North Tyneside Twin Town Association has links with three towns :
Oer-Erkenschwick
Oer-Erkenschwick is a town in the Ruhr Valley close to Recklinghausen. Like the North East it has a mining tradition which has had to cope with closure. Despite this, Oer is a thriving community; its modern buildings are surrounded by green and pleasant countryside. The link grew out of the twinning of Longbenton and Oer many years ago.
Mönchengladbach
The link with Mönchengladbach also has its roots in an earlier twinning, that of Wallsend and Rheydt. Rheydt is a smaller town on the edge of Mönchengladbach which is a major centre of commerce, culture and industry.
Halluin
Halluin is a busy town just to the North of Lille and right on the Belgian border. The Belgian town of Menin runs right up to Halluin and this adds to the charm of the town. There is a wonderful market in the town square. Halluin, like North Tyneside, is proud of its sporting and cultural traditions.
Activities
The NTTTA committee meets regularly to review activities and to plan future exchanges. Recent events in North Tyneside have included barbecues, cheese and wine evenings, concerts, and coach trips.
The Association organises trips for members to one or other of our twin towns each year. These trips usually last a week with members staying with families. This gives everyone the maximum opportunity to experience the real France and Germany. We also host return trips, our visitors staying with families in North Tyneside.
Frequently, individuals make private visits and host the friends they have made on earlier group visits.
Membership
Membership is open to individuals, families or organisations who live or work in North Tyneside and subscribe these aims :
• To promote international friendship and understanding between people of the twin towns.
• To increase knowledge and understanding of the way of life in the twin towns.
• To promote cultural, sporting, artistic and social exchanges.