Laurensberg is located in the north-west of the city, right on the border with the Netherlands and at the foot of the Lousberg, surrounded by many fields, meadows and hills. With an area of 2,997 hectares and 22,000 inhabitants, Laurensberg is the largest outlying district of Aachen.
Dear people of Laurensberg!
It fills me with great joy and gratitude to welcome you with these lines. Laurensberg - our livable district at the border triangle - combines tradition, commitment and remarkable diversity in a unique way. Here, the international stage of equestrian sport through the ALRV meets the passionate atmosphere around the Tivoli; here, rural tranquillity and urban dynamism complement each other to create a special attitude to life.
But what makes Laurensberg stand out above all is you: the citizens, associations, initiatives and volunteers who strengthen and shape social interaction with their impressive commitment. Your commitment makes Laurensberg a place where community is not just a word, but a living reality.
I am delighted to be able to hold the office of district mayor once again. Let us continue to work together in the coming years to make Laurensberg even more liveable and sustainable. And let's talk to each other openly and respectfully. Good communication cannot be taken for granted - but it is the key to working together sustainably.
I wish you a good and healthy time
Yours sincerely
Alexander Gilson
Aachen's Laurensberg district is located in the north-west of the city, right on the border with the Netherlands and at the foot of the Lousberg, surrounded by many fields, meadows and hills.
With an area of 2997 ha and 22,000 inhabitants, Laurensberg is the largest outlying district of Aachen. In the course of the municipal reorganization in 1972, the previously independent municipality of the former Laurensberg was incorporated with the municipalities of the neighbouring villages of Vetschau, Orsbach, Seffent, Lemiers, Vaalserquartier and Soers to form the current district of Laurensberg, which also includes the residential areas of Gut Kullen and Steppenberg.
The east of Laurensberg with Soers and the lower reaches of the torrent and the southernmost part of Paulinenwäldchen are part of the "Aachen basin" in topographical terms. However, most of the district lies outside this area, such as the Vaalser Hügelland with the Senserbach, the upper reaches of the Wildbach and the meadows and farmland around Orsbach and the Schneeberg. To the south of the Vaalserquartier district is the urban forest with the Dreiländerpunkt. To the west is the open, hilly landscape of the Dutch Mergelland, also known as "Klein Zwitserland" or "heuvelland".
The district of Laurensberg is not only large, it is also growing rapidly. This is not surprising, as its attractive residential location in the countryside is more in demand than ever. The almost ideal combination of plenty of nature and an upmarket infrastructure, the proximity to Aachen city center and the good transport connections in all directions - be it Cologne, Heerlen or Maastricht - are attracting many newcomers to Laurensberg. This is a flexible, mobile and cosmopolitan place to live.
Since the early 1970s, the "Medical Facilities of RWTH Aachen University "2 - the "Clinic" for short - have been located in Laurensberg. It was built over a period of around 10 years from 1972 as an urgently needed new building for Aachen's Faculty of Medicine, which had been in existence since 1966, and was gradually occupied until the official inauguration in March 1985.
The building, visible from afar with its bizarre elevator shafts protruding far above the roof, was controversial for a long time: above all, it was considered too large and too expensive. The clinic is characterized not only by its unconventional 1970s architecture, but also by its "everything under one roof" concept. The building combines teaching, research and patient care and thus all clinics, laboratories, research facilities, lecture halls and nursing schools.
Other medical research facilities of the hospital and other research facilities of the expanding RWTH Aachen University are also located in the Laurensberg district. The Kackertstraße industrial estate is also home to a number of globally active companies, most notably the Ford Research Center, which collaborates with RWTH Aachen University, among others.
Many members of the hospital and research institutions have also settled in Laurensberg privately, contributing to the upmarket image of the district.
Further information can be found on the clinic's website
Another institution based in Laurensberg also bears witness to its worldwide recognition. The Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein has been staging equestrian tournaments at the highest international level since1925. It is thus part of an old Aachen tradition. Even in the time of Charlemagne, Aachen made a name for itself as a center for equestrian sport.
From the early horse shows, which were still under the patronage of Charlemagne, there is a continuous arc to today's internationally renowned "Riding and Driving Tournaments" organized by the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein on the extensive show grounds in Aachen's Soers. Every year, not only hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic spectators and equestrian celebrities meet here for the "CHIO Aachen", but also federal and state presidents, federal chancellors and ambassadors, prime ministers and ministers of state, church and military dignitaries,... They all contribute to the legendary reputation of the "CHIO - World Equestrian Festival" for show jumpers, dressage riders and four-in-hand drivers.
Further information can be found on the CHIO website
Laurensberg is embedded in an extensive local recreation area. Despite intensive agricultural use, many areas with small-scale cultural landscapes and rich forests have been preserved here. Almost the entire outer area of the district is therefore designated as a landscape conservation area, which also contains numerous protected landscape features, natural monuments and three large nature reserves.
The beautiful natural surroundings and historical sights attract many walkers, hikers and cyclists to Laurensberg. As a result, it is very well developed with paths and trails for local recreation and offers many surprising views due to the hilly landscape and the many hills.
From Orsbach, for example, you have a wonderful view of the Lousberg on the one hand and the nearby Vaalserberg, the highest elevation in the Netherlands, on the other. This is where the "border triangle" is located, where Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands meet. Until the First World War, it was still a "four-country corner". The fourth country - Neutral Moresnet - now belongs to Belgium. The Boudewijn Tower on the Belgian side offers a magnificent panorama far into the Dutch marl country as far as the High Fens and the Eifel. This special feature has made the mountain a popular tourist attraction, which the Dutch and Belgians share with the district of Laurensberg. From the German side, the border triangle can only be reached via the "Dreiländerweg" in Laurensberg, a short, steep climb through the forest with magnificent views.
There are still many beautiful orchards, hedgerows and copses around Orsbach. To the east of the village are the Großer Busch and Kleiner Busch nature reserves with species-rich areas of coppice forest. The inhabitants of Orsbach still have historical rights of use for firewood here and manage the coppice forest. The forest areas on the Schneeberg are also largely designated as a nature reserve and are a refuge for many animal species.
The Seffenter Weg and Wilkensberg nature reserve is located close to the city to the north of the hospital. The New Botanical Garden is currently under construction at the adjacent Melaten Estate. The Karlsgarten in particular delights and surprises visitors with the splendor of its flowers and the many aromas and scents of medicinal and culinary herbs from early spring until late autumn.
More information about the nature experience in Laurensberg (PDF)
Laurensberg can look back on a long history rich in tradition.
Church sponsors
St. Laurentius retirement home
Laurentiusstr. 38
St. Raphael Monastery
Strüver Weg 3
Private sponsors
Rosenpark Laurensberg
Adele-Weidtman-Str. 87-93
CMS Pflegewohnstift Aachen-Laurensberg
Schurzelter Str. 28
info@cms-verbund.de
We are dependent on the support of the above-mentioned institutions for the maintenance of the information. Please let us know (onlineredaktion@mail.aachen.de) if any information needs to be changed or added. Thank you very much!
Your online editorial team of the City of Aachen
Laurensberg has a large number of clubs and institutions with a wide range of activities.
Churches, parish offices and other church facilities in Laurensberg.
Laurensberg is a district that is particularly popular with families. There are numerous daycare centers, schools and other facilities for children, young people and families here.
Here you can find information on the members and meetings of the Aachen-Laurensberg district council.
You can find more information on the website of the Laurensberg district service
