Indemann, Observation tower in Inden, Germany

Indemann is a 36-meter-tall steel tower near Inden with twelve viewing platforms connected by 216 stairs that climb to the top. The heights offer views across the surrounding landscape and the transformation of the mining region.

The Indemann was realised as a project of Euregionale 2008 and opened on 5 September 2009, about two years after the first sod was turned. It was built on the Goltsteinkuppe spoil heap above the Inden open-cast lignite mine. The tower and its roughly 900-metre access road cost around 6.5 million euros.

The name means "man of the Inde", after the river diverted around the open-cast mine. The tower was a project of Euregionale 2008, designed by the Dutch office Maurer United Architects; its stainless-steel mesh was made by ag4 media facade of Cologne with GKD Gebrüder Kufferath of Düren. Around it opened a restaurant, a 2,000 m² playground (2010) and a football-golf course (2013).

The tower is accessible by foot along a paved path and has different opening times depending on the season. Visitors should be prepared to climb stairs and wear sturdy shoes for safe access to the upper platforms.

The tower's 40,655 LEDs cover 1,470 square metres of stainless-steel mesh woven by GKD Gebrüder Kufferath of Düren with ag4 media facade of Cologne. The illumination was first shown in August 2009, before the tower opened on 5 September 2009. The design won a Merit Award from the American Society for Environmental Graphic Design.