Großer Zapfenstreich of the City of Krefeld

Krefeld — the City of Velvet and Silk

Krefeld, with just under 230,000 inhabitants on the Lower Rhine in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, was one of Germany's wealthiest cities in the 18th and 19th centuries. Mennonite weaving mills produced velvet and silk for all of Europe; the von der Leyen family — after whom the central square in front of the Town Hall is named — was among the most important textile manufacturers in the Rhineland. Today, the city boasts an unbroken Schützenfest tradition, with clubs located in the districts of Oppum, Fischeln, Verberg, Bockum, Uerdingen, Hüls, Linn, and many others.

Großer Zapfenstreich — the Ceremonial Finale

While the individual districts of Krefeld each host their own Schützenfest during the summer, the entire city comes together at the end of the season: for over a decade, the Großer Zapfenstreich in front of Krefeld's Town Hall has been the central gathering point for all Krefeld Schützenvereine. The event is organized by the City of Krefeld, with the Bockumer Schützenverein 1611 e.V. — one of Krefeld's oldest shooting clubs — among the organizers.

The Clubs and Their Identity

On the von-der-Leyen-Platz, representatives of all Krefeld Schützenvereine meet in full festive attire on the evening of the event: marksmen from Oppum, Fischeln, Verberg, Krefeld-Ost, Uerdingen, Hüls, Untergath, Inrath, Bockum, and Linn, as well as the Krefelder Amazonenkorps. The Krefelder Amazonenkorps — a female shooting formation in distinctive attire — is a unique feature that elevates Krefeld's Schützenwesen beyond the predominantly male Rhineland tradition.

The Course of the Ceremony

The Großer Zapfenstreich follows a ritualized choreography:

• Assembly of the Schützenvereine in formation in front of the Town Hall
• Welcome address by the Lord Mayor or a city representative
• Locken — the traditional opening piece by the drummers
• Zapfenstreich itself — the military-ceremonial musical piece, performed by tambours and brass bands
• Lied vom Guten Kameraden (Song of the Good Comrade) — a moment of collective remembrance
• National Anthem
• Subsequently, the march-off of the marksmen from the square

Schützenwesen in the Lower Rhine

The Lower Rhine Schützenwesen is a world unto itself, with its own language, attire, and songs. The Schützenfeste in the individual Krefeld districts often last several days, including a bird shoot (Vogelschuss), the crowning of the monarchs, parades, and tent festivities. The Großer Zapfenstreich is the counterpoint to these local festivals: collective, urban, ceremonial. Attending it offers a glimpse into the entire Krefeld Schützenwesen in a single evening.