Düsseldorf
Germany Updated Oct 2026
After dark, the Rheinturm’s light clock sends glowing numerals up a 240.5-meter shaft; below, the Rhine carries the last light past Gehry’s leaning, mismatched towers. This is Düsseldorf, Germany, where an evening can move from copper-brown Altbier in an old brewhouse to ramen on Immermannstraße.
Photo: Nicooo76 / Pexels
- Attractions
- 12
- Audio
- 20 h
- Trip length
- 2–3 days
- Best season
- Late spring to early autumn (May–September)
Why Düsseldorf
Built from cited sources · see the method · How we make our guides →
The city changes register from one block to the next. In the Altstadt, Köbes servers keep the 0.2-liter Altbier glasses coming until you cover yours with a coaster; in Little Tokyo, noodle counters send out bowls fragrant with broth, scallion, and sesame.
Art here spills beyond museum walls: the six stations of the Wehrhahn U-Bahn line each have their own installations, and the route opened in 2016 without commercial advertising. The Kunstakademie shaped artists from Joseph Beuys to Gerhard Richter, while the sculptural white Schauspielhaus makes its own mark on Gustaf-Gründgens-Platz.
Stay near the center for galleries, shopping arcades, and walks beside the Rhine, then head north to the riverside ruins at Kaiserswerth or south to Benrath Palace and its mirror pond. Düsseldorf’s pleasures lie in those quick shifts—from polished avenues and sharp-edged architecture to beer halls, Japanese bakeries, and quiet water.
The Rhine, rebuilt in glass
At MedienHafen, Frank Gehry’s three tilted Neuer Zollhof buildings twist against the old port’s brick warehouses; William Alsop’s 17-storey Colorium adds a mosaic of coloured glass. The 240.5-metre Rheinturm stands nearby, its illuminated shaft doubling as a clock.Art beneath your feet
The six stations of the Wehrhahn Line, opened in 2016, turn a daily commute into a gallery, with black-and-white geometric bands, coloured glass and sound installations. Above ground, the Kunsthalle’s concrete exterior is known locally as the Kunstbunker.Altstadt and its Altbier
More than 250 bars, brewpubs and restaurants crowd the compact Altstadt, where copper vats and dark, malty Altbier are part of the city’s daily life. At the Marktplatz, the Rathaus dates to 1573; nearby, St. Lambertus is known for its famously twisted spire.A palace at the city’s edge
Schloss Benrath pairs a pale 18th-century palace with formal gardens, a mirror pond and wooded paths that reach toward the Rhine. Its gardens make a quiet counterpoint to the city centre’s glass towers and busy pavements.
Places to Visit
Not every monument, just the ones we'd walk you past ourselves.
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Museum Kunstpalast The Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf, Germany, stands as a beacon of cultural heritage and artistic expression, offering visitors a rich tapestry of…
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Benrath Palace Discover the grandeur and historical richness of Schloss Benrath, a stunning Baroque-style palace situated in Düsseldorf, Germany.
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District 1 District 1, or Stadtbezirk 1, in Düsseldorf, Germany, stands as the historic and cultural heart of the city, offering visitors an immersive journey through…
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Rheinuferpromenade Welcome to the Rheinuferpromenade, a stunning riverside boulevard in Düsseldorf, Germany, where history meets modern urban charm.
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Düsseldorf North Cemetery Nestled in the vibrant city of Düsseldorf, Germany, the Düsseldorf North Cemetery (Nordfriedhof) stands as a compelling historical and cultural landmark that…
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Altstadt (Düsseldorf) The Oberkasseler Brücke, located in Düsseldorf, Germany, is a remarkable testament to the city's historical resilience and architectural innovation.
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Stadtmuseum Düsseldorf Palais Spee, nestled in the heart of Düsseldorf, Germany, is a testament to the city's rich cultural heritage and architectural grandeur.
