20th Büsum Oldtimer and US Car Meet

A Little Declaration of Love for the Classic Car

The Büsum Oldtimer and US Car Meet has been a firm fixture in the North Sea spa town of Büsum in the Dithmarschen district for two decades. In 2026, the 20th anniversary edition will be celebrated — an occasion that is just as important for the organisers, Tourismus Marketing Service Büsum GmbH, as it is for the loyal exhibitors.

The Venue: Büsum Fishing Harbour

The venue is the Büsum Fishing Harbour, specifically the area between harbour basins II and III — the former harbour island. This maritime backdrop, with crab cutters, deep-sea cutters, and the salty smell of the North Sea in the background, is not what one typically associates with classic car meets. This is precisely what defines the character of the Büsum meet: Where else can you admire a 1964 Ford Mustang parked next to a crab cutter?

What to See

The exhibition area showcases an extraordinary range:

• German Classics — VW Beetles in all colours, Mercedes-Benz Pagoda, BMW 1602, NSU Prinz, DKW Junior
• Trabant and Wartburg — East German automotive history
• US Cars from the 1950s–1980s — 1964 Ford Mustang, 1973 Dodge Charger, Pontiac Firebird, Chevrolet Bel Air, Cadillac Fleetwood
• British Sports Cars — occasionally an Aston Martin, Jaguar E-Type, MG B
• Motorcycles — BMW, Harley-Davidson, older Honda models

The vehicles come from all over Germany and neighbouring Denmark — the proximity to the Danish border makes the meet attractive to Scandinavian collectors.

Atmosphere: A Sunday in the Sixties

What elevates the meet beyond a mere vehicle show: Many owners dress in 1960s outfits — petticoats, hats, Hawaiian shirts, rockabilly look. Oldies, Elvis hits, surf music play from the speakers. It's a staging of one's own childhood or an imagined childhood, through which generations connect — older collectors sharing their stories, and younger generations inheriting the fascination.

Free Admission, Family-Friendly

Admission is free. The meet is designed to be family-friendly: no noise, no reckless driving, just relaxed viewing, photography, and chatting with the owners. Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm.

Part of the Dithmarschen Kohl Days

The meet is part of the Dithmarschen Kohl Days — a culinary and regional Volksfest (folk festival) that celebrates the cabbage-growing region of Dithmarschen every year at the end of September (Germany is Europe's largest cabbage-growing region). Visitors to the meet can easily combine their day with a stop for one of the cabbage dishes in Büsum's restaurants or a walk along the dyke.