Image Copyright: Kurt Zich

Kempen's history

1186 the village is mentioned for the first time.

1294 Kempen was called a town for the first time.

1372 Kempen receives the market right.

1396-1400 building of the kurkölnischen castle (photo left)

The town experienced its economical heydays in the Late Middle Ages (ca. 1250 to 1500).

In the 16th-century, with the pestilence, half of the 2000 citizens died and the gradual decline started. During the Thirty Year War the town was occupied by Hessian troops.

1794 Kempen became became in the course of annexation of the left Rhine bank the main place of the Département de la Roer by French revolution troops.

Due to the Congress of Vienna substantial parts of the Rhineland were awarded to the Prussian kingdom. Under Prussian administration Kempen became the county seat for the district Kempen from 1816 to 1929. The town gained again economical importance among others through the connection to the railway line Krefeld-Kleve.

Image Copyright: Kurt Zich

Kempen today

Part of the town of Kempen at the Lower Rhine are thes districts today:

• Kempen
• Schmalbroich
• St. Hubert
• Tönisberg

Kempen - Centre of the town Kempen at the Lower Rhine. Kempen has the prettiest historic old town on the Lower Rhine. Here one is able to do shopping, strolling and enjoying in a very relaxed way. The pedestrian zone in the old town has lots of pretty shops, cafés and restaurants. If you want to get to know the historic Kempen and its historic buildings do do the signposted old town walkabout.

On the private Website "Min Kempe" - the nostalgic-website of the Thomasstadt Kempen on the Lower Rhine - you'll find many historic and new photos of Kempen.

Schmalbroich - is the smallest of the four districts of Kempen. It encompasses the different farming communities around Kempen.

St. Hubert - is the second largest of the four districts. It is situated east of the city centre.

Tönisberg - is the third largest district of Kempen, situated northeast of the centre.

Industrial areas in Kempen

• Am Selder
• Krefelder Weg
  
• Schauteshütte

This way to the interactive map of Kempen.

Here you find the branch overview for Kempen.

Here you find all company entries from Kempen.