club was established in 1887 with Prince Henry of Prussia as its patron. Emperor Wilhelm II became its commodore in 1891.

Because of its new role as Germany's main naval base, Kiel very quickly increased in size in the following years, from 18,770 in 1864 to about 200,000 in 1910. Much of the old town centre and other surroundings were levelled and redeveloped to provide for the growing city. The Kiel tramway network, opened in 1881, had been enlarged to 10 lines, with a total route length of 40 km (25 mi), before the end of the First World War.

Kiel was the site of the sailors' mutiny which led to the German Revolution in late 1918. Just before the end of the First World War, the German fleet stationed at Kiel was ordered to sail out for a last great battle with the Royal Navy. The sailors, who thought of it as a suicide mission which would have no effect on the outcome of the war, decided they had nothing to lose and refused to obey orders. They took over Kiel and then spread out to other north German ports, sparking the revolution which led to the abolition of the monarchy and the creation of the Weimar Republic.

Double-postcard panorama of Kiel from across the Kiel Fjord, 1902
The German cruiser Admiral Scheer capsized in the docks at Kiel after being hit in an RAF raid on the night of 9/10 April 1945.
Kiel Harbour, an Admiralty chart of 1971

During the Second World War, Kiel remained one of the major naval bases and shipbuilding centres of the German Reich. There was also a slave labour camp for the local industry. Owing to its status as a naval port and production site for submarines, Kiel was heavily bombed by the Allies during this period. The bombing destroyed more than 80% of the remaining old town, 72% of the central residential areas, and 83% of the industrial areas. During the RAF bombing of 23/24 July 1944, Luftwaffe fighters tried to intercept the spoof (i.e. decoy) force instead of the main force attacking Kiel, and there was no water for three days; trains and buses did not run for eight days and there was no gas available for cooking for three weeks.

There were several bombing raids of the port area during the period 20 February – 20 April 1945 which successfully eliminated many U-boats, and the few large warships (cruisers Hipper, Scheer, and Köln) still afloat at that time. It and its port, and the canal were seized by a British T-Force led by Major Tony Hibbert on 5 May 1945.

Like other heavily bombed German cities, the city was rebuilt after the war. In 1946, Kiel was named the seat of government for Schleswig-Holstein, and it officially became the state's capital in 1952. Today, Kiel is once again an important maritime centre of Germany, with high-tech shipbuilding, submarine construction and one of the world's largest ocean research centers, the GEOMAR. Regular ferries to Scandinavia and Lithuania, as well as the largest sailing event in the world called the Kiel Week (Kieler Woche) in German and The Kiel Regatta in English. The Kieler Umschlag is another festival, which has been taking place again since 1975. Kiel is also home to a large service sector and a number of research institutions including the University of Kiel, which is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious university in the state.

Geography

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Climate

Kiel has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb; Trewartha: Dolk). Located on the Baltic Sea coast, the temperature fluctuates less than inland, with warm winters and cool summers throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 2 °C (36 °F) in winter to 17 °C (63 °F) in summer. Days with a temperature above 30 °C (86 °F) are rare, with an average of only 2.8 days per year.

The Kiel weather station has recorded the following extreme values:

