Billerbeck
Billerbeck is a municipality in the district of Coesfeld in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Geography. Neighbor towns/cities. Billerbeck has boundaries to Rosendahl, Laer, Altenberge, Havixbeck, Nottuln and Coesfeld. Growth due to law acts. On 1 July 1969 the town's surrounding areas: Alstätte, Bockelsdorf, Bombeck, Dörholt, Gantweg, Gerleve, Hamern, Lutum, Osthellen, Osthellermark and Westhellen - each part of former "Kirchspiel Aulendorf", Esking, Langenhorst und Temming - each part of former Beerlage - were merged with Billerbeck. Politics. Town council. 26 Seats of the town council were given to different parties at local elections on 26 September 2004: Coat of Arms . The Coat of Arms shows the three rivers Berkel, Haulingbach and Lilienbeck in silver on blue background. Its origin can be traced back to the medieval Knights of Billerbeck. Culture and Sights. Theatre. In 1950 the citizens Alex Hesselmann and Bernhard Engbers founded the open air-theatre of Billerbeck. It is well known for its high class acting, given that there are only non-professional actors. Museums. The Kolvenburg comprises building parts from the 15th and 16th centuries. This kind of mansion with its half-hipp roof is a typical housing of the lower nobility of the Münsterland. Today it  is the cultural centre of the district of Coesfeld showing changing exhibitions. Economy and Infrastructure. Traffic. Billerbeck can be reached by car via the autobahn. From north-east on autobahn A1 at interchange "Havixbeck/Billerbeck", from south on autobahn A43 at interchange "Nottuln/Billerbeck", from west on autobahn A31 at interchange "Coesfeld". Public Transport. Billerbeck is located on the train line from Münster to Coesfeld, the so-called "tree hills line" ("Baumbergebahn"). The modernised station building offers a café for cultural Events and a bicycle rental station. A further train station in Billerbeck is located in Lutum, which is a  countryside train station. The town of Billerbeck is part of the public transport association of the Münsterland VGM. Therefore, some bus lines also stop at Billerbeck, connecting the town to its neighbouring towns and cities. Business. The biggest employer in Billerbeck is the company "Dr. Suwelack" founded by Wolfgang Suwelack and which employs 410 staff. It is working on the sector of nutrition production and skin care. It is also operating one of the most advanced and biggest nutrition shockfrosting sites in Europe. A medium-sized metal-working industry can be found there as well as several trading companies, and  service industry (e.g. 7 haircutters, 3 undertakers and a filmproduction company). Billerbeck is an important centre of tourism as it is only half-an-hour away for the 7 million people of the Rhein-Ruhr-Area and it is also a place of pilgrimage as Ludger, the first bishop of Münster, died there in the year 809. Last but not least cycling is very popular in the region which is manifested in 800 kilometres of bicycle and pedestrian streets. For these reasons the gastronomy is well developed and offers a great variety related to the city's number of inhabitants . Hotels / Restaurants / Bistros: Cafés: Education. In Billerbeck there are the Grundschule (basic school - school years 1-4) at two locations, the Realschule (secondary modern school/junior high - 5-10) and a Hauptschule (secondary school - 5-10). 5 Kindergartens and 2 day care units are operated in the city. Religion. In Billerbeck there are Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches present. The Catholic "Pfarr- und Propsteigemeinde St. Johann / St. Ludgerus" Billerbeck has its roots in the 8th century. Very renowned and with great importance far ahead of Billerbeck there is the abbey of Benedictine- St. Joseph at Billerbeck-Gerleve. It is part  of the Beuron congregation and since 1999 has been led by prior Pius Engelbert O.S.B. The abbey also contains a house for retreat, a youth education unit, and a religious book store. The Lutheran church centre (Protestant) "Vom guten Hirten" (of the good shepherd) in Billerbeck is a modern style church with affiliated centre of parish. Peter Ilisch, Zur Siedlungsgenese von Billerbeck. Westfälische Zeitschrift 129, 1979, S. 9-56. Literature. Peter Ilisch, Zum Erscheinungsbild münsterländischer Kirchhöfe vor 1800 - Das Beispiel St. Johann zu Billerbeck. Geschichtsblätter des Kreises Coesfeld 4, 1979, S. 114-131. Peter Ilisch, Die Vikarien zu Billerbeck. Geschichtsblätter  des Kreises Coesfeld 28, 2003, S. 1-25.