Düsseldorf is the capital of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is situated on the right bank of the Rhine River and is one of Germany's main financial, transportation, and cultural centers. It hosts the headquarters of many German corporations and is a hub for the production of clothing by major German brands. With a dozen universities (including the Fashion Design Institute, the leading one in Germany), and a plethora of museums and galleries (such as the Düsseldorf Gallery, Breuninger Department Store, Düsseldorf Castle, Market Square with the Town Hall, etc.), the city exudes a buzzing atmosphere of student life and creative energy. This helps attract many young and talented people from across the country and abroad, including from Japan, as Düsseldorf hosts one of the largest Japanese communities in Europe, second only to London and Paris.
The "Merkur Spiel-Arena" is a multifunctional stadium built on the site of the old "Rhein Stadium" in 2004. It is the home ground for the football club "Fortuna". Notable features of this stadium include a retractable roof over the field and a heating system that can warm the interior space to +15 degrees Celsius or higher in winter. It has not hosted major international tournaments before, but the German national team has played several friendly matches in Düsseldorf against renowned opponents. For example, Argentina in 2005 and 2014, or Spain in 2018. During Euro 2024, it will host 5 matches: Austria vs. France, Slovakia vs. Ukraine, and Albania vs. Spain in the group stage, as well as round of 16 and quarter-final matches.
The fan scene of Düsseldorf, a city with a population of 630,000, is entirely associated with the local football flagship, "Fortuna". It consists of numerous fan clubs, as well as ultras and hooligan groups. It is no surprise that "Fortuna" is the most titled club in Düsseldorf. It boasts a championship victory in 1933 and German Cup wins in 1979 and 1980. In 1979, "Fortuna" reached the final of the Cup Winners' Cup, where they narrowly lost to "Barcelona" in extra time. In addition to highs, there have been periods of decline in its history. One such period almost led the club to the 4th league. This was avoided only because two other clubs were denied licenses to play in the 3rd league. Interestingly, during that period, "Fortuna" was experiencing financial problems, which were helped by the local punk rock band Die Toten Hosen. They sponsored their favorite football club from 2001 to 2003.
Düsseldorf is compact, so all its beauty, from the harbor to the old town with its architecture and cozy beer taverns, is within arm's reach. This is a compelling reason to add this city to your list for your next visit and enjoy it during Euro 2024 or at any other time.
