Velen | Info on living, living, working in Velen | Münsterland
Velen in the Münsterland
© Münsterland e.V./Sebastian Lehrke
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Velen

Welcome to Velen!

DAS GUTE LEBEN awaits you in Velen, surrounded by greenery and set against the historic backdrop of Ramsdorf Castle and Velen Palace. The town is a state-recognised climatic health resort and the surrounding area is perfect for cycling tours and long hikes. Velen is made up of the two former municipalities of Velen and Ramsdorf, belongs to the Borken district and has a good 13,000 inhabitants.

In the countryside between the Netherlands and Münster

Velen is a 20-minute drive from the Dutch border, west of Coesfeld and north of the Hohe Mark Nature Park. It only takes a quarter of an hour by car to reach the district town of Borken and Coesfeld , and it takes about 45 minutes by car to reach Enschede . Münster, Dortmund and Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO) are also just under an hour away.

Via the nearby A31 motorway, you can reach the North Sea coast from Velen in just two and a half hours.

Tip: The Münsterland is a cycling region! 4,500 kilometres of cycle paths offer you almost unlimited possibilities in the city and in the countryside: you can commute to work comfortably by bike and go on great tours with friends and family.

Living in Velen

The town of Velen has a total of five districts: Velen itself, which is adjoined by the smaller districts of Waldvelen and Nordvelen beyond the fields and meadows, and the second centre, Ramsdorf. This is surrounded by the "Kirchspiel Ramsdorf" district with its rural farming communities of Bleking, Holthausen, Ostendorf and Krückling. Velen's town centre is characterised by the moated castle surrounded by green spaces and streams, while Ramsdorf's town centre is dominated by Ramsdorf Castle. The two large districts are around five kilometres apart, which you can cover along the Bocholter Aa river in around eight minutes by car or a quarter of an hour by bike.

Even though rental and purchase prices are following the general property trend overall, there are still numerous niches to be discovered in Münsterland when it comes to building, buying or renting. Here you can find the average purchase and rental prices for a house or flat in the rural area of Münsterland. In the property market report , you can view information on sales and price trends on the property market in the Borken district.

Shopping in Velen

In Velen,supermarkets are spread throughout the entire town and can also be found in the smaller districts and villages. You can buy fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and other groceries at the weekly markets : in Ramsdorf every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Velen on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.. The town centres of the two central districts are characterised by owner-managed retail shops.

If you want to shop a little bigger, you can either go to the Designer Outlet Ochtrup, which is only 30 minutes away by car, or to Winterswijk in the Netherlands, which is just as close and invites you to shop on open Sundays.

Childcare and schools in Velen

The very little ones are in good hands in Velen's seven childcare facilities: Four kindergartens are located directly in the Velen district, while two kindergartens and one daycare centre are located in Ramsdorf.

Schools in Velen

Younger pupils can attend a total of three schools in Velen and Ramsdorf:

  • one comprehensive school
  • two primary schools

There are also two special schools just 20 minutes away in Borken (specialisms: mental development, learning).
Older pupils can complete higher education qualifications at grammar school or vocational training programmes in Borken, Bocholt and Reken, for example.

Working in Velen

Velen is well connected via the A31 motorway and is very close to the Dutch border - this makes the town attractive for companies from various sectors. Above all, medium-sized mechanical engineering and metal construction companies have settled here, but also some construction firms as well as some advertising agencies and management consultancies. In addition, the EMERGY Führungs- und Servicegesellschaft mbH is located in a former stable building of Velen Castle, the "Remise". The company was founded by the district towns of Borken and Coesfeld in order to bundle all the management and service tasks of the Borken public utility company and the economic enterprises of the town of Coesfeld.

Top employer in Münsterland

Top employer in Münsterland Top employer in Münsterland
© Hengst SE

Our tips: Leisure, sport and culture in Velen

  • Cycle tours on the Naturpark Hohe-Mark-Route, the Flamingoroute, the 100 Castles Route or the Bocholter-Aa-Radweg
  • Hiking on the "Die Berge" country trail, in the "Lünsberg and Hombornquelle" nature reserve and the Naturpark Hohe Mark
  • Biking or hiking tour to the Living Museum locations (Old Sawmill at Gut Roß, Old Beckmann Forge, Ramsdorf Castle with Museum, Dosker Schoppen, Tenk-Dröning Farm)
  • Sports and football clubs
  • Riding club
  • Two outdoor swimming pools
  • "Aquarius" leisure pool and sauna garden in Borken (20 minutes)
  • "Bahia" adventure pool in Bocholt (35 minutes)
  • Mini golf course in Heiden (15 minutes), golf clubs in Coesfeld and Reken (10 minutes)
  • Animal garden (park) at Velen Castle
  • The GiG-Fietsentour - opening of the cycling season in April
  • City festivals with Sunday shopping: "Velen Autumn" in October & "Ramsdorf May" in May
  • Velener Forest Christmas Market on the 4th Advent weekends
  • Forest garden market in May
  • City trip to Münster or Enschede
  • Excursion to the Designer Outlet Ochtrup
  • and much more
Velen in the Münsterland Velen in the Münsterland
© Münsterland e.V./Sebastian Lehrke