Did You Know You Can Tour The Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen: NRW’S State Parliament

Approaching the Landtag Building, I was immediately enveloped by a sense of warmth and hospitality. This sensation is by design, as the architects intentionally crafted a sphere to embody Landtag’s commitment to welcoming its citizens and encouraging active participation in the democratic process of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).

The building, encased in glass, highlights the state parliament’s dedication to transparency in its interactions with the public. The Landtag boasts a modern and environmentally friendly design.

You might be surprised by how many Düsseldorf locals have no idea that the Landtag offers free tours! But then again, there’s a lot that many of us still don’t know about Düsseldorf, isn’t there? 😉

Thousands of visitors come to the Landtag Building each year not only to learn about democracy in NRW but also to admire its modern architecture. Fritz Eller, Erich Maier, and Robert Walter designed this post-war modern building with a focus on openness and transparency, allowing citizens to witness democratic processes. The architects also incorporated copper into the Landtag’s design to symbolize permanence and tradition.

Read more about the architecture here.

 

Plan Your Visit to the Landtag

Did you know that the Landtag Building offers numerous opportunities for group visits, weekend excursions, and virtual tours?

The Landtag building is open from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on specific Sundays a month. No pre-registration is necessary, and free 45-minute tours are available every hour. Specific virtual tours focus on both the architectural aspects of the building and the democratic processes.

On weekends, visitors can also explore the chambers of the parliamentary groups, the plenary hall, the press conference room, and some committee rooms as well.

Directions to the Landtag Building

 

The Landtag Building: Home of NRW’s State Parliament

The Landtag Building in Düsseldorf is the headquarters of North Rhine-Westphalia’s state parliament. German state parliaments are legislative bodies responsible for formulating and approving laws. Typically, state parliaments address budget and finance, education, culture, municipalities, police, and prisons. One of the most significant roles of the state parliament is the election of the Minister-President of the state, who serves as the head of the state government.

The State Parliament conducts its legislative debates in the General Assembly of Representatives, an oval-shaped room located on the first floor of the building. Members of the State Parliament assemble here, each representing their respective political parties. Members of the media and the general public can observe the proceedings from the second level.

The circular shape of the room can be thought to symbolize unity, where members, despite differing political ideologies, come together to create laws. On the second level, there is plenty of seating available for both media personnel and the general public to watch the parliamentary proceedings.

 

The State Parliament Forum: A Multimedia Experience

During the tour, visitors have the opportunity to watch a film and engage in a Q&A session at the State Parliament Forum. The film is shown twice an hour and is presented on a 240-degree screen.

 

A Brief History: Pioneering Democracy

The history of the state parliament is intertwined with the inception of democratic processes in Germany following the British occupation of North-Rhine Westfalia after World War II. The first parliamentary meeting occurred on October 2, 1946, at the Düsseldorf Opera House. Then, it moved to the Henkel factory in 1949 and the Ständehaus in Düsseldorf. Fun fact: Konrad Adenauer, who would later become Germany’s first chancellor, sat among the first 200 representatives of Düsseldorf’s state government. Since 1988, the NRW state parliament has convened in the Landtag Building of NRW.

Visitors can walk through exhibits and look at older artifacts to learn more about the unique history of the building. 

 

Art and Culture Hub

The Landtag building is home to a robust amount of art you can find all over the building. Visitors can take an art-focused tour that explains 17 different art pieces showcased in the building and provides biographical information on the artists.

The Landtag Building hosts many community events for students, businesses, and residents alike. Keep an eye out on their calendar for upcoming events.

History junkie? You might also enjoy checking out the history section of the Life in Düsseldorf blog too!