Brochure for new citizens

A good place to live | 11 10 | A good place to live Family-friendly Heidelberg supports families with offers that are among the best in Germany: exemplary childcare, a choice of out- standing schools and holiday programs, fun playgrounds, child-friendly traffic planning and much more. City of science Heidelberg University is one of the best in the world. Together with the Uni- versity Hospital, respected research institutes like the German Cancer Re- search Center, numerous research- related companies, and other higher education establishments, it has earned Heidelberg a worldwide reputation as a major center for science. Cosmopolitan An estimated 56,000 people with a migration background are at home in Heidelberg. They come from around 180 countries and enrich the vibrant community. Good for recreation Because of its scenic location, its fa- vorable climatic conditions and its urban flair Heidelberg has one of the highest leisure values in Germany. Strong for business The city provides jobs for around 120,000 people. Of these, around two- thirds are employed in the knowledge-intensive sector. Dynamic urban development Housing is a top priority in Heidelberg. The Bahnstadt is currently being devel- oped as a pioneering new district. It will provide living space for around 6,800 people and up to 6,000 jobs. On four former sites of the US Army, future quarters are growing with sev- eral thousand apartments, space for innovative companies and high-quality sports, cultural and leisure facilities. Cultural mecca Heidelberg impresses with its wide range of cultural offerings in the areas of music, theater, dance, visual arts and film. Heidelberg is also the first and so far only German-speaking city of liter- ature in the UNESCO network of “Cre- ative Cities“. Voluntary work Heidelberg has a diverse and well- structured range of volunteers. Their commitment is invaluable for success- ful coexistence and social cohesion. Involving people Heidelberg‘s citizens are systematically involved into municipal planning at an early stage. They are thus important sources of ideas for the administration and the city council. The city‘s project list, which provides information on planned projects, also enables early participation. A safe city Heidelberg is safe – thanks to a part- nership with the state police and a broad-based municipal public order service. Eco-friendly Heidelberg is an international pioneer in climate protection. As early as 2015, the United Nations named the city a “Global Green City“. With the climate protection action plan, adopted in 2019, Heidelberg aims to become climate-neutral by 2030.