The Ratingen Centre is located in the fast-developing city of Ratingen, 12km north east of Dusseldorf. Ratingen enjoys a rich industrial heritage as the home of Europe's first mechanised cotton mill. The International Messe Dusseldorf is based here, an exhibition centre, conference centre and arena that hosts 40 major trade fairs and exhibitions a year, attracting nearly two million visitors.


These include the world medical forum MEDICA and a global twice-yearly fashion trade fair. Many international businesses, particularly from the IT and telecoms sectors, are based in Ratingen, which is close to Dusseldorf International Airport, the third largest airport in Germany with excellent rail connections from its intercity express (ICE) station. The area is also the meeting point of four key motorway routes.