The ghosts of airships whisper secrets. They linger above Bickendorf a Cologne neighborhood nestled in the Ehrenfeld district. Here in Bickendorf history unfolds not just in stone and brick but in the very air itself.
Bickendorf’s name hints at a fascinating past. It likely derives from the Frankish word ‘beck’ meaning mouth utterance judgment or even courthouse. Imagine a time long before bustling streets and worker settlements when Bickendorf was a small village. This village was part of the Cologne Erbvogtei and the Gereonis judicial district.
For centuries Bickendorf remained a quiet farming community. Its inhabitants numbered only a few hundred. They belonged to the St Bartholomew parish at Mechternhof one of three farms on what would become Ehrenfeld. But life in Bickendorf would change. A significant shift occurred at the beginning of the 20th century. Extensive worker settlements sprouted transforming Bickendorf. The area near the city limits also developed into an industrial zone. This growth was influenced by the Gemeinnützige Aktiengesellschaft für Wohnungsbau (GAG) a non-profit housing company. In 1915 the GAG planned 578 worker housing units. The resulting architecture reflects the motto Licht Luft und Bäumchen (light air and little trees). The project featured primarily single-family homes. Many families with children settled here. More single and multi-family homes followed built beginning in 1920 by the Kölner Gartensiedlung housing cooperative again working with the architect Wilhelm Riphahn.
However Bickendorf’s history isn’t just about housing developments. It also holds a somber chapter in the Nazi era. In 1935 the city of Cologne established the Zigeunerlager Köln-Bickendorf. This was a forced settlement for Roma and Sinti people. They were held under surveillance to prevent them from leading nomadic lives. About 500 people lived there in 1937. In 1940 the camp was dissolved its inhabitants deported to Eastern Poland. A memorial commemorates this dark period. It’s located at the corner of Venloer Strasse and Mathias-Brüggen-Strasse. The artist Gunter Demnig created a commemorative trail in 1990. It traces the path of these people from Bickendorf to the Deutz fairgrounds.
Another unique aspect of Bickendorf is its connection to airships. Between Venloer Strasse and Ossendorfer Weg stood the Reichs-Luftschiffhalle. This large hall was completed in May 1909 offering space for three airships. Kaiser Wilhelm II officially designated Cologne as the “Reichsluftschiffhafen Coeln” (Imperial Airship Harbor Cologne) after its completion. Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin even landed his “Z II” airship here in August 1909.
Bickendorf a quiet village transformed into a thriving district. Its history echoes in its streets homes and the memories it holds. Its past as a small village a worker’s settlement and a center for airship travel all combine to make Bickendorf unique. Its story continues to evolve. This makes it a truly remarkable part of Cologne.