Goch May Festival

Goch on the Lower Rhine

Goch is a small town with about 35,000 inhabitants in the district of Kleve, in the far west of North Rhine-Westphalia, on the Dutch border. Known for the St. Maria Magdalena Church, the historic Stone Gate, the Galloholländer Monument (history of Dutch tobacco workers), and its proximity to Nijmegen and Cleves. A typical Lower Rhine town: flat, friendly, with historical tradition, a small town centre, and strong connections to the Netherlands.

The May Festival as a Spring Kick-off

The Goch May Festival has been the first major event of the warmer season for years. On a Sunday in early May, the city centre – specifically the pedestrian zone and adjacent squares – transforms into a festival mile. Market stalls with regional foods, food stands with bratwurst, potato pancakes, and Lower Rhine specialities (Krintenstuten, Lower Rhine sweets, potato pancakes with apple sauce), live music with acoustic acts and spring brass bands, family activities with face painting and a carousel.

Sunday Shopping

The highlight for Goch's retail sector is the Sunday shopping event: all shops in the city centre open their doors without restrictions on Sunday. For the members of the Business Association, this is an important day in the annual calendar, allowing them to present their spring and summer collections and engage directly with customers. Cafés and restaurants also use the day for special offers and outdoor seating.

Lower Rhine Conviviality

The May Festival benefits from the typical Lower Rhine atmosphere: small-town familiarity, many encounters with acquaintances and neighbours, a relaxed pace. Those who want to experience the Lower Rhine lifestyle outside of big cities will find a concentrated version here. Dutch visitors from Nijmegen, Groesbeek, and Berg en Dal regularly come to Goch – the German-Dutch encounter in a small format shapes the town's image.

Discover Goch

Anyone visiting Goch for the May Festival can also explore the historic city centre with the Stone Gate, the St. Maria Magdalena Church, the Local History Museum, and take a walk along the Niers river. Schloss Moyland, with its famous Joseph Beuys collection, is 15 minutes away – combining the May Festival with a visit to the Beuys collection is a recommended day trip.