North Rhine-Westphalia celebrates 80 years since founding

The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is celebrating its 80th anniversary. The state was established on August 23, 1946, by the British military government under the codename ‘Operation Marriage’, which dissolved the provinces of the former state of Prussia.

To mark the occasion, a large-scale celebration known as ‘NRW-Tag’ will take place in Münster from August 28 to 30. The event features a variety of programs including concerts at the Dom and Schlossplatz, and a city festival titled ‘Münster mittendrin’. The festivities will include presentations from various sectors such as science, tourism, sports, and emergency services.

Official opening ceremonies will be led by Deputy Minister-President Mona Neubaur, State Parliament President André Kuper, and Mayor Tilman Fuchs. Many events are free to the public, and local public transportation within Münster will be free of charge during the celebration weekend.