More than just BVB: football in Dortmund
“Welcome to the capital of football,” Dortmund greets its visitors. But what does that mean, exactly? Is Dortmund really the capital of German football and footballing culture? Or does Borussia Dortmund eclipse everything else?
Well, yes and yes.
It’s true that BVB very much defines Dortmund and its people. On the other hand, if you happen to arrive by train, the first thing you see as you step out of the station is the imposing German Football Museum. Seeking the ideal location for its museum, the DFB, Germany’s football association, ultimately decided that Dortmund and football are a match made in Heaven.
The German Football Museum: world champions, trophies and history
Located right across the road from Dortmund’s central station, the German Football Museum could hardly be easier to get to. Explore its unrivalled collection of artefacts and memorabilia, and immerse yourself in the history of German football. Learn all about the German national team and relive the glory of their World Cup wins of 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014. An impressive collection of trophies won by the DFB national squad is also on display in the museum’s treasure chamber.
The Hall of Fame brings you closer to celebrated German footballers like Sepp Maier, Fritz Walter and Uwe Seeler.
Borusseum, stadium tour and fan world: everything revolves around Borussia Dortmund
Strobelallee 50. Whether you’re interested in the club’s history, its current season, or you’re a collector of fan merchandise, this is the address you should be typing into your satnav. Destination: the stadium of Borussia Dortmund, the former Westfalenstadion, now officially known as the Signal Iduna Park. This and the club´s museum Borusseum, the big BVB "Fanwelt" shop as well as the Rote Erdestadium – all in all a must-do experience for every football enthusiast.
Borsigplatz: the beating heart of Dortmund footballing history
The Borsigplatz in the Nordstadt quarter is the epicentre of Dortmund footballing history. For this is where, at the Wildschütz tavern,BVB was founded on 19.12.1909. Make your pilgrimage to this historic site and enjoy one of Dortmund’s favourite dishes: currywurst with fries.
Borussia’s first home, the Weiße Wiese, is to be found nearby at the Hoesch Park. Decades later the club relocated to theRote Erde Stadium on the southern edge of the city where it remained until the Westfalenstadion was built in 1974.
Walk of Fame and the German Football Route: tracing football history
Dortmund and football are inseparable and this becomes particularly apparent when it comes to the history of BVB, as illustrated by two routes that guide you to the most notable sites in Dortmund’s footballing history.
The BVB Walk of Fame zigzags its way through the city, starts at the Borsigplaz and ends at Signal Iduna Park. Significant events and individuals who shaped the history of the Black & Yellows are honoured in Hollywood-style with more than 100 stars embedded in the pavement.
The German Football Route NRW: This is a cycling tour route devised by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia that stretches from Aachen to Bielefeld and focuses on the region’s strong ties with football.
Watch the game: amateur football in Dortmund
If you’re interested in the quality of Dortmund amateur football, check out the Indoor Football City Championships, the biggest amateur football tournament in Germany. Over three weekends Dortmund clubs fight preliminaries, intermediate rounds and finals for the championship title. Sports halls all over Dortmund host the matches and are always jam-packed.
The atmosphere of the final round is as charged as at any professional tournament, with fans passionately cheering on their teams. The matches are fast and furious.
Outside on the pitch two local teams, ASC 09 Dortmund and FC Brünninghausen, currently represent Dortmund in the Oberliga Westfalen division, while Borussia Dortmund’sUnder 23s play in the Regionalliga West. The reserve team of BVB, affectionately nicknamed “Amas”, is at home at the Rote Erde stadium. The Under 23s are very popular among BVB fans, and even have their own ultras, whoprovide for a fantastic atmosphere at home matches. In fact, these matches are a popular choice for a lot of people looking for a very affordable, authentic BVB experience while enjoying a good beer.