Münster is a city known far and wide for its high standard of living. A wealth of greenery in the city and its broad array of parks, and the genuine commitment to environmental and climate protection ensure that both Münster’s residents and guests alike enjoy a palpable ‘feel good’ factor. In return, Münster consistently takes the top spot in national and international competitions, as evidenced by the shower of medals it has received in the category, “Climate Protection and Quality of Life”.

2004 saw Münster receive Gold in the LivCom Award as it was awarded the title, “The World’s Most Livable City” by the UN’s Environmental Program. And it was Gold once again in 2007 as Münster won the pan-European Entente Florale competition. In 2006, it was crowned by “Deutsche Umwelthilfe” (‘German Environment Aid’) as the “National Climate Protection Capital” for the second time. And in 2005, Münster again took top honors for its climate protection projects as the first large German city to receive the coveted European Energy Award Gold Medal.

Its most recent award honored “Europe’s Most Beautiful Park 2009” for its “Aaseepark”; the park facility features well-groomed green areas, lush hiking and biking trails, modern sculptures and numerous restaurants and cafes, and the award puts the park in first class company alongside the previous year’s winners, the Pollock Country Park in Glasgow and the gardening wonders of the Villa d’Este in Rome!

In a city that places such a pronounced emphasis on climate protection and quality of life, one can almost certainly expect to find excellent sporting and recreational facilities. Cycling and hiking, for example, are one of life’s pure, simple pleasures in Münster. It is no coincidence that Germany’s most preeminent bicycling club, the ADFC, distinguished Münster with the title “Germany’s Bicycling Capital” in 2015 for the sixth time, and “Runner’s World” magazine crowned Münster as “Germany’s No. 1 Running City” following its study in 2008.

Münster is also at the top of the list in regard to its commitment to being a child-friendly city. Its Wartburg Primary School took the top honors in 2008’s “Deutscher Schulpreis” (‘Germany’s School Award’), and in 2004 Münster was selected as the “Child-Friendliest City” in a study conducted by Empirica Delasasse on behalf of the aid organization, “Bild hilft e.V. – Ein Herz für Kinder”.

In April 2015, the European Heritage Label has been awarded to the Town Halls of Münster and Osnabrück as the ‚Sites of the Peace of Westphalia‘ by the European Commission. The European Heritage Label is an initiative of the European Union to improve knowledge of European history, as well as the role and values of the EU.

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