The Tetraeder on the Beckstraße spoil tip in Bottrop was created in 1995 as part of the IBA Emscherpark. It is the emblem of Bottrop and ranks among the most popular landmarks and viewing points in the Ruhr Valley. You can get to the top of the approximately 80 m tall spoil tip by foot on a switchback trail or up a nearly 400-step flight of stairs. Or dramatically and at speed doing the “Tetraeder stair run”, a special sports spectacle for the runners among you.

Haldenereignis Emscherblick

The pyramid, made of 210 tons of steel and designed by Wolfgang Christ in 1994, has the official title of "Haldenereignis Emscherblick” (Emscher view spoil tip experience) and it lives up to its name. Once you have climbed the 50 m tall steel construction, you are greeted by an impressive view across the Emscher region and the central Ruhr Valley. From here you can discover the Gasometer in Oberhausen, the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, various spoil tips in the area and the Essen skyline – if the weather is good, you can even make out Duisburg and the state capital of Düsseldorf. The viewing platform can only be reached by slightly swaying steps - if you are afraid of heights, you can take a break on one of the platforms.

Tetraeder light show

Due to its light appearance, the Tetraeder appears to hover during the day. Metal nodes and steel wires, which connect the swaying steps and steel tubes, create an illusion of weightlessness. The “Haldenereignis” becomes a “light show” at night when the Tetraeder Bottrop can be seen as a luminous work of art for miles around thanks to the light installation by artist Jürgen LIT Fischer. One special event that takes place once a year is the “Tetraeder stair run”. This means running up and down with varying levels of difficulty, to conquer the Tetraeder.