Large medium-sized cities in North Rhine-Westphalia

Arnsberg, located in the Hochsauerland district, is home to approximately 76,000 residents. About 16 percent of Arnsberg’s population is under the age of 18, while about 22 percent is over the age of 65.

Family-Friendly Programs

Arnsberg offers several programs tailored to the specific needs of children and young people: first, the “Queer Café“ as a meeting place for teens and young adults in the LGBTQIA+ community, and second, the “props!”—a group program for children and adolescents who have one or both parents affected by a mental illness. 

With the “Family Centers based on the Arnsberg Model” , the medium-sized city offers 18 family centers, each tailored precisely to the needs of its respective neighborhood. Services include, for example, parent groups, inclusive care for children with disabilities, and native-language instruction, and can be booked via an app.

Dinslaken, located in the Wesel district, is home to approximately 68,000 residents. About one in six residents is a child or teenager under the age of 18. 

Family-Friendly Services

Through the Family Office, a point of contact for families, and also enables younger residents to participate in politics through the Children’s and Youth Parliament. 

The “Dinslaken Network for Healthy and Happy Upbringing,” also known as “UnserDINgg” brings together partners with the goal of providing low-threshold services for children, youth, and families. Among other things, “UnserDINgg” organizes inclusive school action days at elementary schools and provides information on the mental health of children and youth in the context of media consumption.

Located between Neuss and Cologne, Dormagen is home to approximately 66,000 people. About 17 percent of the population is under 18 years of age, while about 21 percent is over 65. 

Family-Friendly Services

For nearly 20 years now, the focus on being a “family-friendly city” has been an integral part of Dormagen’s mission statement. For example, the city provides information for expectant and new parents through the “Family App,” supports the transition from school to work with the “Dormagener Weg” program supports the transition from school to work, and with the “Café Grenzenlos,” a meeting place for families from diverse backgrounds. 

In addition, the “Network for Families” (NeFF) brings together partners with the goal of reducing disadvantages. In the areas of child-rearing, education, health, and youth services, NeFF creates a chain of preventive measures stretching from pregnancy through vocational training—for example, through family midwives, learning support, or bonding training for single parents.

Approximately 56,000 residents currently live in Hattingen in the Ennepe-Ruhr district. While about 15 percent are 18 years old or younger, one in four people in Hattingen is 65 years old or older. 

Family-Friendly Services

With the project “Baby-Friendly Hattingen” the city promotes the establishment of breastfeeding and diaper-changing stations. Young people can find a space for leisure activities at the youth centers, where they also have access to cultural and recreational programs as well as workshops. 

The “Hattingen Alliance for Families,” founded in 2006, implements various projects addressing issues such as housing, family-friendly workplace design, nutrition, and sports. Once a year, it also organizes the Hattingen Alliance for Families Festival, featuring around 40 exhibitors.

Herford, located in East Westphalia, is currently home to approximately 68,000 people. Of these, 21.5 percent are 65 years of age or older, while 18 percent are under 18 years of age.

Family-Friendly Services

The prevention program “Herforder Weg” offers families support in areas such as education, health promotion, and early intervention.

The city of Herford is particularly committed to protecting children from sexual violence. The prevention project “Sam Says NO!” is part of the “Herford Approach” and is aimed at preschool and elementary school children, parents, and professionals. Through the hand puppet Sam (“strong, mindful, brave”) and a play, children are empowered in an age-appropriate way. Staff at the facilities are also trained by the victim counseling center “Wildwasser e. V. Bielefeld.”

The medium-sized town of Hilden is located between Düsseldorf and Solingen. Sixteen percent of its approximately 58,000 residents are under the age of 18, while nearly 26 percent are 65 or older. 

Family-Friendly Programs

The “Stellwerk” coordinates services in Hilden for families, children, teenagers, seniors, and new immigrants. Among other things, the City of Hilden offers the “JuMa groups” for parents with children between 0 and 6 or 18 months are offered, and the project “Rental Grandparents” project, which brings families together with senior citizens.

Families with at least one child under the age of 17 can also apply for the free “Family Pass,” which allows them to take advantage of special offers and discounts at numerous businesses.

Ibbenbüren, a former mining town located in the Steinfurt district, has undergone significant structural change in recent years. Today, it is home to approximately 54,000 residents, and 30 percent of households are families with children. 

Family-Friendly Services

The Ibbenbüren Family Office is a central, free-of-charge contact and referral center for families. It compiles information on childcare, parenting classes, playgroups, recreational activities, and support services; assists with applications; and, when necessary, refers families to appropriate counseling centers and services. The Family Office has also created a link between the city administration, independent organizations, and the Early Intervention Network. This ensures that even families who have difficulty accessing traditional services have low-threshold access. 

The project FAMOS+ also offers general counseling and supports families and single parents in accessing the job market and completing applications.

Nearly 60,000 residents live in Langenfeld in the Mettmann district. 17 percent of the population is under 18 years of age, while 24 percent is over 65. 

Family-Friendly Services

The first point of contact for families is the Family Office, which coordinates services, support, and events. For example, the Family Office’s “Active Counseling Sessions” project run by the Family Office provides parenting tips and unbureaucratic guidance from an educational specialist for families with children between the ages of one and six. 

In the individual neighborhoods of Langenfeld, the “Mobile Early Intervention” is on the move, seeking out and providing information to families with children up to age 6 at playgrounds and village squares.

Minden, located in East Westphalia, has a population of approximately 85,000. About 18 percent of them are under the age of 18. 

Family-Friendly Programs

With programs such as “Kulturzwerge”, “Kulturstrolche” and “Kulturrucksack,” Minden enables people of different age groups to participate in cultural activities and get creative themselves. 

For immigrants, the city of Minden offers programs such as the “Migrants for Migrants,” which provides counseling in their native language, as well as the “Intercultural Health Clinic,” which takes cultural and religious aspects into account when providing information about the health care system in Germany. 

To address the shortage of skilled workers, the Minden Training Company (MILEFA) has been established. Here, 9th- and 10th-grade students gain hands-on insights into various professions, while Minden-based companies get to know potential apprentices.

Located between Bonn and Cologne, Troisdorf is home to approximately 80,000 residents. Children live in about 22 percent of all households.

Family-Friendly Services

The Troisdorf Early Intervention Network is an alliance of institutions, associations, organizations, facilities, and professionals from the fields of child and youth welfare and healthcare. It offers support and assistance to pregnant women and new parents through a variety of services.