Sterkrade, a district of Oberhausen, combines industrial history with green spaces and events. When planning your visit, you can focus on different things: historic sites, protected forest habitats, Volkspark or an event on the calendar.
Industrial history and traces of the past
Sterkrade’s industrial history dates back to 1782, when the Neue Hoffnung ironworks was founded in the area of what is now central Sterkrade. For more than two centuries, the Gutehoffnungshütte (GHH), its metalworking businesses and coal mines shaped the area’s development. In 1927, the GHH and Concordia colliery also co-founded Ruhrchemie in Holten.
A striking testament to this industrial past is the three-legged headframe of the former Sterkrade colliery, dating from 1903. It is one of the few surviving structures of its kind in the Ruhr metropolitan area and is among the oldest surviving German headframes in North Rhine-Westphalia. Another historic landmark is the site of St. Clemens Provost Church: until 1809, it was home to the Cistercian abbey of “Maria ad rivulum.”
The Sterkrader Fronleichnamskirmes fair also has a long tradition, dating back to 1829. It adds the history of a popular fair to the area’s industrial and religious history; this does not mean that specific event dates are available, so these should be checked separately when planning a visit.
Volkspark and Sterkrader Wald
These two green spaces differ in scale. Volkspark Sterkrade is in the center of the district and covers 13.5 hectares. Walking trails and a large pond are defining features of the park. Sterkrader Wald, by contrast, covers 204 hectares and is a mixed beech forest crossed by the Handbach stream. The park’s paths and pond thus offer a contrast to the extensive woodland.
An 81-hectare section of Sterkrader Wald is designated as a nature reserve. Its habitats include a valuable peat moss and alder swamp forest, old stream meanders and marl pits that serve as spawning grounds for endangered amphibian species. The reserve also protects dry to moist oak-hornbeam forests and valuable old stands of red beech more than 100 years old. This diversity makes the forest interesting from an ecological perspective too: the focus is not only on the forested area itself, but also on its varied habitats.
Events and practical planning
The Sterkrader Lesesommer reading festival has been held since 2016. The event series turns central Sterkrade into a stage for literature, stories and gatherings. The program includes readings, talks, hands-on activities and creative events in unusual locations. The 2026 edition was scheduled to run from August 28 to September 13.
The “Sterkrader Spätschicht” evening market has been held regularly at Kleiner Markt since late 2017, combining market stalls with food and drink. If a market day is important to your stay, check the latest dates in advance. Oberhausen-Sterkrade station is listed as the recommended starting point for the RevierRoute RuheRäume. If you plan to follow this route, check the latest route details before setting out.
When looking for a holiday apartment in Sterkrade, these different themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay. Visiting for an event, exploring the area’s industrial history or taking an interest in the park and forest each raise different planning questions. You can check the market dates and details of a planned route in advance.
For the broader travel overview: Oberhausen.