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Ständehaus Düsseldorf Nestled in the heart of Düsseldorf, the Ständehaus Düsseldorf, now famously known as K21, stands as a remarkable fusion of historical grandeur and…
- Urdenbacher Kämpe Am Ausleger, a picturesque district in Düsseldorf, Germany, is a destination that seamlessly blends historical richness with modern attractions.
Neighborhoods
Where to wander, by quarter — each with its own rhythm.
Altstadt & Carlstadt
The Altstadt packs more than 250 bars, brewpubs, and restaurants into a small historic core; stop at Marktplatz for the 1573 Rathaus and Gabriel de Grupello’s 1711 statue of Jan Wellem. Just south, Carlstadt’s Carlsplatz market has more than 60 stalls, with North Sea fish, regional cheese, pastries, and coffee.Little Tokyo
Around Immermannstraße and Klosterstraße, Japanese supermarkets, bakeries, bookshops, and noodle counters shape a district near the central station. Takumi and Naniwa draw ramen queues, while soba shops and izakayas offer a slower, quieter meal.Königsallee & Stadtmitte
The Kö pairs designer boutiques and shopping arcades with a tree-lined canal fed by the Düssel. Look for Daniel Libeskind’s angular KÖ-Bogen nearby, then trade the polished shop windows for the calmer paths along the water.MedienHafen & Unterbilk
A former commercial harbour now gathers striking contemporary buildings beside the Rhine. Frank Gehry’s three-part Neuer Zollhof, completed in 1999, sets tilted walls and white plaster, steel, and red brick against the water; William Alsop’s 17-story Colorium adds a facade of colored glass.Flingern
Ackerstraße and Birkenstraße are the neighborhood’s useful anchors for independent fashion, galleries, specialty coffee, and small restaurants. Flingern has a more everyday, creative feel than the central shopping streets—better suited to a slow café stop than a checklist.Oberkassel
Across the Rhine, leafy streets and Art Nouveau façades give Oberkassel a residential feel. At Belsenplatz, the converted railway station that houses Brauhaus Alter Bahnhof serves its own Belsen-Alt.Kaiserswerth
This northern district is among Düsseldorf’s oldest, with the Rhine beside the weathered remains of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa’s 12th-century Kaiserpfalz. Come for the open river views and the contrast between old stone and passing cargo boats.Benrath
South of the center, Benrath Palace was built between 1755 and 1773 as a summer residence for Elector Palatine Carl Theodor. Its mirror pond, formal gardens, and flanking museums make the district feel far removed from the city’s glass-and-steel harbour.
Plan your trip
Before you go
- Getting There
- Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) is about 8 km north of the centre; Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is another option, roughly 65 km south. Long-distance trains stop at Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof and Düsseldorf Flughafen station; major road links include the A3, A44, A52, A57 and A46.
- Getting Around
- Rheinbahn’s Stadtbahn has 11 lines, alongside seven tram lines and an extensive bus network; S-Bahn and regional trains connect outer districts and nearby cities. A DüsseldorfCard starts at €13.90 for 24 hours and includes local transport plus attraction discounts; the DeutschlandTicket costs €63 per month in 2026. The Rhine Cycle Route (EuroVelo 15) runs through the city, and nextbike by TIER offers shared bicycles.
- Climate & Best Time
- Typical daytime highs and overnight lows run about 10–19°C and 3–10°C in spring, 22–24°C and 13–15°C in summer, 9–20°C and 4–11°C in autumn, and 5–6°C and 0–2°C in winter. Rain can fall year-round, with winter drizzle, changeable April showers and occasional summer thunderstorms; May to September is the busiest stretch, while February draws Carnival crowds and late November–December brings Christmas markets. May, June and September often balance mild weather with room to roam.
- Language & Currency
- German is the official language, and English is commonly spoken in hotels, museums and central restaurants; around Immermannstraße, Japanese is widely used in shops and eateries. The currency is the euro, and smaller traditional Altbier brewpubs may prefer cash; a 5–10% restaurant tip is customary for good table service.
