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Kalkar

Kalkar
Marktplatz in Kalkar
Marktplatz in Kalkar
Coat of arms of Kalkar
Coat of arms
Kalkar  is located in Germany
Kalkar
Kalkar
Coordinates: 51°44′20″N 6°17′33″E / 51.73889°N 6.29250°E / 51.73889; 6.29250Coordinates: 51°44′20″N 6°17′33″E / 51.73889°N 6.29250°E / 51.73889; 6.29250
Country Germany
State North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region Düsseldorf
District Kleve
Government
 • Mayor Gerhard Fonck (CDU)
Area
 • Total 88.2 km2 (34.1 sq mi)
Elevation 14 m (46 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
 • Total 13,854
 • Density 160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 47546
Dialling codes 0 28 24
Vehicle registration KLE
Website www.kalkar.de

Kalkar is a municipality in the district of Kleve, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located near the Rhine, approx. 10 km south-east of Cleves. The most famous building of Kalkar is its church St. Nicolai, which has one of the most significant sacral inventory from the late Middle Ages in Europe.

Kalkar was founded by Dirk VI of Cleves in 1230 and received city rights in 1242. It was one of the seven "capitals" of Cleves (called Kleve), until the line of the Duchy of Cleves died out in 1609, whereupon the city went over to the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Marie of Burgundy, Duchess of Cleves retired to Monreberg castle in Kalkar, where she founded a Dominican convent in 1455. Under her influence the city bloomed and artists were attracted to the favorable climate for cultural investment. She died at Monreberg castle in 1463.

The USAF 470TH Air Base Squadron supports the NATO Joint Air Power Competence Center in Kalkar and the NATO CAOC in Uedem. The 470th is not located in Kalkar however.

Between 1957 and 1991, West Germany pursued an ambitious plan for a fast breeder nuclear reactor, the a 300-megawatt prototype reactor, SNR-300, near Kalkar. Construction of the SNR-300 began in April 1973. In the wake of large anti-nuclear protests at Wyhl and Brokdorf, demonstrations against the SNR-300 reactor escalated in the mid-1970s. A large demonstration in September 1977 involved a "massive police operation that included the complete closure of autobahns in northern Germany and identity checks of almost 150,000 people".


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