Pfingstmarkt Geilenkirchen

550 Years of Pfingstmarkt — one of the oldest funfairs in the Rhineland

The Pfingstmarkt Geilenkirchen has been part of the city's identity for over 550 years – making it one of the oldest and most traditional funfairs in the Rhineland. The first documented mentions date back to the late 15th century. Over the centuries, the format has evolved – from a medieval horse and market fair to a modern Volksfest – but the Pentecost date and the connection to the Krammarkt have remained.

25,000+ Visitors and Regional Appeal

With over 25,000 visitors annually, the Pfingstmarkt is one of the most important dates in the Heinsberg district's event calendar. Geilenkirchen is located in the far west of North Rhine-Westphalia, five kilometers from the Dutch border and ten kilometers from Belgium – the audience comes from all three countries. Dutch and Belgian visitors are regular guests.

City-Parkplatz Beamtenweg — The Funfair

The venue for the actual funfair is the City-Parkplatz am Beamtenweg in the city center. Over 30 fairground rides will be set up for five days: dodgems, Ferris wheel, roller coaster, Wilde Maus, Booster, children's carousel, swing boat, and classics like the Musikexpress. The variety is significantly greater than at a typical village funfair – a true Volksfest format.

Wurmauenpark — The Krammarkt

Parallel to the funfair, the Krammarkt with around 50 craftspeople and traders takes place in the Wurmauenpark (located by the River Wurm). Here you'll find basket weavers, leather goods, ceramics, wood carvings, regional food products, honey, schnapps, and handicrafts. The Krammarkt is a direct descendant of the medieval annual market and preserves this character – with stall locations that have been passed down for generations.

Program Highlights

Classic Pfingstmarkt schedule:

• Friday 5–10 PM — Funfair opening
• Saturday 2–10 PM — Full program
• Pentecost Sunday 11 AM–10 PM — Family Day
• Pentecost Monday 11 AM–10 PM — Peak activity
• Tuesday 2–11 PM — Grand finale with fireworks around 10:30 PM

Krammarkt at Wurmauenpark

The Krammarkt typically runs from Sunday to Tuesday, 11 AM–6 PM daily. Free entry, free browsing among craftspeople, tastings, and small snacks.

Geilenkirchen in the Heinsberg District

Geilenkirchen, with around 28,000 inhabitants, is a town in the Selfkant region of the Heinsberg district, on the border with the Netherlands. The town is known regionally for the NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen, one of Europe's largest aerial reconnaissance bases. The town benefits touristically from the Wurm Valley and its location in the tri-border area (D/NL/B) – Maastricht, Aachen, and Heerlen are all reachable within half an hour.