Holzwickede or Dortmund? Confusion about Sölder Straße!

Holzwickede or Dortmund? Confusion about Sölder Straße!

The location of Sölder Straße in the newly created residential area in the west of Holzwickeder ensures ambiguities. The Google card service shows parts of this street as part of Dortmund-Aplerbeck, which often causes confusion in add-on. Many residents do not realize that they live in Holzwickede (Unna district) and not in Dortmund. This geographical misinterpretation could have an impact on local identity, especially since Holzwickede has been an independent community for over 50 years that proudly defends its autonomy.

The problem runs through the names of numerous businesses in Holzwickede, which often bear the addition "Dortmund" in the name. Interactive cards made available by Google Maps also often suggest to users "Sölder Straße Holzwickede-Aplerbeck" through the automatic search suggestions. This increases the association and contributes to the confusion of the local identity.

background and influence of card application

The website of the municipality of Holzwickede uses Google Maps, an online card operated by Google, whose headquarters are in Mountain View, California. This application not only offers road maps, but also air and satellite images. The integration takes place as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which requires consent of the user so that Google can process the relevant data. When visiting the website, Google receives information about user behavior, even if there is no user account. In the case of logged-in users, the data is allocated to the Google account.

Another aspect is the data processing by Google, which is regulated in the data protection regulations. Although the website itself does not collect any personal data, the use of Google Maps data is forwarded to Google in the USA. These premises form the basis for the legal use of the map service, with Google submitted to the EU-US Privacy Shield. However, it remains unclear which precise data Google collects in detail.

political dimensions and future developments

The upcoming mayoral elections could continue to take up the topic of the independence of Holzwickedes. The confusion about the correct geographical assignment is often about the landscape picture of Holzwickede in connection with Dortmund, which is firmly anchored in the minds of many people. In view of this problem, it would be important for those responsible in Holzwickede to communicate more clearly that there is no official name such as "Holzwickede-Aplerbeck" or "Holzwickede Brackel".

A request to Google press office has so far been unanswered. It remains to be seen how such misunderstandings can be defused in the future, in particular with regard to the digital visibility of places and their correct assignment by map services.

Due to these circumstances, both citizens and the local administration will be called up in the coming months to actively discuss the topic in order to promote a clear identity and awareness of their own community.