- Safety
- Düsseldorf is generally safe, but keep bags zipped in the weekend-night crowds around Bolkerstraße and Kurze Straße. The streets near Hauptbahnhof, including Worringer Platz, can feel uncomfortable late at night; use ordinary city awareness and call 110 for police or 112 for fire and medical emergencies.
03 Top tickets in Düsseldorf.
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From Rhine Hamlet to City of Reinvention
Ducal courts, industrial power and a postwar cultural pulse
- c. 700
A Monastery on the Rhine
Long before Düsseldorf became a city, Suitbert established a monastery on the Rhine island of Kaiserswerth, now part of the city. Gerresheim grew around a women’s convent founded around 870, giving the wider area a religious life centuries before the town center took shape.
- 1159
Dusseldorp Enters the Record
The earliest surviving written mention of Dusseldorp describes a small settlement near the mouth of the Düssel, where it meets the Rhine. Its name suggests a village by the water; the city would come later.
- 1288
Battle and Town Charter
On June 5, Count Adolf V of Berg and his allies defeated the Archbishop of Cologne at the Battle of Worringen, a bloody contest over the Duchy of Limburg. On August 14, Adolf granted Düsseldorf town rights, strengthening his foothold on the Lower Rhine and giving the hamlet a new political weight.
- 1386
A Ducal Seat Moves In
Duke Wilhelm of Berg moved his residence from Schloss Burg to Düsseldorf, making the Rhine town a center of regional government. Court officials, craftsmen and merchants followed the household, changing the scale of everyday life.
- 1394
St. Lambertus Takes Shape
A Gothic church dedicated to St. Lambertus began to anchor the growing town beside the Rhine. Its brick walls and later twisted spire became a familiar mark above the Old Town’s tightly packed roofs.
- 1515
Anne of Cleves Is Born
Anne of Cleves was born in Düsseldorf into the ruling House of La Marck, amid the courtly world of the united duchies. In 1540 she married Henry VIII of England; after the marriage was annulled, she remained in England as the king’s “beloved sister.”
Show the full timeline (30 moments)
- 1573
A Renaissance Town Hall
The town hall on Marktplatz took its Renaissance form between 1570 and 1573, its facade facing the square where civic business and public life met. The building still gives the Old Town a visible reminder that Düsseldorf was once a compact seat of government, not a sprawling metropolis.
- 1609
A Succession Splits the Duchies
The death of Duke Johann Wilhelm without a male heir set off the War of the Jülich Succession. The Treaty of Xanten in 1614 divided the territories: Palatinate-Neuburg gained Jülich and Berg, with Düsseldorf as its capital, while Brandenburg took Cleves and Mark.
- 1679
Jan Wellem Builds a Court
Johann Wilhelm, remembered locally as Jan Wellem, took up rule over Jülich and Berg and made Düsseldorf the stage for an ambitious court. With his wife, Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, he backed artists, musicians and architects, turning the city into an international center of Baroque culture.
- 1716
The Court Leaves Düsseldorf
Jan Wellem died without an heir, and his successor moved the electoral court away from Düsseldorf, first toward Heidelberg and later Mannheim. The city lost its place at the center of dynastic power, though the art and buildings left behind kept its courtly past in view.
- 1755
Benrath’s Garden Palace
Elector Carl Theodor commissioned Schloss Benrath, a pale, symmetrical pleasure palace designed by Nicolas de Pigage and completed in 1773. The Hofgarten followed in 1769, bringing a public park into the city’s daily life at a time when open green space was still a rarity.
- 1795
French Guns Strike the City
French Revolutionary forces bombarded and occupied Düsseldorf, setting parts of the ducal palace, church towers and town quarters ablaze. The attack marked the end of the old defensive order and began a period of upheaval under French power.
