Düsseldorf is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. Diverse, full of contrast, yet still close together. That’s Düsseldorf!

Elector Jan Wellem and his wife Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici of Tuscany, were patrons of Düsseldorf's first significant cultural activities in the 17th and 18th centuries. Heinrich Heine, whose 200th birthday was celebrated in 1997 and who originally had a proposed memorial in the city dedicated to him; Clara and Robert Schumann; and Felix Mendelssohn, are the most prominent artists related to the city, which is home to a distinguished Academy of Fine Arts.

The Düsseldorf cultural scene comprises traditional and avant-garde, classical and popular. The world-famous state art collection of North Rhine-Westphalia, the highly acclaimed Deutsche Oper am Rhein (opera), and the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus (theatre), artistic home of Gustaf Gründgens, are major elements of Düsseldorf's reputation as a centre of the fine arts.

There is a lot to discover in Düsseldorf, even in the streets. If you look closely, you can discover urban art all over the city. With the Urban Art Map, you pass the most creative walls in the city and get to know the most authentic side of Düsseldorf. Some of the artists have already made a name for themselves in the art scene with their works in the Rhine city.

Whether art, architecture, theatre, ballet or music - Düsseldorf is definitely in the international premier league when it comes to culture. The concentration of museums in the Rhine metropolis is unique, and not just in Germany. The city is also brimming with world-class architecture. The Gehry buildings in the MedienHafen and the Kö-Bogen by Daniel Libeskind are just two of the outstanding examples. 

An institution of the theatre is at home right next to the Kö-Bogen: The Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus is the only state theatre in North Rhine-Westphalia. Its prestigious staging exudes its appeal far beyond the boundaries of the region. 

The same applies to the Oper and Ballett am Rhein (Opera and the Ballet on the Rhine). While friends of the opera enjoy Germany's largest ensemble of singers, the ballet regularly enthuses audiences with its celebrated productions. However, Düsseldorf does not only focus on fine arts; subcultures also come together in this cosmopolitan city and are well-loved. The lively music scene has spawned world famous groups such as Die Toten Hosen or Kraftwerk and has given birth to its own identity somewhere between punk and electro. The same applies to the visual arts. Movements such as Zero, German Pop Art or the Düsseldorf School of Painting, artists such as Joseph Beuys or photographers such as the Bechers and their students have shaped and continue to shape the cultural scene of Düsseldorf. All this ensures a rich artistic heritage.