2024 Link Visit to Düsseldorf

Link Meeting in Düsseldorf, 27 – 29 September 2024

Hosted by RC Meerbusch, with participants from RC Brugge West, RC Pulchri Den Haag and RC Pinner.

Thirteen representatives of our Pinner club joined our fellow link club members for another of our annual international gatherings, this year based in Düsseldorf and hosted by RC Meerbusch.

Now forming a regular extension to the programme, most of the Pinner contingent arrived on Thursday and enjoyed a convivial evening meal together at a local restaurant. A welcoming start to the weekend.

The main programme started Friday lunchtime – in a brewery. Düsseldorf is famous for its small, independent craft breweries where their speciality is Altbier, brewed ‘in the old style’. At Uerige brewery in an old part of the city we enjoyed a cold platter lunch accompanied by an endless supply of the famous beer. Old friendships were quickly resumed whilst newcomers were made very welcome.

The afternoon was free time - for shopping if so inclined in the upmarket Königsallee – followed by an evening of “home parties”.  These smaller gatherings of 10 – 12 are always enjoyable and an opportunity to get to know each other in a more relaxed setting. Thanks to some very generous hosts not everyone was back at the hotel and tucked up in bed by midnight!

Saturday began with a boat trip on the Rhine to Düsseldorf-Kaiserswerth, one of the oldest quarters of the city famous for the Kaiserpfalz, a 12th century palace owned by Emperor Barbarossa, now in ruins. A brief history of the area was delivered by Thomas, one of our hosts, then we had time to explore the attractive cobblestone square and the Basilica. 

A hearty lunch was consumed in a nearby restaurant, then we were off by coach to visit Malkasten house and gardens, home to an artists’ association founded in 1848. A guide recounted the history of the house, badly damaged during the war and later rebuilt. A tour of the gardens included various unusual sculptures set in landscaped surroundings.

The traditional Saturday evening celebratory dinner was held in the Hotel Leonardo Royal where the visiting Rotarians were staying, with many of the local Rotarians from Meerbusch attending. The hotel treated us to an amazing buffet with a vast array of dishes, leaving everyone spoilt for choice. The multi-lingual speeches from the Presidents reassured us that all our clubs are thriving, and the future of the link visits is assured. With so much good food and drink and good company another late night was inevitable.

Sunday morning took us in a high speed lift to the viewing area of the 240m high Rhine Tower overlooking Media Harbour, where a guide gave us stories and explanations about the impressive cityscape surrounding us. Then it was back to the coach for a short ride to the Museum Kunstpalast and another guided tour – this time round the exhibition of works by Gerhard Richter. Not to everyone’s taste, but I think we all liked the cow!

The farewell lunch was held at the museum restaurant, then with many hugs and handshakes we all vowed to meet up again in 2025.