Gelsenkirchen, Germany's poorest city, struggles with high unemployment and low income, with 25% of workers reliant on social welfare. Mayor Karin Welge points out that Gelsenkirchen's decline followed an industrial boom, which collapsed post-1960, drastically reducing its population. The city now faces financial hardships, hampering investment in crucial areas like education and public services. Once a coal-producing powerhouse, Gelsenkirchen seeks to reinvent itself through services and education but is hindered by restrictive state regulations and a lack of funding for essential improvements.
"Before 1960, we had almost 400,000 people living here. During the structural changes, this number went down massively to 258,000 at the time of the financial crisis."
"Gelsenkirchen has a history unlike any other German city. This city became rich and prosperous incredibly fast. And then came the extremely brutal structural collapse."
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