Good things about life in Düsseldorf

Hi, my bf's company decided to relocate its offices in Düsseldorf next year. We now live happily in Munich.
I have never been to NRW or Düsseldorf, but I feel quite depressive about this decision...
I don't want to list here all the advantages of being in Bavaria (I became quite patriotic, despite I am not German), but what are the positive aspects of living in Düsseldorf, regarding job opportunities, free time, culture and quality of life?
Consider that we both speak German and even if we like living in an internationally minded place, we will not have to stick to any expat community.
For example, is it common for people there to work in Bruxelles or Amsterdam?
Thanks D.

I live in D-dorf and think it has a lot of qualities. Not as "quaintly German" as Bavaria, perhaps. And probably a much smaller/less active expat community.
The best thing is it is easy to go on trips -- if you drive fast you are in NL or BE in less than an hour. The airport is great too.
I don't know anyone who commutes to or from Brussels or Amsterdam, if that is what you mean -- a bit far, 2 hours at least. However, I do know people who work in NL closer to the border -- but not a daily commute.
I am not sure whether Munich or D-dorf is more internationally minded. It is much less international-seeming here than Amsterdam or Brussels. But also it is a smaller city, not touristy, and everyone speaks German.

I would agree with Xana ! but certainly, Düsseldorf is not as international as Munich! I havent seen crowd anywhere else than the famous Alstadt place and Konigsallee in weekends :-)
I dont think commuting daily from Düsseldorf to NL or BE is good idea for people here... U will find a lot of American and British people here as we have embassies for both nations here.
I feel its a nice modern and perfectly sized city with lot of options avaialble for expatriates as well as native Germans !

I think some of you have got the wrong impression about Düsseldorf. There are several British, Irish and American Clubs in town. Düsseldorf has a very large Japanese community. What else do you expect to find in a German town? There's an international school (the language is English).

By the way, there are no Embassies in Düsseldorf but Consulates (American, British, Canadian, Japanese).

Apparently, the Japanese Embassy is still located in Bonn. There's a Consulate in Berlin. Sorry!

Botschaft von Japan
Hiroshimastraße 6
10785 Berlin

Tel. (0 30) 210 94-0
Fax (0 30) 210 94-222

Discover Düsseldorf

I would like to add that if you are missing the noise, crowds, tourists, international vibe, youth, etc, Cologne is only 20 minutes away and the perfect complement to Duesseldorf. Many people commute between these cities, so really you could live in either. The difference between the two cities is striking.

Xana ,

what are the striking differences in the 2 cities you are talking about?

Cologne is full of teenagers and single young adults. Go to the Ko or Uerige in Ddorf and it is mostly old people, and a few young families. Cologne is trendy/modern and Duesseldorf is classy/traditional. This dichotomy is seen clothing, art museums, musical performances, theater. The one exception may be the architecture.

But the most striking thing is that whenever I am in Cologne I see naked people -- among other forms of rowdiness. And people walk around carrying bottles of beer, or riding the beer bikes. Cologne is always a party (thus the dirty streets!). Duesseldorfers relax along the Rhine sipping cappuccinos or champagne. Duesseldorf is always perfect for kaffee und kuchen.

Another way to out it: Cologne is an avant-garde "Dieter" on a beerbike, and Duesseldorf is an immaculate blond German housewife in a Porsche.

The best thing about Düsseldorf is the A52 highway to Mülheim ... ;-)

where all the immaculate german housewives drive to late morning to get a bit of rough while their husbands are at work

You could always flip it round and see what you want to see by saying that Düsseldorf is full of uptight posh people who don't know how to have a good time, when people from cologne are relaxed, laid back, cool, open individuals that like to drink a little. But then we would be at this all day wouldn't we. Point is each place has good points and bad points.

Not that I care but...
I heard Cologne has the largest gay population in the world after San Francisco,
is this true?

Düsseldorf has been known to have the longest bar in the world (Altstadt pubs).

Generalizations are usually cheap shots, but the above is as uninformative as you can get. I have lived both in Cologne and Düsseldorf, and both have a lot to offer

Cologne Art Museums: Ludwig (Modern art from 50 years ago), Wallraf-Richartz Museum (stuff you would see at a wealthy persons' mansion, nice but boring), and Museum fur Angewandte Kunst (design museum),...nice collections but stagnant.
Düsseldorf actually has art students, this is the capital of modern art in Germany, so there are a lot of smaller exhibitions that are constantly changing
check out: K20, K21, kunst-palast

Musical performances: mediocre opera in both cities. Köln Philharmonie is good, Düsseldorf Komödchen is great for cabaret
pop music: Düsseldorf has Phillipshalle and a good bar scene, Köln has Live music hall and a good bar scene, do you speak Kölsch?
Modern Dance: Düsseldorf without a doubt, try http://www.tanzhaus-nrw.de/de/index.php

Major difference: Cologne is full of unemployed young people with little money, Düsseldorf has young employed professionals with money.
Where do you think the better clothing shops are? In Cologne you see a lot of mass-produced trash (Peek and Throw-away), in Düsseldorf you have designers with small shops (try Flingern and Pempelfort) as well as the big luxury brands.


Never saw the beer-bikes during my years there, also did not see naked people outside of the saunas? Where did you live?
What is an "Avant-garde Dieter"? A bum swilling his own vomit as performance art?
Sorry, but the Alt-Stadt in Cologne is exclusively for tourists, no native in his right mind would go there. Düsseldorf's Altstadt is a better balance of native, students, and some tourists. Even Cologne natives will concede that the D-dorf Altstadt is better, even if they have to gag on Alt beer.

Düsseldorf is absolutely brilliant in the Altstadt for having a drink.

You won't be bored.

Thanks everybody for the useful info.
Now it's clear we are NOT moving to Duesseldorf , but we'll enjoy life Bavaria for some more time