Datteln travel guide

Datteln is a city in the North Rhine-Westphalia Region of Germany. It sits on the border of the Ruhr region and Münsterland on a crossroads of four canals (Datteln-Hamm Canal, Wesel-Datteln Canal, Dortmund-Ems Canal and Rhein-Herne Canal), which makes it the biggest canal junction in the world.

Understand

In the Middle Ages, Datteln was a large parish in Vest Recklinghausen. Around the parish of St. Amandus there were numerous farms on church land. These later developed into farming communities and small villages, all very rural in character. Datteln grew together through several municipal reforms from Pelkum, Meckinghoven, Hagem, Stutum, Wentrup, Hachhausen, Drybern and Klostern. Oer-Erkenschwick belonged to the Datteln district until 1965. Other districts are Beisenkamp, Hötting, Dümmer, Ahsen, Horneburg, Natrop, Emscher-Lippe and Schwackenburg.

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, a lot changed in Datteln. Firstly, in 1899, after eight years of construction, the Dortmund-Ems Canal was ceremoniously opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II. In 1914, the Datteln-Hamm Canal and the connection to the Rhine-Herne Canal followed, and finally the Wesel-Datteln Canal in 1930. Little by little, the largest canal junction in the world was created. Secondly, Datteln also became a mining town with the Emscher-Lippe mine in 1906, and the Beisenkamp garden town was also created as a mining settlement. The canal and mining resulted in a sharp increase in the number of inhabitants.

Neighbouring towns of Datteln are in the Münsterland: Olfen, Selm, Waltrop, and towards the Ruhr area: Castrop-Rauxel, Recklinghausen, Oer-Erkenschwick and Haltern am See.

In 2023, Datteln had a population of 35,000.

Visitor information

• City of Datteln

Get in

By plane

The nearest airports are Münster Osnabrück Airport FMOIATA, Düsseldorf Airport DUSIATA and Dortmund Airport DTMIATA.

The Loemühle airfield in Marl is used by private aircraft.

By train

The railway line through Datteln is now only used for freight traffic; the nearest passenger stations are in Castrop-Rauxel and Recklinghausen.

By bus

Bus lines operated by Vestische connect Datteln with neighbouring towns. The X-Bus X13 travels with a few stops from Datteln via Waltrop, DO-Mengede and DO-Dorstfeld to Dortmund University. Other lines lead to neighbouring towns and districts, such as the express buses S91 to Lüdinghausen, SB22 to Castrop-Rauxel, SB24 to Recklinghausen and Dortmund-Mengede or the 288 to Haltern am See.

The1 Datteln bus station is southwest of the centre.

By road

The B235 federal highway from Castrop-Rauxel to Lüdinghausen and several state roads run through Datteln. On the motorway A2 you can reach the city centre of Datteln after 6 km on the Symbol: AS11 Henrichenburg.

By ship

Datteln can be reached by motorboat or canoe on all four canals. There are various moorings and water hiking spots.

By bicycle

The long-distance cycle route of the same name runs along the Dortmund-Ems Canal.

Get around

By bus

Local buses are run by Vestische.

• Local bus map.

See

• Bunker and Mining Museum, Heibeckstrasse 26a. Apr-Nov: Tue Thu 15:00-18:00. A volunteer-run mining museum in a World War II air raid shelter.
• Largest canal junction in the world. The Dortmund-Ems Canal, Rhine-Herne Canal, Datteln-Hamm Canal and Wesel-Datteln Canal meet in Datteln.
• The 50s Museum, an old mining house in the style of the 1950s, is open by appointement.
• The Radio and Television Museum includes 250 TVs and is open by appointment.

Buy

• The Hohe Straße is the shopping and pedestrian zone in the city centre, it starts at the Tigg.
• The Neumarkt is the modern centre of the city centre, where the shopping area ends.

Eat

Some hotels also have restaurants.

• Gasthaus Möcklinghoff, Hohe Str. 12, 45711 Datteln, ☏ +49 2363 2281.
• Steakhaus Am Alten Markt, Kirchstraße 1, 45711 Datteln, ☏ +49 2363 4195. Steak restaurant that has 2 vegetarian dishes and a few fish options as well as many beef and lamb dishes. Steaks are from Argentinian Black Angus beef. mains from €20.
• Restaurant Zum Ankerplatz, Natroper Weg 7, 45711 Datteln, ☏ +49 2363 71743. Wed-Sun 11:30-22:00. A little outdoor beer garden by the canal.

Sleep

• Hotel Zur Schleuse, Ostring 112, ☏ +49 2363 362475. Small family-run hotel with 9 bedrooms. single €60, double €80.

Go next

• Waltrop is 7 km to the east. Get there by driving, on the SB24 or X13 bus, or by walking along the Dortmund-Ems Canal.

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