| Type: | Stadt |
| Image Coa: | Wappen Heide.svg |
| Coordinates: | 54.1961°N 9.0933°W |
| Image Plan: | Heide in HEI.png |
| State: | Schleswig-Holstein |
| District: | Dithmarschen |
| Elevation: | 11 |
| Area: | 31.8938 |
| Postal Code: | 25746 |
| Area Code: | 0481 |
| Licence: | HEI |
| Gemeindeschlüssel: | 01 0 51 044 |
| Website: | www.heide.de |
| Mayor: | Oliver Schmidt-Gutzat |
| Party: | SPD |
Heide (pronounced as /de/; Holsatian: Heid) is a town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis (district) Dithmarschen. Population: 22,000.
The German word Heide means "heath". In the 15th century four adjoining villages decided to build a church in the "middle of the heath". This remained the town's name to date. The exact foundation date is now unknown, but by 1447 Heide was already the main village of Dithmarschen. At this time Dithmarschen was an independent peasant republic. Heide became a town in the 19th century.
Heide has the largest un-built-upon market square in Germany, with 4.7 hectares. It is used primarily as a parking lot and has approximately 500 parking spaces. In 2016, the city staged 3 car-free Sundays on the market square for the first time.
The association soccer club Heider SV plays in the Oberliga Schleswig-Holstein (V).
See main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany.
There is a twinning between Kreis Dithmarschen and Restormel Borough Council.[1]
