After his 17-year professional career with the Kassel Huskies, Derek Dinger now heads their marketing and communications department. He is a true "Kasseläner" - his grandparents were born here.
Derek, you know Kassel like no one else. What do guests absolutely have to see?
Kassel has a lot to offer! My personal highlights are, of course, the Hercules and the Bergpark. However, I would recommend every visitor to watch a game of the Kassel Huskies in the newly renovated ice rink. It's worth it!
What are your insider tips for rainy days?
Clearly, I have to quote an old sportsman's saying: "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!" Unlike other cities, Kassel has beautiful parks and gardens that you can explore even in wind and weather. At least that's how I feel as a dog owner. If you want to stay dry, I recommend a visit to the Filmpalast. Or you can sit down with a good book in a nice little café - there are quite a few of those in Kassel!
And what can you do when the sun is shining?
How about a visit to the Bergpark or Karlsaue? It is particularly exciting in Kassel when the world art exhibition documenta takes place every five years: Then you hardly recognize the exhibition venues with their numerous pop-up venues spread throughout the city.
Which hotel would you recommend to your guests?
If you want to check in quickly and prefer good connections, the IntercityHotel at the ICE station is a good choice. However, if you like it a little quieter and more upscale, I would recommend the Schlosshotel.
Which restaurant promises true culinary delights?
We have many very good restaurants in the city, such as "Da Vinci" or "El Erni" - just to name a few.
Where do you prefer to drink your coffee?
The "Holy Nosh Deli" is a nice little café just around the corner from me. But there are more good addresses: the "Café Lange" is a classic and the "Seegert" roasts its own coffee.
Let's move on to shopping: Which is your favorite store in Kassel and what should you buy there?
Of course, the fanshop in the ice rink. There you should definitely buy the current jersey of the Huskies.
Which quarter is the most beautiful and what can you experience there?
I live in the Vorderen Westen and I appreciate the short distances for shopping, drinking coffee, eating out and much more. You live there very centrally and it is not too noisy or too hectic despite all that. The houses there were not so badly destroyed during the war, so you can still find beautiful old Art Nouveau houses from the Gründerzeit. It is especially in the summer an absolute "hotspot" for me.
Derek, thanks so much for talking with us!