Niederense is the second largest district of the municipality of Ense with more than 3,000 inhabitants. A variety of
retailers, handicraft businesses, a pharmacy, general practitioners and a dentist are resident. In addition to the kindergarten and the elementary school, about 20 clubs offer the residents sports, music, tradition and local history, church and social activities.
The former Cistercian monastery Himmelpforten was completely destroyed after 700 years of history by the tidal wave caused by the bombardment of the Möhnesee dam in the Second World War. Only a memorial still reminds of this terrible event.
The Society for History and Local Heritage Niederense-Himmelpforten e.V. has prepared the history of the monastery and presented it with interesting exhibits in the local history museum at the Bernhardus elementary school.