Kremper Gildefest

A Guild with Almost 500 Years of History

The Alte Kremper Stadtgilde von 1541 e.V. is one of the oldest surviving town guilds in Northern Germany. Founded in the late Middle Ages, when Krempe was an important port town on the river of the same name, it has weathered all storms of history: the Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, the period as a Danish royal town, Napoleon, Bismarck, and both World Wars. Today, it maintains centuries-old traditions with almost unchanged ceremony.

Krempe — A Forgotten Hanseatic Town

Krempe, with around 2,300 inhabitants, is one of the smallest towns in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, but in the Middle Ages, it was an important trading centre with town rights since 1234. Today, it is a quiet small town in the Steinburg district, whose historic centre is characterised by half-timbered houses and the late Gothic St. Peter's Church. The Gildefest is one of the rare occasions when the town returns to its former dignity: processions in historical costumes, drums and pipes, the sound of the town guild flags over the market square.

Flag-Waving and Festival Procession

The highlight of the festival is the flag-waving — an old urban discipline where guild members throw, spin, and catch the heavy town flag in the air according to fixed choreographies. This art, which has been lost in many North German towns, is kept alive in Krempe. In addition, there is a festival procession, the proclamation of the king, a banquet for the guild members, and a public festival for the entire town.

A Tradition That Lives

Despite its small size, the Gildefest attracts visitors from the entire Steinburg district and the Hamburg metropolitan region every year. The mixture of authentic tradition, historical costumes, and the small town's family-friendly atmosphere makes the festival a unique event in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Anyone who wants to get to know the real Northern Germany is in the right place.