Bottroper Herbstkirmes

Bottrop and its Kirmes Tradition

Bottrop is an independent city in the northern Ruhr area (Münster administrative district), historically characterized by hard coal mining (Prosper and Franz Haniel mines). Today, it's a city undergoing structural change with almost 117,000 inhabitants. The Bottroper Herbstkirmes has a long tradition – it is rooted in the annual Michaelis Markets, which were historically held on the feast day of Archangel Michael (September 29), and has grown into a classic Volksfest with carousels and showmen that occupies the entire city center.

The Entire City Center as a Festival Mile

The Bottroper Herbstkirmes takes over the central squares of the city center: Altmarkt, Berliner Platz, Kirchplatz, and Pferdemarkt. This creates a continuous festival mile along the pedestrian zones – the showmen set up carousels, roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, and countless smaller rides. In between are the classic Kirmes food stalls: chip stands, bratwurst stands, crêpes, almonds, cotton candy. The food stall known locally as "Frittenkaiser" is one of the established Bottrop Kirmes landmarks.

Proven Date: Last Weekend of September

The 2026 Herbstkirmes runs from Friday, September 25, to Sunday, September 27. This date, set for the three days around Michaelmas (September 29), has grown historically – the patronal feast day of Archangel Michael was an important market date in medieval Bottrop, which belonged to the Catholic Diocese of Münster. Today, many visitors also come from Oberhausen, Gladbeck, and Essen, as well as from Bottrop's districts (Kirchhellen, Boy, Welheim).

Parallel: Michaelismarkt on the Weekend

A remarkable Bottrop peculiarity: parallel to the Kirmes, the Michaelismarkt takes place on Saturday and Sunday (September 26-27, 2026) on Ernst-Wilczok-Platz. This is not the same as the Kirmes – Michaelismarkt means: flea market, bric-a-brac, handicrafts, antiques, regional products. The combination of a dense carousel spectacle on the Kirmes squares and relaxed browsing at the Michaelismarkt makes the weekend particularly attractive for families.

Open, Free, Easily Accessible

Admission to the Kirmes is free – money is only spent on rides, food, and game stalls. Exact opening hours of individual rides vary; most open on Fridays from late afternoon, Saturdays and Sundays from midday, and close between 10 PM and midnight depending on the weather. Due to the convenient city center location, the Kirmes is easily accessible by public transport, and arriving by car is rather discouraged due to parking situations.

Getting to Bottrop

By train: Bottrop Main Station (RB and RE lines from Essen, Dorsten, Wesel), about a 10-minute walk from the station to Altmarkt. By car: A 2 (exit Bottrop) or A 42 (exit Bottrop-Süd) – parking garages in the city center, often full during Kirmes times. Public transport recommended.