Vehicle registration ST Population 433,820 (31 Dec 2011) | Time zone CET (UTC+1) Area 1,792 km² | |
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Colleges and Universities Clubs and Teams Points of interest NaturZoo Rheine, Dörenther Klippen, Freizeitpark und Sommerr, Kloster Gravenhorst, Schloss Burgsteinfurt Destinations | ||
Steinfurt is a Kreis (district) in the northern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Bentheim, Emsland, district-free Osnabrück and the Osnabrück district, Warendorf, district-free Münster, Coesfeld, Borken.
Contents
Map of Steinfurt, Germany
Geography
The district is situated at the Lower Saxon border, north of Münster. The Ems river runs through the district from south to north. The highest point in the region is the Westerbecker Berg at 234 metres above sea level; the lowest point is Bentlage Castle at 32 metres.
History
In late medieval times Steinfurt became an independent earldom. Originally it was a part of the earldom of Bentheim, before it became independent in 1454. In 1804 Steinfurt was reunited with Bentheim, before it became a part of the Prussian province of Westphalia in 1815. The new government in 1816 created the districts Steinfurt and Tecklenburg.
In 1975, the old district Steinfurt was merged with the district Tecklenburg, and together with Greven and Saerbeck from the former district Münster the current district was formed.
Town Twinning
Steinfurt is twinned with: