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Rosendahl is situated at the foot of the Baumberge, in the west of the Münsterland. In the village Darfeld arises the river Vechte, which flows vie Lower Saxony through the Netherlands into the IJsselmeer. In the village Osterwick (Höven) arises the river Dinkel, which also flows through the western Münsterland and the Netherlands and then into the river Vechte.
The name Rosendahl described originally the boundary between a Darfeld and Osterwick, where in a recess (dael/dahl) was a suitable place for wild roses; this boundary was, until the allocation in 1826 respectively 1847, uses as common pasture by the people of Darfeld and Osterwick. This will to commonality was then to be expressed mainly by taking the name for this new community.
The villages Darfeld, Holtwick and Osterwick, which were mentioned for the first time in 890, formed then as independent communities the administrative district Osterwick. As of the 1st of July 1969, the communities Darfeld and Osterwick merged to the new community Rosendahl. On the 1st of January 1975, the former community Holtwick was added.
First mentioned in the year 1179/1180, the name Darfeld goes probably back to the noble family 'Darvelde', who has been known since 1092. Since 1284, the village has its own parish; the building of the parish church St. Nikolai falls into the same time. The church, built originally in Romanesque style was demolished up to the lower part of the tower in the year 1766 and then newly rebuilt as the church resembled 'more an abhorrent dark jail than a house of God' according to the pastor Johannes Wiedenbrück, who was then in office in 1763. The basic structure of the church green as settlement nucleus was preserved as well as some historical buildings. Another important architectonic sight is the Darfeld moated castle, which is situated around one kilometre west of the village centre. Kleinburlo Monastery is also situated close to Darfeld.
In 1816, Darfeld was allocated to the district Coesfeld. In 1825 followed the incorporation with the villages Holtwick and Osterwick to the mayor's office Osterwick, whereby the independence of the borough Darfeld was kept. In 1969, with the incorporation of the boroughs Osterwick and Darfeld, the new community Rosendahl was founded. On the 1st of January 1975, borough Holtwick was added.