Waltrop

Waltrop
Saint Peter Church
Coat of arms
Waltrop
Location of Waltrop within Recklinghausen district
Coordinates: 51°37′N 07°23′E / 51.617°N 7.383°E / 51.617; 7.383Coordinates: 51°37′N 07°23′E / 51.617°N 7.383°E / 51.617; 7.383
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Münster
District	Recklinghausen
Government
• Mayor	Nicole Moenikes (CDU)
Area
• Total	46.98 km2 (18.14 sq mi)
Elevation	67 m (220 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	29,354
• Density	620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	45731
Dialling codes	02309, 02363 (Oberwiese)
Vehicle registration	RE

Waltrop is a town in the district of Recklinghausen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the Datteln-Hamm Canal, approximately 15 km east of Recklinghausen and 15 km north-west of Dortmund.

The town of Waltrop is surrounded by the Bauerschaften (rural boroughs) Lippe (Unterlippe/Oberlippe), Elmenhorst, Brockenscheidt, Leveringhausen, Oberwiese and Holthausen.

People already settled in this area about 2,000 years ago.

The village developed around the parish church of St. Peter which was built in the 9th/10th century. It is known that in 1432 Waltrop was a part of the county Dortmund. After the Soest Feud, the archbishops of Cologne could intervene against the counts of Mark, so that Waltrop became a part of Vest Recklinghausen.

The production of coal in the mine started in 1905. As a consequence, Waltrop grew larger and became an industrial town. The coal mine was closed down in 1974.

In 1939, Waltrop got its municipal rights.

The town council of Waltrop consists of 40 seats, which are divided into 6 parliamentary groups

plus a single member of Die Linke plus a single member with no-party

Since 2014 Nicole Moenikes (CDU) is mayorette of Waltrop.

Waltrop is home to a museum of old ship lifts, including the Henrichenburg boat lift and a historical coal mine.

Waltrop is twinned with: