Wasserturm Hochfeld, Industrial water tower in Hochfeld district, Duisburg, Germany.
Wasserturm Hochfeld is a water tower in Duisburg's Hochfeld district, standing 47 meters tall with a steel-concrete structure reinforced by six internal and six external support pillars. Brick masonry connects these pillars, creating a solid industrial structure that dominates the local landscape.
Built in 1917 during World War I, the 47-meter tower supplied water to steam locomotives at the Hochfeld freight yard and the nearby Duisburg main station. Its 1,000-cubic-meter reinforced-concrete tank became redundant in the 1960s as electric locomotives replaced steam. A private investor bought the tower and surrounding wasteland in 1997 for about 400,000 euros; renovation began in 2001 and was completed in mid-2007 at a cost of 5 million euros.
The tower's head holds a restaurant and a panorama café opened after the 2001–2007 conversion, and event halls stand beside the tower. Visitors come for the views over Duisburg and for celebrations in the former waterworks. The brick-and-concrete shell, cleaned but kept as a listed façade, frames these new uses.
The tower underwent major renovation in 2007 and now contains modern office spaces and event halls suitable for various gatherings. The upper levels feature dining options with views, making it accessible for both casual visits and planned events.
The tower is part of the Industrial Heritage Trail, documenting how water infrastructure was essential to steam rail operations. Its transformation demonstrates how industrial structures can adapt to serve modern community needs.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,098 contributors worldwide.