  • Highest Temperature 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) on 20 July 2022.
  • Warmest Minimum 22.1 °C (71.8 °F) on 1 August 1994.
  • Coldest Maximum −15.4 °C (4.3 °F) on 12 February 1940.
  • Lowest Temperature −24.8 °C (−12.6 °F) on 13 February 1940.
  • Highest Daily Precipitation 104.2 mm (4.10 in) on 27 August 1989.
  • Wettest Month 252.0 mm (9.92 in) in August 2011.
  • Wettest Year 964.4 mm (37.97 in) in 2002.
  • Driest Year 454.4 mm (17.89 in) in 1959.
  • Longest annual sunshine: 2,115.3 hours in 1959.
  • Shortest annual sunshine: 1,299.4 hours in 1987.
Climate data for Kiel (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1940–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.6
(58.3)
17.7
(63.9)
21.9
(71.4)
29.3
(84.7)
33.5
(92.3)
34.4
(93.9)
36.5
(97.7)
35.1
(95.2)
30.1
(86.2)
25.2
(77.4)
19.5
(67.1)
14.8
(58.6)
36.5
(97.7)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 10.0
(50.0)
10.8
(51.4)
15.3
(59.5)
21.3
(70.3)
24.6
(76.3)
27.4
(81.3)
29.3
(84.7)
30.0
(86.0)
24.7
(76.5)
19.2
(66.6)
13.9
(57.0)
10.8
(51.4)
31.4
(88.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.0
(39.2)
4.6
(40.3)
8.0
(46.4)
12.7
(54.9)
16.5
(61.7)
19.8
(67.6)
22.2
(72.0)
22.1
(71.8)
18.2
(64.8)
13.1
(55.6)
8.0
(46.4)
5.0
(41.0)
12.8
(55.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.0
(35.6)
2.3
(36.1)
4.4
(39.9)
8.1
(46.6)
12.0
(53.6)
15.3
(59.5)
17.7
(63.9)
17.6
(63.7)
14.2
(57.6)
10.0
(50.0)
5.8
(42.4)
3.0
(37.4)
9.3
(48.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3)
−0.4
(31.3)
1.4
(34.5)
3.9
(39.0)
7.2
(45.0)
10.5
(50.9)
13.0
(55.4)
13.1
(55.6)
10.6
(51.1)
6.9
(44.4)
3.4
(38.1)
0.9
(33.6)
5.8
(42.4)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −8.3
(17.1)
−7.5
(18.5)
−4.2
(24.4)
−2.2
(28.0)
0.2
(32.4)
5.2
(41.4)
8.2
(46.8)
8.0
(46.4)
5.1
(41.2)
0.5
(32.9)
−2.9
(26.8)
−6.1
(21.0)
−10.4
(13.3)
Record low °C (°F) −20.8
(−5.4)
−24.8
(−12.6)
−14.5
(5.9)
−6.9
(19.6)
−3.0
(26.6)
1.6
(34.9)
4.3
(39.7)
4.7
(40.5)
0.6
(33.1)
−6.2
(20.8)
−12.0
(10.4)
−15.1
(4.8)
−24.8
(−12.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 66.8
(2.63)
49.7
(1.96)
49.9
(1.96)
39.7
(1.56)
51.4
(2.02)
65.1
(2.56)
83.8
(3.30)
77.3
(3.04)
65.6
(2.58)
72.1
(2.84)
63.7
(2.51)
70.5
(2.78)
754.2
(29.69)
Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) 4.9
(1.9)
7.1
(2.8)
4.1
(1.6)
0.2
(0.1)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1.1
(0.4)
3.5
(1.4)
11.5
(4.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 18.6 16.8 15.3 13.2 13.4 14.0 15.3 15.6 15.4 17.1 18.4 19.3 190.7
Average snowy days (≥ 1.0 cm) 5.0 6.4 1.6 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.6 2.8 16.5
Average relative humidity (%) 86.7 84.1 80.3 74.8 73.4 73.9 73.8 75.5 79.4 82.5 86.5 88.0 79.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 40.2 60.5 115.4 190.3 243.7 228.3 242.2 216.7 155.1 106.2 50.3 31.4 1,673.2
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization
Source 2: DWD Open Data

Note

  1. Temperature data for Kiel have been recorded since 1940. The weather station data used from 1 January 1940 to 15 October 1988 came from Kiel-Kronshagen, and temperature data from 1 January 1974 to the present are from Kiel-Holtenau.

Districts

Image showing the population density of Kiel by district. Data from 2010.

Kiel has about 40 districts, but there is no standard division. The districts are traditionally grouped into 30 boroughs (Stadtteile). Another, more recent structure summarizes the districts in 18 political districts (Ortsteile). The city has 25 electoral districts.