- 1797
Heinrich Heine Is Born
Heinrich Heine was born on Bolkerstraße in the French-occupied city and later attended school in Düsseldorf. His sharp lyric voice carried the sounds and memories of the Rhine far beyond the town where he grew up.
- 1806
Capital of a New Duchy
Napoleon created the Grand Duchy of Berg, a French client state with Düsseldorf as its capital. New administrations and reforms arrived with the regime, even as the city’s celebrated painting collection was transferred to Munich in 1805.
- 1815
Prussia Takes the Rhineland
The Congress of Vienna awarded Düsseldorf and the surrounding Rhineland to Prussia, placing the city in a new province and political system. In 1819, the Prussian government re-established the Kunstakademie, which soon drew painters from across Europe and the Americas.
- 1848
Revolution in the Streets
Düsseldorf became a center of democratic agitation during the German revolutions, as workers, writers and artists pressed for political change. The city’s public squares and meeting rooms turned into places of argument over who should hold power in a Prussian state.
- 1850
The Schumanns on Bilker Straße
Robert Schumann became Düsseldorf’s municipal music director, and he and Clara settled at Bilker Straße 15. In the city, Robert composed his “Rhenish” Symphony while Clara performed, taught and sustained the family’s musical life through years of mounting strain.
- 1872
Fire Destroys the Palace
A fire on March 20 consumed Düsseldorf’s old ducal palace, leaving only its Renaissance tower standing. The Schlossturm on Burgplatz is the surviving fragment: a single remnant of the residence that once housed rulers, collections and court ceremony.
- 1908
The City Spreads Outward
Düsseldorf began incorporating neighboring municipalities, including Wersten, Rath and Gerresheim, as industry and population pushed beyond the old city limits. Railway links, established from 1838 onward, had helped make the city an administrative and commercial desk for the expanding Ruhr industries; further annexations followed through 1929.
- 1921
Allied Troops Occupy Düsseldorf
French and Belgian forces entered Düsseldorf after the First World War as part of Allied enforcement in the Rhineland and Ruhr. Their occupation lasted until August 1925, leaving daily life under the shadow of foreign military control and bitter political dispute.
- 1933
Nazi Rule Takes Hold
After the Nazis seized power, Düsseldorf became the capital of Gau Düsseldorf and a key administrative link to the Ruhr’s coal and steel industries. The same offices and industrial networks that had served commerce were drawn into a dictatorship preparing for war.
- June 1943
A Firestorm Engulfs the Center
A major RAF raid on the night of June 11–12 set off fires that tore through neighborhoods and gutted much of the historic center. By the end of the war, more than half of the city’s built-up area had been damaged or destroyed, and the Old Town had lost most of its prewar fabric.
- April 1945
Resistance Prevents More Destruction
In Aktion Rheinland, a civilian resistance group tried to hand Düsseldorf to advancing American forces without another round of artillery fire. Several conspirators were executed by Nazi loyalists, but U.S. troops entered and liberated the city on April 17, sparing it further fighting.
- 1946
Capital of North Rhine-Westphalia
British military authorities created the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on August 23, joining the former northern Rhineland with Westphalia. Düsseldorf became its capital, its rail connections and surviving administrative buildings helping it secure the role over larger Cologne.
- 1957
New Art, New Arrivals
In the mid-1950s, Japanese trading companies began establishing European offices in Düsseldorf, building the foundations of the community now centered around Immermannstraße. In 1957, local artists Heinz Mack and Otto Piene founded the ZERO movement, seeking a fresh start after the wreckage of war.
- 1961
Beuys Joins the Academy
Joseph Beuys became professor of monumental sculpture at the Kunstakademie, where his teaching would challenge what art could be and who could make it. His classes and confrontations drew students into arguments that spilled beyond the studio walls.
- 1970
Kraftwerk Finds Its Sound
Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider formed Kraftwerk in Düsseldorf, building a sound from synthesizers, clipped rhythms and the city’s industrial pulse. Their Kling Klang studio became a base for music that would shape electronic pop far beyond the Rhine.
