Kirschblütenfest am Kermisdahl

Hanami on the Lower Rhine

What gathers the nation in Japan as Hanami has found its Lower Rhine variant in Kleve: the Kirschblütenfest am Kermisdahl. When the Japanese ornamental cherries along the waterway are in full bloom in early April, the city of Kleve, together with the economic development agency, organizes a one-day spring festival directly under the pink canopy of blossoms. A pop-up backdrop is created between Worcesterbrücke and the Kermisdahl riverbank, attracting families, photographers, and gourmets from all over the Kleve district.

Spring Market and Culinary Delights

Food trucks with international cuisine, stalls with arts and crafts and regional products, live music, and hands-on activities for children shape the atmosphere. The combination of spring blossoms, waterside scenery, and market ambiance makes the day a Lower Rhine season opener.

Kleve — the Swan City

Kleve, which gave its name to the former Duchy, is located in the far west of North Rhine-Westphalia, almost on the Dutch border. The Schwanenburg castle, the baroque Forstgarten (forest garden), and the avenue to Worcesterbrücke characterize the cityscape. The Kermisdahl, a rediscovered ribbon of water, connects the city center and the Spoy Canal — a favorite recreational spot for Kleve residents.

Around the Festival

Before and after the festival day, further spring highlights await in and around Kleve: the Prinz-Moritz-Wanderweg (Prinz Moritz Hiking Trail) along the water, the Moritzpark, the Reichswald as a 5,100-hectare forest area, and the baroque gardens on Tiergartenstraße with views reaching into the Netherlands. The "Offene Gärten" (Open Gardens) initiative (March–October) also opens private garden plots in Kleve.

District of Kleve and Lower Rhine

The District of Kleve in the administrative region of Düsseldorf is one of North Rhine-Westphalia's most rural and greenest areas. Proximity to the Dutch border influences language, cuisine, and atmosphere — many guests come from Nijmegen, Arnhem, and Venlo. The Kirschblütenfest fits perfectly into this cross-border lifestyle.