Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our community of experts to gain a global audience for your work!
Krefeld, also spelled Crefeld, city and port, North Rhine–Westphalia Land (state), western Germany. The medieval city centre of Krefeld is situated 6 miles (10 km) west of the Rhine River. The city stretches in an east-west direction, with Uerdingen, a second city centre, lying along the Rhine itself and containing a harbour. Chartered in 1373, Krefeld belonged to the counts of Moers (Mörs) until it passed to the house of Orange in 1600; it passed to Prussia in 1702. In 1758 Ferdinand, duke of Brunswick, defeated the French near Krefeld in a major battle of the Seven Years’ War. The city was long known for the manufacture of silks and velvets, which was begun in the 17th and 18th centuries by Mennonite refugees. Krefeld absorbed several neighbouring towns between 1901 and 1929, including Uerdingen and its harbour. It was occupied by the Allies after World War I, from 1918 to 1926, and was severely bombed in World War II.
Krefeld is a rail hub. Steel, machinery, clothing (especially neckties), and chemicals are also manufactured. The city’s cultural institutions include the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Museum, the Museum Burg Linn (a restored castle), a textile museum, and the Museum Haus Lange (modern art). Pop. (2007 est.) 236,516.
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
Seven Years' War: 1758…Bourbon, comte de Clermont, at Krefeld. The effect of that victory, which enabled him to secure all of northwestern Germany, was scarcely offset by subsequent French successes farther to the south, in Hesse and Thuringia. Apart from reinforcing Hanover, on April 11 the British signed a new treaty with Prussia,…
Seven Years' War
Seven Years’ War, (1756–63), the last major conflict before the French Revolution to involve all the great powers of Europe. Generally, France, Austria, Saxony, Sweden, and Russia were aligned on one side against Prussia, Hanover, and Great Britain on the other. The war arose out of the attempt of the…
Leaders of GermanyGermany is a federal multiparty republic with two legislative houses. Its government is headed by the chancellor (prime minister), who is elected by a majority vote of the Bundestag (Federal Assembly) upon nomination by the president (head of state). The table provides a chronological list of the…