Achim Kettemer

Achim Kettemer holds a degree in economics and serves as Night Mayor for Bonn’s Old Town. A native of Bonn and a true  “Bönnscher Jung” , he grew up and went to school in the city’s vibrant Altstadt. Since the early 1980s, he has been deeply familiar with the local nightlife scene — first as a guest, and later as a bar owner himself. When the city of Bonn began looking for a Night Mayor for the Altstadt, his background made him a perfect fit for the role. Since 2023, he has worked as a freelancer for the city's Department of Economic Development in this position. He serves as a point of contact for local businesses and residents alike. His job is to mediate between different interests, keep an eye on the nightlife scene, build networks among stakeholders, and act as a liaison between the nightlife community, city administration, and police. Achim sees himself less as an official and more as a translator between the diverse interests and perspectives that exist in a nightlife district — including residents, bar owners, guests, tourists, and partygoers, as well as local authorities. As Night Mayor, he has also spoken about his work beyond Bonn — for instance at the  “Coole Branche”  in Frankfurt, at the  “Clubtag NRW”  in Dortmund, or most recently for the WDR, contributing to the discussion on public space conflicts at Cologne’s Brüsseler Platz. He is also a member of IG Nach(t)barschaft, a network of Night Mayors, nightlife coordinators, and night culture advocates across North Rhine-Westphalia. “Love your city – especially the Altstadt!”