Kielgeholt – The Wool Festival in Duisburg

Wool Meets Industrial Culture

Kielgeholt is one of the most renowned wool festivals in Western Germany, held in the extraordinary ambiance of the Gebläsehalle at Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. This former furnace hall of the Thyssen iron and steelworks has been an industrial monument and event space since the 1990s – the blend of mighty brick architecture, steel girders, and the soft world of wool creates the festival's unique flair.

Over 50 Exhibitors from Europe

On both days, more than 50 exhibitors from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Scandinavia, and other European countries will showcase their collections:

• Hand-dyed yarns – Sock yarn, DK, Aran, Lace-weight, Mohair, Alpaca
• Indie-dyers with small batches and unique color gradients
• Spinning products: Roving, punis, spindles
• Tools: Needles (wood, bamboo, metal), crochet hooks, spinning wheels, knitting looms
• Pattern books, knitting and crochet patterns (e.g., Strickwetter, Strickwetter Digital)
• Accessories: Knitting bags, notion pouches, stitch markers

More Than Just a Sales Event

Kielgeholt sees itself as a community meeting point for the knitting and crocheting scene. Many visitors come to see and be seen, to bring their own projects to the seating areas and knit together, and to exchange ideas with influencers and designers. The hashtag #kielgeholt summarizes the social media activity surrounding the festival.

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord — World Heritage Candidate

Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord is one of the most impressive examples of the transformation of German heavy industry. On the grounds of the former Meiderich steelworks, a walk-in industrial park with a blast furnace, ore bunker, and the Gebläsehalle as an event center was created starting in 1991. Today, the park is among the top attractions in the Ruhr area – industrial culture by day, an LED-illuminated postcard backdrop by night.

Duisburg in the Ruhr Area

With around 500,000 inhabitants, Duisburg is one of the major cities in the Ruhr area and home to the world's largest inland port. After structural change, the city has positioned itself as a logistics, steel, and university location. With the Landschaftspark, the Innenhafen (inner harbor), and the harbor district, Duisburg boasts several outstanding urban transformations – a weekend destination for industrial culture fans.

Kielgeholt — A Word from Maritime Tradition

The name Kielgeholt comes from maritime tradition: a ship was 'kielgeholt' (careened) to clean and repair it. The organizers use the term metaphorically for the idea of grounding oneself, switching off, and being creative through handmade textile work. The organizer is Mascha Dähne, who has professionally developed the format as an indie festival.