Bonn is one of Germany's oldest cities, situated on the banks of the Rhine River about 30 km (19 miles) south of Cologne. With a history spanning more than 2,000 years, it was founded as a Roman settlement and later became the birthplace of the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven. After World War II, Bonn served as the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990, and it remained the seat of the German federal government until most ministries moved to Berlin in 1999. It hosts the headquarters of numerous United Nations organizations focused on climate change, sustainable development, and environmental protection.