The history of Dortmund dates back to 880 AD, when the city was for the first time mentioned in official documents as 'Throtmanni'. At that time, it was just a small village. In 1152, the emperor Barbarossa rebuilt the town, which had been destroyed in a fire shortly before. For two years, it was the residence of Barbarossa, which is a short time, but afterwards it became one of the most powerful towns in the whole empire. In the 13th Century, Dortmund joined the Hanseatic League. In 1220, it was granted the status of an Imperial Free City, i.e. was directly subordinated to the Emperor.

It lost its status as an Imperial Free City in 1803. After the Napoleonic Wars, Dortmund was incorporated into Prussia and became a major center for steel, coal and beer production. Located in the heart of the Ruhr region (Ruhrgebiet), along with neighboring cities it was the target of allied bombing raids during the Second World War. As a result, about two-thirds of Dortmund's buildings were destroyed.

Today, the city is a high-tech industry center. It is also one of the greenest cities in Westphalia, and because of this is also referred to as Westphalia's 'green metropolis'. Nearly half the municipal territory is composed of waterways, woodlands, agricultural and green spaces, with spacious parks such as the Westfalenpark and the Rombergpark.

Long a center of extensive coal mining, coking, and steel milling, Dortmund has recently undergone a fundamental transformation incomparable to any other German city. The former steel city has become a modern cosmopolitan metropolis that has made a reputation for itself throughout Europe as an innovative, high-tech location. Apart from its fascinating industrial history, the largest city in the Ruhr area also offers visitors interesting museums and theatres, as well as a varied restaurant scene. Among the main highlights are the Port of Dortmund, the Lanstrop 'Egg' and the Medieval moated castle Haus Wenge. Also, go to the Dortmund TV Tower (one of the first in Germany) to have a delicious dinner in the revolving restaurant, or just to take delight in the magnificent view over the city. One should not miss Dortmund's Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt), one of the biggest in Germany, which is home to the world's largest Christmas Tree.