Querbeet — Rural Experience Days

Hamburg's Green Pantry

The Vier- und Marschlande are the largest contiguous cultivation area for vegetables and flowers in Northern Germany. Just a few kilometers southeast of Hamburg's main train station, in the Bergedorf district, kilometers of greenhouses, fruit tree avenues, and old thatched-roof farmhouses crisscross the marsh landscape. This is exactly where Querbeet comes in: a format supported by the association Vier- und Marschlande Querbeet, which opens up the farms to visitors, farms that otherwise remain hidden behind dikes and country lanes.

The Venue: Rieck Haus

The center of the experience days is the Rieck Haus open-air museum in Curslack — a four-bay hall house dating back to 1533, one of the oldest preserved farmhouses in Northern Germany. Here, the Bergedorf Museum Landscape organizes a packed program of farm tours, workshops, and discussions with farmers and gardeners from the region during the Querbeet days.

What Awaits You

Over the two days, dozens of farms in Curslack, Altengamme, Neuengamme, Kirchwerder, and Reitbrook open their gates. You can visit strawberry fields, wander through the greenhouses of a biodynamic farm, explore a horticultural business with modern animal husbandry — and everywhere, enjoy regional cooking or shopping: fresh Marschland strawberries, regional preserves, honey, cheese, and fruit wines.

Herb Talk at Rieck Haus

A special event is the herb talk in the historic farm garden of Rieck Haus: September 12, 2026, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM. Here, female gardeners explain which herbs grow in the historic farm garden, how they were preserved in the past — and what role medicinal herbs played in North German folk medicine.

Who the Festival Is For

Querbeet is aimed at everyone who wants to turn their back on the industrial food chain for a day and see where the vegetables at the Hamburg weekly market actually come from. Families will find animal and hands-on activities on many farms. Cyclists can explore the area independently with the Querbeet map — the Vier- und Marschlande cycle path is almost entirely car-free.