The biggest districts, by population, are Wik (20,100), Gaarden-Ost (19,200) and Mettenhof (19,900). Gaarden, located at the southern end of the fjord, is a traditional working-class district that used to be home to mainly shipyard workers. Mettenhof is a large housing estate (satellite town) that was built in the 1960s and 1970s on the western outskirts of the city. The city districts of Düsternbrook, Schreventeich, Ravensberg and Blücherplatz, north of the city centre, are popular places to live with many 19th century buildings, villas and tree-lined streets. The government offices, ministries and parliament of the state of Schleswig-Holstein are also mainly based in these neighbourhoods, particularly Düsternbrook. In contrast to the heavy bomb damage inflicted on the central parts of the city during the Second World War, most of the residential areas were not severely damaged. Hence, Kiel's more modern-style inner city and Kiel's more historic/elaborate residential areas stand in architectural contrast to one another. There are plans for large-scale improvement and building efforts for the inner city, providing better pavements, better access to and view of the waterfront, and a generally more attractive feel to the place. These plans, most notably the "Kleiner Kiel Kanal", a restoration of a historic canal that was filled in to make place for road infrastructure, are to be implemented in the next few years.

Main sights

Geistkämpfer in front of the Nikolaikirche, by Ernst Barlach

The oldest building in the city is the 13th century Church of St. Nicholas, which has a sculpture by Ernst Barlach in front of it called Geistkämpfer.

Kiel is Schleswig-Holstein's largest city, and therefore Kiel's shopping district is a major attraction, and will see further improvement and renovation efforts in the upcoming years. Kiel's Holstenstraße (Holsten Street) is one of the longest shopping streets in Germany. The Rathaus (Town Hall), which was built in 1911, has an operating paternoster lift and the design of its tower was based on one in Venice. The square in front of it is bordered by a lake and the Opernhaus Kiel (Kiel Opera House). There are also a number of lakes and parks in the city centre, such as Schrevenpark. There are two botanical gardens, the Old Botanical Garden and the Botanischer Garten der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (or New Botanical Garden).

As Kiel is situated near the sea, the beaches to the north of Kiel, such as Strande, Kiel-Schilksee, Möltenort and Laboe, are also popular places to visit in spring and summer.

Kiel Week, also known in English as the Kiel Regatta, is the largest sailing event in the world and takes place every year in the last full week in June. Many thousands of boats and ships of all kinds and eras take part in the parade. Kiel Week is also a festival, Volksfest and fair as well as a maritime event. There are a number of yachting and sailing clubs in picturesque settings.

Kiel also features a number of museums, including zoological, geological, historical, fine art, industrial and military museums. Notable is the Stadt- und Schifffahrtsmuseum Warleberger Hof (City and Maritime Museum), which belongs to the association Museen am Meer. In addition to preserving architecture from the 16th century and historic rooms with painted stucco ceilings, it displays urban and cultural exhibits of the 19th and 20th centuries. Particularly intriguing is the history of the carnival in Kiel.

The Schifffahrtsmuseum is in the former fish market building in the harbour.

Laboe is home to the Laboe Naval Memorial and the Second World War submarine U-995, which are both popular tourist sites.

  • Holstenstraße Kiel 1917, by Willy Lucas Holstenstraße Kiel 1917, by Willy Lucas
  • Historic ships at Kiel Week Historic ships at Kiel Week
  • Old Botanical Garden, Kiel Old Botanical Garden, Kiel
  • U995 Laboe U995 Laboe
  • Warleberger Hof Warleberger Hof

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
13001,000—    
14502,000+100.0%
16823,310+65.5%
17504,500+36.0%
187131,764+605.9%
1900107,977+239.9%
1919205,330+90.2%
1925213,587+4.0%
1933218,335+2.2%
1939273,735+25.4%
1951259,629−5.2%
1956256,727−1.1%
1961273,284+6.4%
1966270,309−1.1%
1971269,437−0.3%
1976259,403−3.7%
1981249,786−3.7%
1986243,626−2.5%
1990245,567+0.8%
2001232,242−5.4%
2011235,782+1.5%
2022249,132+5.7%
2023—    

Kiel has a population of 247,000. In 1946, when Kiel became the capital of Schleswig-Holstein, its population was about 214,000. Kiel is Germany's largest coastal city and its only state capital located on the sea. In the 1950s Kiel, with its marine port, attracted members of the navy. Kiel had its highest peak of population in 1973 at 273,000. The population declined since then. Many people moved away from this city and Kiel became very poor and had a big problems with unemployed people at that time. Kiel is now a city with universities and active marine stations which attracts many young students and marines to Kiel.

