Landscape Park Duisburg-Nord

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord is a former steelworks in Duisburg that has been transformed into a public park, one of the most striking examples of industrial heritage in Europe. Across some 445 acres (180 ha), rusting blast furnaces stand among birch trees, climbers scale old ore bunkers, and divers explore a flooded gas tank. You can climb a blast furnace for free, and on weekend evenings the whole site glows in colored light. It is one of the best things to do in the Ruhr region.

Where it is and how to get there

The park lies in the Meiderich district in the north of Duisburg, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers. Duisburg Hauptbahnhof is a major rail hub on the line between Cologne, Düsseldorf and the rest of the Ruhr, so it works well as a day trip from Düsseldorf or Cologne.

• By tram: From Duisburg Hauptbahnhof, take tram 903 toward Dinslaken to the stop "Landschaftspark Nord", then walk about seven minutes along Emscherstraße. The Deutschlandticket is valid.
• By bus: Line 936 stops right at the main entrance.
• By car: The park is close to the A42, A59 and A3 highways. About 1,500 free parking spaces are opposite the main entrance at Emscherstraße 71.

Why it is special

August Thyssen founded the ironworks in 1902, and for more than 80 years it produced pig iron for his steel empire. Blast Furnace 5 was built in 1952 and ran its last shift on April 4, 1985. Instead of tearing everything down, the IBA Emscher Park program, which reinvented the Ruhr's industrial wastelands in the 1990s, turned it into a park. Landscape architects Latz + Partner kept the industrial structures and wove gardens, paths and viewpoints through them. The park opened in 1994 and has won international design awards; since 2022 it has been a protected garden monument.

What to see

• Blast Furnace 5: Climb steel staircases to a viewing platform about 230 feet (70 m) up, with views across Duisburg, the Ruhr area and the Lower Rhine. Access is free but closes in snow, storms or icy conditions, and currently also after dark.
• The light installation: British artist Jonathan Park designed the lighting that bathes the plant in green, blue and red from dusk on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
• Ore bunkers: Massive concrete chambers now host a large outdoor climbing garden, as well as small hidden gardens.
• The diving gasometer: A former gas tank filled with water is used as a scuba diving center.
• Event halls: The former power station and casting halls host concerts, festivals and open-air cinema, and one casting hall contains a high ropes course.

Opening hours, tickets and tours

As of October 2026, the grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round, with free admission. The visitor center in the former main switch house is open Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm, and weekends and public holidays 11 am to 6 pm. The restaurant next door opens Wednesday to Sunday.

Public guided tours, such as the steelworks tour (€16) or the evening torch tour (€20), are held in German only. Group tours can be booked in other languages through Tour de Ruhr, the visitor center operator.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, especially if you like photography, architecture or unusual green spaces. Allow at least two hours, longer if you want to see the lights after dark. Wear sturdy shoes, since paths can be uneven and the furnace stairs are steep. The core area is wheelchair accessible, but some outer paths require assistance; accessible restrooms are available in the main switch house.

Nearby

The Gasometer Oberhausen, Europe's tallest exhibition hall, is a short drive east. In central Duisburg, explore the Inner Harbor with the Museum Küppersmühle and take a boat tour of Europe's largest inland port. The Zollverein Coal Mine in Essen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, completes a perfect industrial heritage day.