EastWestphaliaLippe (OstWestfalenLippe - OWL) is a region for health. 23 of the 41 Northrhine-Westphalian health resorts and spas and more than 50 per cent of its rehabilitation clinic beds are here. The world’s first artificial heart was implanted at the Heart and Diabetes Centre NRW, the principal clinic for open-heart surgery in Europe. The Centre for Epilepsy at Bethel is the leading European hospital for patient care in its field. Minden is currently building the largest hospital in Europe. The health services with over 100,000 em-ployees have quietly moved to the top of the class for business in OWL.
As the “healing garden of Germany”, situated in an attractive range of hills and boasting natural mineral springs, the region of OWL is a preferred destination for recreational holidays and short breaks, for leisure and wellness activi-ties. Cycling tours, golf, beauty, wellness and sports breaks are on offer - leisure, tourism and health services have started diverse initiatives to strengthen and constantly modernise their core competencies.