Fact check: Bielefeld gibt es nicht

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results:

The statement "Bielefeld gibt es nicht" (Bielefeld does not exist) is a well-documented satirical conspiracy theory that began in 1994. Bielefeld is demonstrably a real city with 341,755 residents as of 2021, complete with verifiable infrastructure including the Sparrenburg Castle, Bielefeld Theatre, and a functioning city government.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:

The original statement omits crucial context about being created by computer science student Achim Held as an intentional satire of conspiracy theories. The city of Bielefeld has actively engaged with this conspiracy theory, even offering a €1 million reward in 2019 to anyone who could prove its non-existence. Despite receiving 2,000 submissions, none succeeded. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel has referenced the conspiracy in speeches, demonstrating how deeply embedded it has become in German popular culture.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement:

The statement presents itself as a factual claim while deliberately ignoring:

• The documented origin as a satirical joke
• Extensive physical evidence of the city's existence
• Legal verification through court cases (as recently as 2023)
• The city's 800-year documented history
• The fact that the original creator, Achim Held, has confirmed it was meant as satire

The statement benefits certain groups, particularly:

• Tourism and marketing officials in Bielefeld who have leveraged the conspiracy theory for promotional purposes
• Social media content creators who use the ongoing joke for engagement
• Those who use it as a teaching tool about how conspiracy theories spread online