Hagen

Industrial city in the Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, at the confluence of the Ennepe and Volme rivers, 48 km/30 mi northeast of Düsseldorf; population (1995) 212,700. Industries include engineering and the manufacture of iron, steel, paper, and food products.

Hagen is located on the southeast edge of the Ruhr coalfield, and the northern edge of the hills of the Bergisches Land.

It was an agricultural village until iron mining became important in the late Middle Ages. In the 19th century coalmining to the north of the town and the expansion of iron and steelmaking provided the stimulus for its rapid growth. De-industrialization and the ‘greening’ of the district have led to Hagen being chosen as the location of a modern university and research laboratories. There are recreational facilities, including the Westphalian Open-Air Museum.