Vendor City Guide: Dortmund

Our guide this week: Jessica, 38, comes from Dortmund. She has been selling bodo for five years and during that time has made a large number of friends who are colleagues and customers.

I like living in Dortmund because the people are lovely

The people here are very nice and open and all my friends and acquaintances live here. Almost everyone around my point of sale already knows me and they are very friendly. Of course, sometimes someone is unfriendly, but that is the exception. I’m also a big fan of BVB [Borussia Dortmund], the famous local football team, so I cannot imagine living anywhere else. 

A good place to visit, because it is not expensive, is Westfalenpark

It is very beautiful; but unfortunately you have to pay admission there. If you come around August you should visit the Festival of Lights which is taking place there. Then the whole area is immersed in a sea of lights. Rombergpark is also very beautiful, and you don’t have to pay there. If you like animals, a visit to our zoo is a must. During winter you should absolutely have a look at the  well-known Christmas market. There you can see the world’s biggest Christmas tree.

My favourite time of year in Dortmund is…

Christmas. I love it when everything’s so festive, the city is decorated and is full of people in a good mood. Besides that, it’s much easier to sell bodo than in summer.

Somewhere every visitor to the city should go is Westfalenstadion [officially called Signal Iduna Park]

It’s the largest stadium in Germany. Directly opposite Dortmund station in the city centre you can visit the DFB Fußball Museum, which is a must for every football fan.

My favourite district of Dortmund is Borgisplatz

It’s where Borussia Dortmund was founded more than 100 years ago. It’s a place with many cafes and stalls and you can watch people there all day long.

Only locals know about the secret spot that is Dortmund-Ems Canal

It’s just outside the city, and in summer you can sit on its shore and spend the day there, sunbathing and watching the ships go by.

My favourite cafe/restaurant is Wurst-Willi

Here you can get the best currywurst with french fries in the whole city, no matter what other people say.

Image: Megan Reddi