Lüdenscheid

The home of the Zeppelin and an industrial hub

Situated in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in the northwest of Germany, Lüdenscheid is a relatively small city with an economy that is focused on heavy industry. It is known in particular for being where the first Zeppelin airship was built in 1898 by Lüdenscheid resident, Carl Berg. Despite its industrial focus, the city is surrounded by nature, with a tributary of the Ruhr running close by.

More about Lüdenscheid

Lüdenscheid has around 73,000 residents, and was first recognized as a city in 1268. It is now host to one of the five branches of the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences. The town also has a relatively large international population, with around 6,000 Turkish or Greek residents.

Studying and Working in Lüdenscheid

The South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences is a center for the study of natural sciences, IT, business management, engineering and agriculture. It is well regarded, often scoring highly in Die Zeit's university rankings. The university has a high staff-to-student ratio, and is known for the high level of support provided to students. It is a relatively large university, with 14,000 students across its 5 campuses.

Lüdenscheid's economy is based on industry, with 43.9% of the population working in manufacturing. Major companies of the metal and plastic industry can be found there, as well as factories that produce parts for cars and other vehicles. Lüdenscheid is also home to the Südwestfälische Technology Exhibition, a regional trade fair that connects businesses from across the plastic and metal industries.