Bruchmühlen: One village, two cities – life between borders!

Bruchmühlen: One village, two cities – life between borders!

The small village of Bruchmühlen, which stretches across the state borders of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, is a fascinating example of living neighborhood despite separate administrative structures. With 4,000 inhabitants on the NRW side and 3,000 in Lower Saxony, the village brings with it both diversity and challenges, which are primarily caused by the different cultural and legal circumstances. LocalCompass reports that the residents have two mayors and even two fishing clubs. In the midst of this division, however, a remarkable community has formed that fosters togetherness and exchange.

Everyday life in Bruchmühlen is shaped by the different practices of the two federal states. There are not only two garbage collection calendars, but also completely different holiday customs: While in Lower Saxony Reformation Day is celebrated on October 31st, in North Rhine-Westphalia the focus is on All Saints' Day on November 1st. These differences also caused confusion during the Corona pandemic, when different regulations on fishing lengths applied to the border river - in Lower Saxony, fish were at least 50 cm long, while North Rhine-Westphalia set a minimum length of 90 cm.

Mastering common challenges

Another example of the boundaries between regions is the separate collection of fir trees and the annual rotation in the maintenance of the local district. Despite these differences, the villagers have a good knack for overcoming prejudices and meeting each other on a personal level. Trust between residents on both sides is strengthened through regular meetings and community events that take place in the village.

But there are not only divided communities in Germany - we are also looking at exciting developments internationally. Rita Tamuntuan is considered a possible candidate for governor in Sulawesi Utara. In addition to being the wife of incumbent Governor Olly Dondokambey, she is also the chairwoman of the TP-PKK Sulawesi Utara Province. Manado iNews informs about her career and her commitment. Rita, who was born in Makassar and studied agriculture at Sam Ratulangi University, has served, among other things, as chair of the Ikatan Alumni Fakultas Pertanian (IKA Faperta).

In Bruchmühlen, where tradition and modernity go hand in hand, it is clear that working together works despite regional differences. It remains exciting to see how the political situation in Sulawesi Utara will develop as the residents of Bruchmühlen continue to work to further consolidate their community.

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In a world that is often characterized by separation and differences, places like Bruchmühlen and the political ambitions of personalities like Rita Tamuntuan prove that joint action and commitment can build bridges.