Brunsbüttel Farmers' Market (Dithmarscher Kohltage)

Dithmarscher Kohltage — What is it?

With approximately 80 million heads per year, the Dithmarschen district is Europe's largest contiguous cabbage-growing area. The Dithmarscher Kohltage have celebrated this agricultural achievement for decades — a multi-day festival that takes place every September in the district's main cabbage-growing communities. In 2026, the Kohltage will run from September 22nd to 27th. A highlight: the farmers' market in Brunsbüttel on Wednesday, September 23rd.

Farmers' Market on the Schleusenmeile

The venue is the Schleusenmeile around Gustav-Meyer-Platz — the promenade along the Kiel Canal right in front of the Brunsbüttel lock complex. On September 23rd, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, around a hundred stalls from regional producers will open: cabbage in all varieties (white, red, savoy, pointed, kale), plus potatoes, honey, cheese, bread, sausages, apple varieties from the West Coast, and handicrafts.

The Longest Cabbage Table in the World

The symbol of the Kohltage in Brunsbüttel is the "Longest Cabbage Table in the World" — a continuous table along the canal promenade where visitors can sample regional cabbage specialties: stuffed cabbage rolls, sauerkraut, kale stew, cabbage salads, cabbage soups. It's a tongue-in-cheek promotional event that regularly garners attention from the regional press.

Supporting Program

On the stage at Gustav-Meyer-Platz, cooking demonstrations, local bands, and club performances alternate. Children can ride on cabbage fields, romp in a straw bale obstacle course, and color cabbage leaves at interactive stations. The Kiel Canal lock tours offer special tours over the weekend.

Brunsbüttel and the Canal

Brunsbüttel is located on the west bank of the Elbe River, where the Kiel Canal flows into the Elbe — one of Europe's busiest artificial waterways. The locks are the town's landmark, with around 30,000 ships passing through annually. The farmers' market uses this backdrop as a spectacular setting.