International Storm Conference in Husum

Who was Theodor Storm?

Theodor Storm (1817–1888) was one of the most important German storytellers of poetic realism, born and living his final years in Husum, the "grey town by the sea" that he immortalized in one of his most famous poems. His novellas — Der Schimmelreiter, Immensee, Aquis submersus — are part of the canon of German literature. The Theodor Storm Society, founded in 1948, cultivates his work and his memory.

The Venue: the Storm House

The conference takes place at the Theodor Storm Center at Wasserreihe 31–35 — Storm's former residence from 1866 to 1880, now a museum, library, and research center. Located directly on a narrow canal in the middle of Husum's old town, it is one of the most atmospheric literary houses in Northern Germany.

Program Structure

The conference follows a fixed rhythm: an annually changing main theme (e.g., Storm and politics, Storm's female characters, Storm and music), academic lectures by international Germanists, readings from his works, the members' meeting of the society, and on the last day, a full-day excursion through Schleswig-Holstein to places from Storm's life and work — Friedrichstadt, Hattstedt, the Halligen islands, the Hadeln Canal.

International Audience

Each year, the conference attracts Storm researchers from German-speaking countries, as well as from Japan, China, Poland, and the USA — Storm is among the most widely read German storytellers in East Asia. The atmosphere is academic but accessible: Members without a research background are also welcome, and many return every year.

Husum and Storm Country

Husum is the district capital of Nordfriesland in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, with around 23,000 inhabitants. The town has preserved its Storm identity: Walking through the old town, you will repeatedly find houses, inscriptions, and locations that appear in Storm's work. The annual conference is part of a broader Storm tourism that strongly shapes the region culturally.