Small-to-medium-sized towns in North Rhine-Westphalia

About 50,000 people live in the spa town of Bad Oeynhausen in the Minden-Lübbecke district. Just over 16 percent of the population is under 18, while more than 22 percent is over 65. 

Family-Friendly Services

The “Kurstadtkind” Family Office and its associated The app brings together expertise in areas such as early intervention, prevention, and social and youth welfare counseling.

The Café Kind & Kugel offers pregnant women and new parents a chance to get to know one another, while the K2 Network brings together cultural education programs for children and youth.

The Children’s and Youth Parliament has been an integral part of democratic participation in Bad Oeynhausen for several years now. Twice a year, elected representatives meet with city officials to exchange views. In addition, members of the Youth Parliament have the right to speak at meetings of the Youth Welfare Committee. Children’s consultation hours are also held in all fourth-grade classes.

The city of Borken, with its 43,000 residents, is located in Westmünsterland near the Dutch border. Approximately 17.5 percent of the population is under 18 years of age, while just under 23 percent is over 65 years old. 

Family-Friendly Services

The city has compiled all services for families related to education, leisure, and prevention in the Family Guide . Young people in Borken have access to a total of 7 youth centers for open child and youth services, which offer a wide range of activities. 

In the project “Tapetenwechsel” people of different ages and backgrounds have joined forces and, with the support of the city, have brought a construction and housing project for multigenerational living to fruition.

Deep in the west, near the Netherlands, lies the city of Geilenkirchen, with a population of 29,000. Thanks to its proximity and good connections to numerous universities and major cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, Belgium, and the Netherlands, the city has become an international hub for higher education.

Family-Friendly Services

The focus is on the published Comprehensive Plan for Child, Youth, and Family Services, which systematically addresses identified needs and challenges with a concrete plan of goals and measures. It takes into account the diverse realities of family life, and the services are designed to appeal to different target groups in order to reduce social inequalities and promote equal opportunities.

In addition, Geilenkirchen, as a member of the state program “Kinderstark. NRW”, is expanding preventive services such as the family portal (2024) and baby welcome packages (2025).

Geldern is located in the Kleve district on the border with the Netherlands. Of its approximately 36,000 residents, about 17 percent are under 18 years of age and 22.6 percent are over 65. 

Family-Friendly Services

For young parents and their children, the doors of the “Café Kinderwagen” twice a week. This early intervention program offers opportunities to connect with other parents and receive professional support. 

In addition, Geldern is participating in the simulation game “Pimp Your Town!,” in which students practice local politics and then present their decisions to local politicians. The association together e. V. offers a drop-in center for LGBTIQ+ youth, which also features a small performance stage and a kitchen-dining area. 

Once a year, Geldern becomes especially colorful. That’s when the Street Art Festival takes place, featuring a street painting contest, music, and theater.

Herzogenrath, located in the Aachen metropolitan region, is home to approximately 47,000 people. About 17 percent of the population consists of children and adolescents under the age of 18, and approximately 24 percent are seniors over the age of 65. 

Family-Friendly Services

The goal of the “Local Alliance for Families,” which serves as a network bringing together various stakeholders to exchange ideas. 

Outreach youth work in Herzogenrath is carried out by the “Funsit,” which travels to places where young people like to hang out. Case-specific psychosocial support is also provided.

As part of the intergenerational support project EFaS (“Volunteering for Families and Seniors”), volunteers assist seniors with daily life and leisure activities. 

In Herzogenrath, the “moliri” Family Health Service Center is also available through the regional Caritas association. Volunteers also visit playgrounds with the cargo bike “moliri on tour.”

The town of Kreuztal, with a population of approximately 30,700, is located in the northern Siegerland region.

Family-Friendly Services

For many years, the town of Kreuztal has viewed family support as a cross-cutting municipal priority. The town has been certified as a family-friendly community since 2010. At the neighborhood office, counseling and support services for children, youth, families, people with a migration background, and seniors are all centralized in one location. A referral service in cooperation with a pediatric and adolescent medical practice also streamlines access: When support is needed, families are referred directly to the specialists at the Family Office. The Kreuztal Summer Games complement this approach with activities for children, youth, and families.

About 40,000 residents live in the city of Löhne in the northeastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia. 

Family-Friendly Services

The city of Löhne supports children, youth, and families through a municipal prevention chain from pregnancy through the transition to vocational training and employment. As the central coordinating body, the Prevention Office consolidates services, connects youth services, education, and health care with independent organizations, and continues to develop support structures to meet evolving needs. volunteer family mentors, who support and relieve the burden on families in challenging situations. In addition, there are a wide variety of low-threshold services such as early intervention programs, family centers, school social work, family cafés, and a network for single parents. Furthermore, preventive measures addressing health, media literacy, violence prevention, political education, and social skills are integrated into all schools. In this way, Löhne combines early support with opportunities for education and participation.

Located east of the Rhine, Neunkirchen-Seelscheid is part of the Rhein-Sieg district and has a population of approximately 20,500. With an average age of 46.5 years, the municipality’s population is slightly above the North Rhine-Westphalia average. 

Family-Friendly Programs

To support younger residents and families, Neunkirchen-Seelscheid places the participation of children and youth at the center of its community development efforts. Young people are not only surveyed on an ad hoc basis but can also actively contribute their ideas to the planning and development of play and recreational areas and the new youth center. This systematic involvement actively engages children and youth in local decision-making while simultaneously promoting democratic education.

The town of Wülfrath, with a population of 21,500, is located between Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, and the Ruhr region.

Family-Friendly Services

For many years, Wülfrath has relied on its own prevention strategy. At its core is a life-stage-oriented prevention chain that supports families from pregnancy through young people’s transition to education and careers. The Family Office serves as a central, non-bureaucratic point of contact and provides counseling and support in various life situations. A particular focus is on combating child and youth poverty: Regular poverty conferences bring together government officials, policymakers, schools, organizations, and citizens to identify needs and further develop services. In addition, the association “Wülfrather Kinder in Not” is committed to helping affected families.