Dortmund and Amiens: 65 years of city friendship celebrated at the ceremony!

Dortmund and Amiens: 65 years of city friendship celebrated at the ceremony!

On November 28, 2025, Dortmund and Amiens celebrated an important anniversary: ​​65 years of twinning in the venerable town hall of the North Rhine-Westphalian city. The event brought together numerous guests from politics, culture and education, including students from the Lycée Robert de Luzarches in Amiens. At this festive ceremony, which was musically accompanied by the Dortmund Philharmonic, Mayor Alexander Kalouti praised the importance of human commitment to the partnership and the depth it has grown over the years. Nordstadtblogger reports that the town twinning was launched in 1960 by Dietrich Keuning and Maurice Vast.

A highlight of the evening was the signing of the Golden Book of the City of Dortmund by Alain Gest, President of the Amiens Metropolitan Region, and Mayor Kalouti, who also signed a renewed partnership agreement. This symbolic act demonstrated the continued commitment of both cities to their cooperation, which encompasses not only political but also cultural dimensions. Students from Amiens presented artistic contributions, including moving short stories and a thoughtful poem. By the way, there was also a photo exhibition by the French photographer Philippe Deserable, which showed impressive pictures of Dortmund and Amiens from 1969.

Strengthening university partnerships

Another important aspect of the celebrations was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and the Université de Picardie de Jules Verne (UPJV). This represents a significant step towards deepening the existing relationships that have existed since the college was founded. How Dortmund.de reports, the memorandum aims to increase the exchange between students and lecturers and even enable double degrees in the future. Kalouti praised the cooperation between the universities as exemplary and emphasized the importance of such exchange programs for European cooperation.

The current developments in Dortmund show that the city is not only a cultural center, but also an innovative one. It was recently recognized as the first Fairtrade town in the Ruhr area and takes part in over 700 Fairtrade towns worldwide. The Dortmund Action Alliance is committed to fair trade and focuses on raising awareness and education. In addition, Dortmund is a member of international networks that promote social justice and sustainable development goals.

Sustainable urban development in view

In view of the global challenges in urban development, such as climate change and the need for affordable housing, international cooperation is becoming increasingly important. The Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction emphasizes that Germany can share valuable experiences and innovations through exchange and cooperation with other countries. The UN sustainability goals promoted there, in particular Goal 11, which advocates for inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities, illustrate the pressing issues that also affect Dortmund.

The celebrations show how important international exchange is for urban development and cultural coexistence. The town twinning with Amiens is not just a tradition, but a living example of the positive effects of cross-border cooperation. Dortmund and Amiens are setting an example for European friendship that should continue to exist in the future.