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Historical festival: Werder and Siegburg close the city twinning!
Werder and Siegburg sign official city partnership to promote culture and exchange on October 6, 2025.
Historical festival: Werder and Siegburg close the city twinning!
On October 6, 2025, the city of Werder (Havel) in Potsdam-Mittelmark will sign an official town twinning with the city of Siegburg in North Rhine-Westphalia. The ceremony takes place at the former border crossing Marienborn near Helmstedt on the A2. Rbb24 reports that both cities have been maintaining a close relationship for 35 years, which has developed through friendly contacts and joint activities, especially in the areas of culture and sport.
Mayor Manuela Saß (CDU) emphasizes that the partnership has grown historically. An important factor was the support of the Siegburgers after the turn, which helped to build the administration in Werder. During this time, the first friendships were made between the two cities, which are now to be converted into an official partnership. So far, there was only a friendship contract that serves as the basis for the official cooperation that has now started.
Intensification of cooperation
The cities of Werder and Siegburg have decided to intensify their cooperation in various areas. These include, among other things, the local political exchange, the networking of the cultural scene, cooperation in education and the cooperation of sports clubs. In addition, exchange programs between the voluntary fire departments of both cities are to be established in order to share and promote knowledge and skills. The city of Siegburg informs About visited events such as the tree blossom festival in Werder, which serve to set the course for the future connection between the two cities.
The initiative to convert the sponsorship into an official city twinning is supported by Mayor Stefan Rosemann and other representatives from Siegburg. The official signing of the partnership certificate is to be celebrated in both cities, with the mayor proposed an appointment on the day of German unity, October 3, for the celebration in Werder (Havel). This proposal was received positively in Siegburg and is now being further examined in the committee for partner and sponsorships.
History of the town twinning
The idea of the community partnership, also known as a city partnership or jumelage, promotes cultural and economic exchange between cities. It was launched after the Second World War to support the understanding between former enemies and establish a permanent, friendly relationship. Wikipedia describes Various forms of these partnerships and their goals, including the support of democratization in states with inadequate rule of law and the exchange between citizens of different social and cultural backgrounds.
In Germany, city twinning are an increasingly important part of local development policy. Over 650 German municipalities maintain relationships with cities in the global south, which contributes to promoting intercultural competence and sensitization for global topics. The new partnership between Werder and Siegburg is another example of the progressive networking and the exchange between German cities and municipalities.