Olfen

Olfen
Coat of arms
Olfen
Location of Olfen within Coesfeld district
Coordinates: 51°43′N 7°23′E / 51.717°N 7.383°E / 51.717; 7.383Coordinates: 51°43′N 7°23′E / 51.717°N 7.383°E / 51.717; 7.383
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Münster
District	Coesfeld
Government
• Mayor	Josef Himmelmann (CDU)
Area
• Total	52.43 km2 (20.24 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)[1]
• Total	12,182
• Density	230/km2 (600/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	59399
Dialling codes	02595 02592 (part of Vinnums)
Vehicle registration	COE
Website	www.olfen.de

Olfen is a municipality in the district of Coesfeld, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is sometimes called the "Gate to the Ruhr Area". It is also considered the "horse-friendliest town in North Rhine-Westphalia." Interesting sights include a castle and historic sawmill.

History

Bishop Wolfhelm, who originated from the Ulfloa Oberhof, gave the small town its name. It was in the year 889. Wolfhelm was the fourth Bishop of "Mimingardeford", today called Münster.

The fire disaster of 1857, in which 142 houses were destroyed, has gone down as the "Great Fire of Olfen" in Olfen's history books.

[See the German version for more details.]

Towns and municipalities in Coesfeld (district) Ascheberg Billerbeck Coesfeld Dülmen Havixbeck Lüdinghausen Nordkirchen Nottuln Olfen Rosendahl Senden

References