German Consulate General in Chicago

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

Sister City of the Week 🇩🇪🤝🇺🇸

Shawnee, Kansas and Erfurt, Thuringia established their sister city partnership in 1990, fostering a lasting connection through cultural exchange, student programs, and community engagement that continues to strengthen international friendships between both cities.

Erfurt is known for its beautifully preserved medieval architecture, historic cathedral, and role as the capital of the German state of Thuringia, while Shawnee is recognized for its strong community spirit, parks and trails, and growing cultural and economic development within the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Have you been to either city?

05/06/2026

Two stars of the German Women’s National Soccer Team and bronze medalists from the Olympic Games in Paris came together last week following the match between the Chicago Stars and Gotham FC.

Ann-Katrin Berger, who plays for the New York team Gotham FC and is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and Kathrin Hendrich, a standout defender for the Chicago Stars FC with 90 international appearances for Germany, were joined by the Head of Consular Section at the Consulate, Steffen Rose for a special post-match moment in Chicago.

The following day, Hendrich visited the German Consulate to meet with Consul General Ahrens.

05/05/2026

05/01/2026

Consul General Michael Ahrens had the privilege of addressing the Illinois House of Representatives at the State Capitol in Springfield last week, where he spoke about the strong and evolving relationship between Germany and Illinois, as well as broader transatlantic ties with the United States. His remarks touched on shared priorities and the importance of continued collaboration, including economic and business cooperation between German and American partners at the state level.

05/01/2026

Sister City of the Week 🇩🇪🤝🇺🇸

Tinley Park, Illinois and Büdingen, Hesse officially established their sister city partnership in 1989, creating a lasting transatlantic connection rooted in cultural exchange and community engagement. Over the decades, the relationship has been especially strengthened through student exchange programs giving students the opportunity to live abroad, experience new cultures firsthand, and form enduring international friendships.

Büdingen is known for its well-preserved medieval old town and historic charm, while Tinley Park is recognized as a regional destination for concerts and large entertainment events, anchored by its large outdoor amphitheater.

Since 1989, the partnership has continued through exchanges, visits, and strong community ties.

04/25/2026

Our Consuls General explored the deep German roots shaping America's heartland with a stop in St. Louis on Route 66 🛣️ From the city's founding families to German-American engineer Hannskarl Bandel's role in building the iconic Gateway Arch, the German influence runs deep. We visited Friedrich Hecker's memorial to pay our respects, a testament to how Missouri's German immigrants stood firmly against slavery and played a key role in Union resistance during the Civil War.

German influence extends to business too — we visited Seyer Industries in St. Peters, whose award-winning apprenticeship program is modeled directly after the German dual-training system. We wrapped up by gathering with the German-Missouri community to strengthen transatlantic ties, including a 60-year sister city bond between St. Louis and Stuttgart! 🇩🇪🇺🇸

04/24/2026

Sister City of the Week 🇩🇪🤝🇺🇸

Kansas City, Missouri and Hannover, Lower Saxony have been sister cities since 1993, a partnership rooted in cultural exchange and strengthened through business, education, and civic collaboration.

Both cities share the distinction of being
UNESCO Cities of Music, recognized for their rich cultural scenes. Kansas City is known for its deep jazz roots, while Hannover is celebrated for its classical and contemporary traditions. Hannover is also home to the historic Herrenhausen Gardens, one of its most iconic cultural landmarks, and Kansas City will soon welcome the world as a host city for matches during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

04/23/2026

🇩🇪🇺🇸 Day 2 of our Consuls’ Road trip! Springfield, Illinois. And yes — we ended at the birthplace of the corn dog.

But first: We met with Mayor Misti Buscher and her team, sat down with Speaker Chris Welch, and walked through the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library — a reminder that the values this country was built on are the same ones that guided Germany through its own journey to democracy.

Our Consul General from Chicago, Michael Ahrens, took the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives their first week back in session, bringing the German-American relationship directly into one of America’s great statehouses.

The message: this partnership delivers for Illinois — in Germany increasing its role in NATO’s defense, in its investment in communities across this state, and in the job opportunities and academic exchanges it brings.

Illinois and Germany are deeply linked: German companies employ tens of thousands of people across this state. Illinois exports flow into German supply chains. This partnership is seen not only in history, but also today’s economy.

04/22/2026

🇩🇪🇺🇸 Three consuls. One highway. A hundred years of Route 66 — and 250 years of a partnership.

Our Consuls General from Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles just departed from the birthplace of Route 66 — sending off from some of Chicago's iconic landmarks: Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse , Navy Pier , and — to travel one of America's legendary roads.

This journey is a chance to trace the German-American connection where it lives: in the factories, universities, cultural institutions, and communities that stretch from Chicago to Los Angeles. Germans are the largest ancestry group in the United States. That's not a footnote — it's a foundation.

The conversations, meetings, and partnerships along the way will remind us why this relationship isn't just historic, but essential. With a visit to the impressive operations of GEA and a lively exchange with students at Illinois State University, Illinois State University state the trip is off to a good start!