Rank Nationality Population (31 Dec. 2022)
1  Syria 4,810
2  Turkey 4,430
3  Ukraine 3,558
4  Iraq 2,240
5  Poland 2,095
6  Bulgaria 1,355
7  Thailand 1,287
8  Croatia 1,015
9  Russia 835
10  Iran 693

Politics

City Council

Seats in City Council after 2023 Vote
Party Seats
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) 14
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 11
Social Democratic Party (SPD) 11
South Schleswig Voters' Association (SSW) 4
Alternative for Germany (AfD) 3
Free Democratic Party (Germany) 2
The Left (Germany) (Die Linke) 2
Grassroots Democratic Party of Germany (Die Basis) 1
Die Partei 1
Total 49

The current governing faction in the city council is formed by the Greens and the SPD, who have a current cooperation agreement from 2023 to 2028.

Mayor

The current mayor of Kiel is Ulf Kämpfer of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Kämpfer has stated that he will not run for a third five year term. His current term ends in 2026. The results of the 29 October 2019 election were as follows.:

Candidate Party Votes %
Ulf Kämpfer Social Democratic Party 48,033 65.8
Andreas Ellendt Christian Democratic Union 14,776 20.3
Björn Thoroe The Left 6,643 9.1
Florian Wrobel Die PARTEI 3,513 4.8
Valid votes 72,965 99.3
Invalid votes 500 0.7
Total 73,465 100.0
Electorate/voter turnout 193,653 37.9
Source: City of Kiel

Prior Elections

City council

Results of the 2018 city council election

The Kiel city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The results of the city council election on 6 May 2018 were as follows:

Party Votes % +/- Seats +/-
Social Democratic Party (SPD) 26,617 29.9 Decrease 5.8 18 Decrease 1
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 20,987 23.5 Decrease 6.2 14 Decrease 1
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) 18,215 20.4 Increase 2.8 12 Increase 3
The Left (Die Linke) 6,437 7.2 Increase 3.8 4 Increase 2
Free Democratic Party (FDP) 5,764 6.5 Increase 2.6 4 Increase 2
Alternative for Germany (AfD) 5,293 5.9 New 3 New
South Schleswig Voters' Association (SSW) 2,521 2.8 Decrease 0.6 2 ±0
Die PARTEI 2,278 2.6 New 2 New
Pirate Party Germany (Piraten) 1,011 1.1 Decrease 1.9 1 Decrease 1
Independent 36 0.0 New 0 New
Valid votes 89,159 99.1
Invalid votes 766 0.9
Total 89,925 100.0 59 Increase 6
Electorate/voter turnout 196,334 45.8 Increase 8.7
Source: City of Kiel

Culture

Sports

There are a number of sports venues in Kiel, most notably the Wunderino Arena (formerly known as Baltic Sea Hall or Ostseehalle), which is the home ground of one of the most successful team handball clubs in the world and multiple German champion, THW Kiel. Holstein Kiel, an association football club, which plays at Holstein-Stadion, will play in the Bundesliga in the 2024–2025 season for the first time in the club's history.

Education and scientific research

The University of Kiel (German: Christian-Albrechts-Universität) was founded by Duke Christian Albrecht in 1665. It is the only full university of Schleswig-Holstein, with about 27.000 students. Partly linked to the University Kiel are other independent research facilities such as the German National Library of Economics – Leibniz Informationcenter for Economy, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and the research institute of the Bundeswehr for water sound and geophysics. Besides these there are other educational institutions such as the Fachhochschule Kiel (founded in 1969) and the Muthesius School of Arts (founded in 1907). The projects Murmann School of Global Management and Economics and Multimedia Campus Kiel were ultimately unsuccessful. The Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein offers besides advanced training at the Berufsakademie dual study courses for economists, business information specialists and industrial engineers.