- 1979
A Tower Rises Above the Rhine
Construction began on the Rheinturm, a concrete telecommunications tower completed in 1982 and rising 240.5 meters above the river. Its shaft carries Horst H. Baumann’s Lichtzeitpegel, a vertical clock whose glowing numbers make time visible from across the city.
- 1999
The Harbour Changes Its Face
Frank Gehry’s three-building Neuer Zollhof complex was completed in the former commercial harbour, its leaning forms clad in plaster, steel and brick. The project helped turn working docks into MedienHafen, where new architecture now stands beside warehouses built for freight.
- 2024
A City on the World Stage
Düsseldorf hosted matches in UEFA Euro 2024, continuing a run of international events that included the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2017. The city’s public image had shifted far from its medieval river crossing: now it was a stage for crowds arriving from across Europe.
Who lived here
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Poet and essayist · 1797–1856
Heinrich Heine
Born and educated in Düsseldorf
Heine was born at Bolkerstraße 53, in the middle of today’s Altstadt, and went to school in the city. The nearby bars now crowd the streets he knew; his sharp eye for public life might have found plenty to write about.
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Composer · 1810–1856
Robert Schumann
Municipal music director in Düsseldorf, 1850–1854
Schumann arrived to lead the city’s music, and Düsseldorf became the setting for a large share of his work, including the Third Symphony, known as the Rhenish. The Rhine still gives the piece a local point of reference, even if today’s city sounds very different.
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Pianist and composer · 1819–1896
Clara Schumann
Lived in Düsseldorf, 1850–1857
At Bilker Straße 15, Clara Schumann built a working life around performances, teaching and raising her children. She continued to perform and compose through a difficult period for her family; the city’s Schumann House preserves that more personal history.
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Artist and professor · 1921–1986
Joseph Beuys
Studied and taught at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
Beuys studied sculpture at the Kunstakademie and returned as a professor in 1961, where his teaching and protests made the academy a site of public argument as well as art. A city still known for experimentation might have suited him, though he would likely have challenged its polished side.
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Musician · born 1946
Ralf Hütter
Co-founded Kraftwerk in Düsseldorf
Hütter helped form Kraftwerk in Düsseldorf in 1970, turning the city into the starting point for music built from machines, repetition and carefully controlled sound. The polished towers of MedienHafen feel far removed from a recording studio, but both suggest a city willing to make the future audible—or visible.
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Musician · 1947–2020
Florian Schneider
Co-founded Kraftwerk in Düsseldorf
Schneider and Hütter founded Kraftwerk in Düsseldorf and established their Kling Klang recording base near the main station. Their cool, precise sound offers a different key to the city: beneath its social ease runs an interest in design, systems and what comes next.
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Ruler and arts patron · 1658–1716
Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine
Born, ruled and died in Düsseldorf
Known as Jan Wellem, he made Düsseldorf a centre of courtly art and culture, and his equestrian statue still anchors Marktplatz. Stand near the bronze horse and the city’s modern architecture feels less like a break with history than another chapter in its habit of collecting styles.
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Film director · born 1945
Wim Wenders
Born in Düsseldorf
Wenders was born in Düsseldorf before becoming one of the defining directors of New German Cinema. A city that shifts from old-town lanes to glass towers in a few kilometres might still offer him good material for a film about changing how we see.
Where to Eat
Where locals actually book dinner — not the tourist menus.
Insider tips
Small things that change how the city treats you.
