Fischerwääder Kerb

The Worms Fishing Tradition

For centuries, Worms was a significant centre for Rhine fishing. Its own fishing guilds with their own privileges, boat moorings, fishing grounds, and culture shaped the image of the city on the Rhine. The fishing population traditionally lived in a specific quarter on the Rhine – the “Fischerwääder” or “Fischerweide” – and had its own customs and festivals. The annual Fischer-Kerb was a central identity event for this professional group.

Embedded in the Backfischfest

Today, the fishing community in Worms no longer exists in its historical size, but the tradition lives on – embedded in the large Worms Backfischfest, whose name itself refers back to the fishing tradition. “Backfisch” referred to the edible fish caught in the fishermen's nets in late summer, which was marinated in beer yeast and baked as a seasonal delicacy. The Fischerwääder Kerb is a direct reminder of these cultural-historical roots.

Festival Atmosphere on the Rhine

The Kerb takes place in the Kisselswiese and Rhine area – thus directly on the water, in the very place where the Worms fishermen moored their boats. Festival tent elements, beer and wine service, traditional Worms specialities, and above all fish dishes (baked Backfisch, trout, eel, herring) characterise the culinary offerings. An atmosphere that is particularly intense due to its direct proximity to the river.

Exact Date within the Backfischfest

The exact date of the Fischerwääder Kerb within the nine-day Backfischfest period (August 29 to September 6, 2026) will be published by the City of Worms in the summer. Based on experience, it falls on one of the middle or later festival days and coincides with the Fischerstechen (fishermen's jousting) in the Floßhafen harbour on September 6.

Living Tradition

Today, the Fischerwääder Kerb is more of a commemorative cultural event than an identity celebration of a still-existing professional group. But precisely therein lies its value: it keeps alive the knowledge of the Worms fishing tradition and its significance for the city on the Rhine.