Noteworthy as departmental research institute is the federal institute for dairy research which was merged into the Max-Rubner-Institut together with other institutions in 2004. The state capital Kiel is a corporative sponsoring member of the Max Planck Society.

The ARGE-SH, the oldest research institution of the republic of Germany, has its headquarters in Kiel.

There are twelve gymnasiums in Kiel, of which the Kieler Gelehrtenschule, founded in 1320 as a humanistic gymnasium, is the oldest. Other secondary schools include the Gymnasium Elmschenhagen and the Max-Planck-Schule with a focus on natural sciences. There are many comprehensive schools – partially with secondary schools – all over the city area, as well as private schools.

BZ am NOK (Berufsbildungszentrum am Nord-Ostsee-Kanal)is a vocational training center provides education and training in over 40 professions. It includes dual training programs, vocational schools, technical colleges, and vocational grammar schools.

Economy and infrastructure

The Holstenstraße is one of the longest shopping streets in Germany — Kiel is the largest city in the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Kiel's economy is dominated by the service sector, transport and maritime industries. Kiel is also one of the major ports of the German Navy, and a leading centre of German high-tech military and civil shipbuilding. Kiel is the home of Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, a shipyard founded in 1838 famed for its construction of submarines. HDW built the first German submarine Brandtaucher in 1850, and is today a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, the leading German group of shipyards.

Statistics

In 2005, the GDP per person was €35,618, which is well above the national average of Germany and 159% of the European Union average.

2005 EUROSTAT Nominal GDP per capita
Kiel 35,618
 Schleswig-Holstein €24,250
 Germany €27,219
 EU28 €22,400

Notable companies

Some of the most notable companies having branches or their headquarters in Kiel are:

Ferry operators

Military contractors

Engineering and industrial machinery

Others

Kiel is also home to several insurances and banks, most notably the HSH Nordbank, Provinzial NordWest, Förde Sparkasse, Kieler Volksbank eG and Evangelischen Bank eG.

There is also an active startup scene in Kiel with startup accelerator StarterKitchen and startups like SciEngines GmbH, Real-Eyes, myBoo, SealMedia, Cliplister, Druckpreis.DE, promotionbasis.de, Yoosello, GetAnEdge, Flowy Apps, fraguru, lokalportal, PianoMotion and ubique art.

Kiel is home to several media companies, including a branch of the Norddeutscher Rundfunk producing one radio channel and several local programmes in Kiel, a station of the British Forces Broadcasting Service, the daily newspaper Kieler Nachrichten and several smaller local radio channels and magazines.

Transport

Traffic map

Kiel is situated near an important pan-European motorway, the A7, which connects northern Europe with central and southern Europe.

The central railway station, Kiel Hauptbahnhof, has hourly trains to Hamburg, Lübeck, Flensburg, and Husum. The Intercity Express (ICE) connects Kiel with Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich. There are 8 regional railway stations within the city proper, which are connected with each other, the main railway station Kiel Hbf and other stations by regional trains, which can be used within the boundaries of the city with a normal bus ticket.

The city's bus service is provided by local company KVG. Autokraft and Verkehrsbetriebe Kreis Plön providing regional bus service, and the Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel provides public transport on the fjord with ferries.

The Port of Kiel is a significant port for passenger and cargo shipping from Germany to Scandinavia, the Baltic States and Russia. Passenger ferries operate to and from Gothenburg in Sweden (Stena Line, 131⁄2 hours, daily), Oslo in Norway (Color Line, 191⁄2 hours, daily), and Klaipėda in Lithuania (DFDS Lisco, 21 hours, 6 times per week). Cargo ferries operate from and to Saint Petersburg in Russia (DFDS Lisco, twice a week), and Kaliningrad in Russia (NSA, once a week).

The nearest international airport is Hamburg Airport, which is situated approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) to the south of Kiel. There is a shuttle bus service (KIELIUS) operating between Hamburg Airport and Kiel central railway station. There is also an airport at Lübeck.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Kiel

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Kiel is twinned with:

See also

References

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