Why name a university building 26.32? Right here we stand before 26.32 in Dusseldorf. It is not just a building. It is a part of the city’s vibrant academic life. Dusseldorf is the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is Germany’s most populous state. This city thrives as an international business hub.
Dusseldorf boasts over 5000 international companies. It also has subsidiaries in more than 132 countries. But Dusseldorf is more than its economy. The city is also a cultural center. It has a rich history. The Academy of Fine Arts shaped artists like Joseph Beuys. August Macke also studied here. Gerhard Richter too. The Rhine hosts traditional Carnival celebrations each February. Its diverse culture ranked it sixth in Mercer’s 2015 Quality of Living survey.
Dusseldorf’s story began long ago. In medieval times, larger territorial estates formed on the Lower Rhine. The Archbishop of Cologne clashed with rulers like the Counts of Berg. The Battle of Worringen occurred in 1288. Count Adolf von Berg seized the Archbishop’s defeat to form a settlement. This became the town of Dusseldorf. This Dusseldorp began as a modest fishing village. It served as a counterweight to the Archbishop. It was secured by moats and embankments. Around 1350, a boundary wall enclosed the town. A castle became a palace in the 15th century.
In 1380, the county of Berg became a duchy. Duke Wilhelm II von Berg extended Dusseldorf. He is considered the second founder of the city. Around 1550, Dusseldorf became the capital of the duchies Julich-Cleves-Berg. The castle was extended in Renaissance style. The Rhine became a key trade route. Around 1570, a port was built near the Citadel. In 1573, a new town hall appeared near the palace.
The Counts Palatine of Palatinate-Neuburg took over Julich lands in 1609. They developed Dusseldorf into a significant residence. Duke Johann Wilhelm von Julich-Berg shaped the town. Known as Jan Wellem, he held a glamorous court with his wife Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici. They promoted the arts and built the first opera house. Elector Carl Theodor built Schloss Benrath in the south.
In 1801, walls were razed freeing the city. This allowed urban development. From 1802, Caspar Anton Huschberger and Maximilian Friedrich Weyhe transformed the area. They created Konigsallee and Hofgarten. Under Napoleon I, Dusseldorf became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Berg. In 1815, the Rhineland fell to the Prussians. In 1848, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV visited Dusseldorf. He was pelted with horse droppings on Kastanienallee. The street was renamed Konigsallee in apology.
Between 1880 and 1920, the city expanded rapidly. A central station was built in 1885. A bridge to Oberkassel was constructed in 1898. Manufacturing companies chose Dusseldorf as their headquarters. This earned it the nickname “desk of the Ruhr area.” In 1929, the city expanded adding 100000 new residents. By the early 20th century, Dusseldorf prepared to accommodate over a million inhabitants.
During National Socialism, Dusseldorf was a city of exclusion. Jewish citizens were dispossessed and murdered. On April 17, 1945, resistance fighters surrendered the city to American troops. This averted bombing. The city was devastated. Reconstruction began.
On June 21, 1945, Dusseldorf became part of the British occupation zone. In 1946, North Rhine-Westphalia was formed. Dusseldorf became its capital. Innovative buildings emerged such as the Dreischeibenhaus.
And today, 26.32 stands as a testament to Dusseldorf’s growth. It represents the city’s commitment to education. It is a center of learning. It continues to shape future generations.