Ride the art line
Take the Wehrhahn line and look around at each of its six stations: every stop has an artwork, and the stations contain no advertising billboards. The line opened in 2016.Walk MedienHafen
See Neuer Zollhof’s three Gehry buildings from the public streets around the harbour basin; the district’s architecture is an outdoor stop, not a ticketed attraction. Look for the contrasting white plaster, steel and red brick.Eat on Immermannstraße
Head to Immermannstraße for ramen, Japanese bakeries and supermarkets. It’s a useful change of pace from the Altstadt’s dense cluster of bars and restaurants.Secure your valuables
Keep your phone and wallet zipped away when the Altstadt fills up at night. More than 250 bars, brewpubs and restaurants crowd into roughly half a square kilometre.Allow time for Benrath
Set aside several hours for Schloss Benrath: the palace complex includes two museums, a large park and paths reaching toward the Rhine. Its mirror pond gives the central building a particularly clear reflection.Check tower visibility
Choose a clear day for the Rheinturm observation deck, which stands 240.5 metres above the city. On hazy days, spend your time at Rhine level instead.
Gallery
The city, as it actually looks.
Watch
Frequently asked
Is Düsseldorf worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you like cities where old streets and contemporary architecture sit close together. You can pair the Altstadt and its brewpubs with the Gehry buildings at MedienHafen, art-filled subway stations and Japanese food around Immermannstraße.
How many days in Düsseldorf is enough?
Two to three days gives you time for the Altstadt, MedienHafen, the Rheinturm and a museum or two. Add another half-day for Schloss Benrath or the riverside ruins at Kaiserswerth.
How do I get around Düsseldorf without a car?
Use the city’s U-Bahn and tram network, then walk between sights in the central districts. The six stations on the Wehrhahn line are worth a closer look in their own right, with individual artworks at each stop.
Is Düsseldorf safe for tourists?
Use ordinary city precautions, especially in crowded areas such as the Altstadt at night. Keep valuables secure and check your route back before settling in for the evening.
Is Düsseldorf expensive to visit?
It can be, particularly if you shop along luxury-focused Königsallee or choose high-end dining. For a lower-cost day, walk the public streets of MedienHafen, follow the Rhine promenade and explore the Altstadt on foot.
What is Düsseldorf best known for?
Düsseldorf is known for its Altstadt bar district, fashion shopping on Königsallee and the contemporary buildings of MedienHafen. The city also has a large Japanese community around Immermannstraße and a strong art connection through the Kunstakademie.
All Places to Visit.
100 places to discover
Benrath Palace
District 1
Rheinuferpromenade
Düsseldorf North Cemetery
Altstadt (Düsseldorf)
Stadtmuseum Düsseldorf
Ständehaus Düsseldorf
Urdenbacher Kämpe
Forum Freies Theater
Löbbecke Museum Und Aquazoo
Hetjens-Museum
Capitol Theater
Nrw Forum
Ohligser Heide
Church of St. Andrew
Theodor Heuss Bridge
Heltorf Castle
University of Düsseldorf
Rheinknie Bridge
Aaper Wald
Rheinpark
Theatermuseum Düsseldorf
Filmmuseum Düsseldorf
Nordpark Düsseldorf
Neandertal Game Reserve
Arno Breker
Oberkasseler Brücke
Neuer Zollhof
Eller Forst
Krefeld-Uerdinger-Rheinbrücke
University and State Library Düsseldorf
Rotthäuser Bachtal
Malkasten
Deutsche Oper Am Rhein
Stadterhebungsmonument
Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen
Raketenstation Hombroich
Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
Psd Bank Dome
Rheinturm
Tonhalle Düsseldorf
Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf
Kom(M)Ödchen
St. Lambertus
Mitsubishi Electric Halle
Hofgarten
Düsseldorfer Schloss
Showing 1–48 of 100 places
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Photo credits (9)
- Nicooo76 — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/361527/
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- Paul Scheelen — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/15159300/
- Laura Paredis — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/15304077/
- Markus Winkler — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/30051736/
- Markus Winkler — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/30682113/
- Volodymyr Oleksandrovic Kalinkin — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/32010302/
- Masood Aslami — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/19136564/
- Masood Aslami — Pexels License (https://www.pexels.com/license/) — Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/19136576/
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