Moers (older form: Mörs; Dutch: Murse, Murs or Meurs) is a German city on the western bank of the Rhine, close to Duisburg. Moers belongs to the district of Wesel.

History

Known earliest from 1186, the county of Moers was an independent principality within the Holy Roman Empire. During the Eighty Years' War it was alternately captured by Spanish and Dutch troops, as it bordered the Upper Quarter of Guelders. During the war it finally fell to Maurice of Orange. As it was separated from the Dutch Republic by Spanish Upper Guelders it did not become an integral part of the Republic, though Dutch troops were stationed there. After the death of William III of Orange in 1702, Moers was inherited by the king of Prussia. All Dutch troops and civil servants were expelled. In 1795 it was annexed by France. At the Congress of Vienna, in 1815 it was returned to Prussia and in 1871 it became part of the German Empire. A target of the Oil Campaign of World War II, the Steinkohlenbergwerke Rheinpreussen synthetic oil plant in Moers, was partially dismantled post-war.

Mayors

Sports

In 1985, the Moers Sports Club (volleyball) was formed, winning the 1989 Bundesliga championship.

Notable people

Politics

Mayor

The current mayor of Moers is Christoph Fleischhauer of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The most recent mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, with a runoff held on 27 September, and the results were as follows: ! rowspan=2 colspan=2 | Candidate ! rowspan=2 | Party ! colspan=2 | First round ! colspan=2 | Second round ! Votes ! % ! Votes ! % ! colspan=3 | Valid votes ! 39,867 ! 98.6 ! 30,136 ! 99.3 ! colspan=3 | Invalid votes ! 553 ! 1.4 ! 214 ! 0.7 ! colspan=3 | Total ! 40,420 ! 100.0 ! 30,350 ! 100.0 ! colspan=3 | Electorate/voter turnout ! 80,950 ! 49.9 ! 80,906 ! 37.5

City council

The Moers city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows: ! colspan=2 | Party ! Votes ! % ! +/- ! Seats ! +/- ! colspan=2 | Valid votes ! 39,699 ! 98.2 ! ! ! ! colspan=2 | Invalid votes ! 710 ! 1.8 ! ! ! ! colspan=2 | Total ! 40,409 ! 100.0 ! ! 54 ! ±0 ! colspan=2 | Electorate/voter turnout ! 80,950 ! 49.9 ! ! !

Twin towns – sister cities

Moers is twinned with: