Eisenheim Workers' Housing Estate—the First Workers' Housing Estate in the Ruhr Region
More than 150 years ago, the Eisenheim Workers’ Housing Estate was built in the neighborhood of the same name—the first development of its kind designed specifically for the steelworkers at the nearby Gutehoffnungshütte in Oberhausen. With construction beginning in 1846, the Eisenheim Workers’ Settlement is one of the oldest in Germany. By 1900, more than 1,200 people were already living in 51 houses in the mining colony. At that time, it was standard practice to house two or even four families in a single house. After World War II, the settlement was neglected; numerous buildings were demolished or replaced by new structures. Complete demolition loomed in the 1970s but was prevented by the determined efforts of the local residents.
A Walk Through the Past
The Eisenheim citizens’ initiative remains legendary to this day. As a result, 39 houses were preserved and are now listed as historic landmarks—ensuring that Germany’s first workers’ housing development will be preserved for the future. The former washhouse of the Eisenheim workers’ settlement now houses a museum where you can relive the eventful history of the mining settlement through images and audio. You’ll get a sense of what life was like for miners’ families in a settlement like this back then.
