I lived and still work there and found the city safe. There are a lot of quiet neighbourhoods where you feel really comfortable to walk around even at night. Even at the train station at night I felt ok, no one bothered me.

I lived in Essen for 4 months and I find that it has mixed safety. After 9pm I felt tense walking around alone. I have experienced weird looks from time to time from drunk people walking in groups. Especially the train station (although well-lit) can have a rough vibe in general. It was often the case that some people were completely disoriented, intoxicated and loud and police weren't present at all times, so it wasn't the best feeling. Stay safe girlies :)

Essen is rather safe. Especially the southern part of the city where I live. The north can be a bit rougher, starting at the city center and the main station. I know some things do happen, luckily they haven't happened to me living here my whole life. Therefore I feel quite safe and am not worried a lot of the time. The main threat is men..