Dortmund - Dortmund (English spelling)

A central commercial and industrial city in the eastern part of the Ruhr industrial region in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. Population 598,000 (2002). A transportation hub where east-west and north-south main railways and autobahns intersect, it is also a port city along the Dortmund-Ems Canal. In terms of commerce, there are 1,300 wholesalers, 1,340 brokers, and 4,900 retailers, and there are 28 department stores, including the five major ones, as well as many financial institutions, with the eastern Ruhr region as its trading area. It is also the center of sugar trading in Germany and wheat trading in northwestern Germany. In terms of industry, there are iron and steel mills, which have declined in recent years, as well as other manufacturing industries such as machinery, office equipment, beer, and confectionery (chocolate). Beer brewing has been famous since the 13th century, and even today the combined production volume of the six major companies is number one in Germany. 49% of the city's area is parks and green spaces, and Westfalenpark, with its rose garden, is particularly famous. Nearby are the Westphalia Hall (for assemblies and sports) which can accommodate 20,000 to 30,000 people, the exhibition centre and the 220-metre TV tower.

The city first appeared in records at the end of the 9th century under the name Throtmani, and later developed as a market and commercial town along the east-west main road, the Hellweg (Salt Road). In 1220 it became an imperial city, and the national parliament was also held there. It also joined the Hanseatic League and played an active role as a trading city, and from the mid-19th century it grew into a mining and industrial city with the development of the Ruhr coalfield. The center is the old city area, and the remains of the city wall have become a ring road, and the Hellweg, which runs east-west through the old city area, forms the central pedestrian-only shopping street.

[Hiroshi Kobayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ドイツ西部、ノルトライン・ウェストファーレン州、ルール工業地帯東部の中心的商工業都市。人口59万8000（2002）。東西、南北両方向の幹線鉄道やアウトバーンが交差する交通の結節点で、ドルトムント・エムス運河沿いの港湾都市でもある。商業では卸売り1300社、仲買い1340社、小売り4900店を数え、五大百貨店をはじめ28の百貨店があるほか、多くの金融機関が集まり、ルール東部地域を商圏とする。ドイツの砂糖取引、ドイツ西北部の小麦取引の中心地でもある。工業では、近年衰えたが製鉄、製鋼があり、そのほか機械、事務機器、ビール、菓子（チョコレート）などの製造業がある。ビール醸造は13世紀から著名で、現在も大手6社の生産量合計はドイツ第1位である。市の面積の49％が公園・緑地で、とくにバラ園をもつウェストファーレン公園は有名。近くに2、3万人を収容するウェストファーレンホール（集会、スポーツ用）、展覧会場や、220メートルのテレビ塔がある。

　市は9世紀末スロトマニThrotmaniの名で初めて記録に現れ、その後、東西幹線道路のヘルウェーク（塩の道）に沿う市場商業町として発展した。1220年帝国都市となり、以後、国会も開かれた。またハンザ同盟に加わって交易都市としても活躍し、19世紀中ごろからルール炭田の発展につれて鉱工業都市に成長した。中心部は旧市域で、市壁跡は環状道路となり、旧市域を東西に貫くヘルウェークが歩行者専用の中心商店街をなしている。

［小林　博］

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