Seesen

Seesen
Sehusa Castle
Coat of arms
Seesen
Location of Seesen within Goslar district
Coordinates: 51°53′35″N 10°10′42″E / 51.89306°N 10.17833°E / 51.89306; 10.17833Coordinates: 51°53′35″N 10°10′42″E / 51.89306°N 10.17833°E / 51.89306; 10.17833
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
District	Goslar
Government
• Mayor	Erik Homann (CDU)
Area
• Total	102.13 km2 (39.43 sq mi)
Elevation	205 m (673 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	19,296
• Density	190/km2 (490/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	38723
Dialling codes	05381
Vehicle registration	GS
Website	[1]

Seesen is a town and municipality in the district of Goslar, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the northwestern edge of the Harz mountain range, approx. 20 km (12 mi) west of Goslar.

The Saxon settlement of Sehusa was first mentioned in a 974 deed issued by Emperor Otto II and Chancellor Willigis, from 1235 on it belonged to the Welf dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg who had a castle erected. In 1428 Seesen received town privileges by Duke Otto II the One-Eyed of Brunswick-Göttingen. On 17 July 1810, Israel Jacobson dedicated in Seesen the first synagogue which employed an organ and a choir during prayer and introduced some German liturgy. This day is celebrated by Reform Judaism worldwide as its foundation date. In 1836 Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg (later named Henry E. Steinway) built his first grand piano in his kitchen in Seesen; the instrument is today on display at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Seats in the municipal assembly (Stadtrat) as of 2006 elections:

Seesen is twinned with: