Twin towns

Kidderminster is an industrial and trading city in Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire. It is located around 25 kilometers south of Birmingham. The River Stour flows through the town centre. It has 55.000 inhabitants.

Kidderminster originated in the 8th century and was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. In 1225 it got the right to hold markets and became a centre of drapery production. The first carpet industry was founded in 1735 was soon followed by more. Even after the carpet industry lost its significance at the end of the 20th century it is still very present.

The friendship between Husum and Kidderminster goes back to 1955. They are officially twinned since 1976.

Kidderminster-Husum Twinning Association

(German, English, Danish)

Heilbad Heiligenstadt is the county seat of Eichsfeld in Thuringia and has about 16.000 inhabitants.

The town started as a demesne which was then given to the archbishop of Mainz. It was first mentioned in a document in 973 and was granted town privileges in 1227. In the 19th century the town and county went to Prussia. Building the salt-water hydropathic baths in 1929 was the beginning of the spa in Heilbad Heiligenstadt. After the Second World War the town was part of the German Democratic Republic.

Husum novelist Theodor Storm lived in Heilbad Heiligenstadt 1856 until 1864 and worked as a judge. Parts of his story "Pole Poppenspäler" play there. One of the three museums is about the writer.

There are close contacts between the Theodor Storm society and the firebrigade.

Heilbades Heiligenstadt

(German)