Holmer Beliebung

A Tradition from the Thirty Years' War

The Holmer Beliebung was founded in 1650, just two years after the end of the Thirty Years' War, by the fishermen of the Holm — a small peninsula in the Schlei fjord, which was an independent fishing village until the 20th century and today belongs to the city of Schleswig. War, hunger, and repeated plague epidemics had taken their toll on the region; the inhabitants voluntarily joined together in a so-called Totengilde (guild of the deceased) to support each other in times of need and to ensure a dignified burial for the deceased according to Christian custom.

The Last of Its Kind

Such guilds of the deceased were common throughout Schleswig-Holstein — the Holmer Beliebung is the only one that continues to exist today in uninterrupted tradition. It has been led without interruption by an Ältermann (elder) since 1669. What began as a purely burial community has become a vibrant anchor of identity for the district, celebrated every year in June over several days.

The Festival on the Holm

The Holm is located in the district of Schleswig-Flensburg in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The small peninsula with its colorful fishermen's houses, the Holm cemetery around the chapel, and the jetties is one of the most atmospheric corners of Schleswig. During the Beliebung days, the alleys fill with flowers, festive clothing, and music. Highlights include the flower procession with the children's festival on Sunday and the traditional banquet on Monday evening at the Hotel Hohenzollern.

An Event for Insiders — and for the Curious

The Beliebung is primarily supported by its members and their families, but the flower procession passes publicly through the district, and the children's festival is family-friendly. Those who want to learn more about the background will find detailed information on the history and significance of this unusual custom at the Schleswig City Museum and on the association's website.

Holm and Schlei

The Holm is located directly on the Schlei, the fjord-like arm of the Baltic Sea that shapes Schleswig. As early as the Middle Ages, the Holmer Fischer (Holm fishermen) lived here, whose guild determined the economic life of the district for centuries. Today, fishing in the Schlei has greatly declined, but the Beliebung is a reminder of that era and the solidarity that endured in times of crisis.