Friedrichstadt Table-is-set (Pink Picnic)

Pink Picnic in the Dutch Town

What began as a small city marketing experiment in 2017 has become one of the most popular summer dates in Friedrichstadt: the Table-is-set, lovingly nicknamed "Pink Picnic" by the Friedrichstadt locals. The idea: The entire city center is transformed into a gigantic outdoor dining room for one Sunday — with a pink color code, long tables, picnic baskets, and a relaxed communal lunch.

Grüner Markt as a Backdrop

The venue is the Grüner Markt — Friedrichstadt's green square right by the canal, lined with old trees and the typical Dutch stepped gable architecture. Here, long tables are set with pink tablecloths, with picnic blankets and cushions on the lawn in between. Those who wish can reserve a table (for a fee) and have it set up for them; those who prefer picnic fun on a blanket can bring their own equipment.

Two Options for Guests

The concept is deliberately flexible:

• Table reservation for €17.50 — per table, bookable at least 3 days in advance. Includes pink tablecloth, napkins, chairs — food and drinks are brought by each guest (or ordered from nearby cafes)
• Picnic basket service — pre-orderable via the Tourist Information, filled with regional specialties
• Own blanket — free on the lawn around the Grüner Markt, bring your own food and drinks

Romantic City Flair

What makes this event special is its visual appeal: Friedrichstadt with its canals and stepped gable houses is already one of Germany's most photogenic small towns, and the day in pink — with thousands of set tables in a uniform color — produces images that are regularly seen in the social media feeds of Schleswig-Holstein and beyond.

Friedrichstadt — The Dutch Town

Friedrichstadt in the district of Nordfriesland was founded in 1621 by Dutch religious refugees who chose Holstein-Gottorf as a place of tolerance. The town is still characterized by typical Dutch architecture: narrow stepped gable houses, canals with houseboat culture, small bridges, three active religious communities (Mennonites, Remonstrants, Lutherans). With around 2,500 inhabitants, it is small but culturally rich — and the Pink Picnic is one of its most recent cultural inventions.