Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and one third of the economic center of Western Germany. The Düsseldorf cultural environment includes the world famous collection of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Opera House, and the Düsseldorfer Theater. One of the largest cultural festival in Düsseldorf is the Carnival (also called the Fifth Season) which starts every year on November 11 at 11:11 a.m., and features a huge parade through the streets of the city. Carnival ends on Ash Wednesday. The Düsseldorf carnival is part of the traditional carnival festivities in the Rhineland. There are more than 15 different theaters of all types and genres in Düsseldorf, including puppet and musical, as well as classical and opera. There are as many museums, if not more--including a Place Museum and a Ship Museum. There are a few colleges and universities in Düsseldorf, including the Heinrich Heine University. This school alone welcomes a student population of approximately 20,000.