The district of Kleve will be 50 years old in 2025. The municipal reorganization in 1975 resulted in a large district with a total of 16 towns and municipalities. That is why the district is also celebrating "in the area". "We want to bring the '50 years of the Kleve district' anniversary closer to the citizens in particular," emphasizes District Administrator Christoph Gerwers. Three celebratory events are initially planned in Rees (March 21), Geldern (May 9) and Kleve (November 21). "There will also be a contingent of tickets for each of these evening events, which we will be giving away to members of the public. This way, the audience will represent a good cross-section of the population," said the District Administrator. The district administration will provide details about the ticket raffle and individual event content in good time. There are also several digital formats to mark the district's anniversary throughout the year.
50 eye-catchers for 50 years
There will be an annual series online: "50 eye-catchers for 50 years". Every week, a "highlight" or an "insider tip" in the district will be presented. Together with the 16 towns and municipalities, these 50 eye-catchers have been compiled, which are publicly accessible and can therefore be experienced. District Administrator Gerwers: "When we first looked at the submitted photo motifs, we discovered new, exciting places in the district alongside familiar ones, which we will be sharing with citizens one by one over the next 50 weeks. A big thank you to the local authorities for their support with this campaign."
Leaps in time" exhibition
What did the Kleve district look like 50 years ago? And what does the same motif look like today? District archivist Dr. Beate Sturm and her colleagues from the local authorities have compiled numerous historical photos. Current photos were then taken of the selected motifs. It became clear that the inner cities in the district in particular have changed a great deal. The selected motifs include, for example, the Schloss Moyland Museum, which was still in a "deep sleep" in the mid-1970s, and the site of the old Kleve harbor, where the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences buildings now stand. This digital exhibition "Leaps in Time" will be shown as part of the three celebratory events and online.
Source: District of Kleve