Cologne honors Dirk Bach: Offenbachplatz becomes Dirk-Bach-Platz!

Cologne honors Dirk Bach: Offenbachplatz becomes Dirk-Bach-Platz!

From the end of May 2025, part of the Offenbachplatz in Cologne will officially bear the name Dirk-Bach-Platz. This step is followed by a lengthy dispute between the Cologne City Council and the District Department, which lasted over three years. The district council finally prevailed after the Higher Administrative Court for North Rhine-Westphalia decided in January 2023 that the district council had the right to determine the name regardless of the city council, since the place has no "over-district meaning".

The late comedian Dirk Bach, who died of heart disease at the age of 51 at the age of 51, is honored by this naming. Bach was born in Cologne and became known for his role as a moderator in the "jungle camp" and his theater and synchronization work. As a member of the ensemble of the Cologne Schauspielhaus, he left a permanent trace in the Cologne cultural scene. Bach is buried in the Melaten cemetery in Cologne.

Legal dispute over naming

The discussion about the renaming of the Offenbachplatz, which is often referred to as a "small Offenbachplatz", began in June 2022. The district council wanted to name the place to Dirk Bach, while the majority in the city council preferred a different name. The Council decided that the square had a "significant meaning beyond the district" and it was of the opinion that he had to find another place for the honor. This led to a legal dispute, which finally employed the administrative court and later the Higher Administrative Court.

The decision of the Higher Administrative Court, which was in favor of the district council, found that it had the right to name. This judgment ended the legal dispute and enables Dirk Bach to honor Dirk Bach in his hometown in a reasonable way. On May 8, the district council will be informed about the implementation of the decision, and the official publication of the new name in the Official Journal is expected for the following week. A spokeswoman for the city estimates that the publication will take place by the end of May.

The debate about the naming has moved many Cologne and is an important step to honor one of the best -known faces of the city. The decision will not only maintain the memory of Dirk Bach, but also help to further promote Cologne's cultural heritage.