Vereins- und Jugendringreiten Humptrup

Ringreiten — a Frisian Tradition

Ringreiten has a history of over four hundred years in North Frisia. Originating from medieval tournament traditions, it developed into a village folk sport on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein. Using a lance, the rider attempts to pierce a suspended small iron ring (often only a few centimeters in diameter) at full gallop. Whoever pierces the most rings becomes the Ringreiterkönig:in (Ring Riding King/Queen).

UNESCO World Heritage since 2014

In 2014, Ringreiten was added to the UNESCO list as intangible cultural heritage of Germany. This officially recognized the unique custom, which is still practiced in over forty villages in North Frisia today. North Frisia is thus one of a small group of German regions whose living traditions enjoy UNESCO protection — alongside the Rhenish Carnival and falconry.

Humptrup — Frisian Riding Tradition

Humptrup is a municipality with under 600 inhabitants in the north of Schleswig-Holstein, in the district of Nordfriesland, almost on the Danish border. The Vereins- und Jugendringreiten is one of the village's festival highlights. Young riders from primary school age compete in their own contests, followed by the adults. The whole village participates — as riders, helpers on the festival grounds, with families at the food and drink stands.

A Riding Culture Far from the Big City

Visitors to the Humptrup Ringreiten experience a riding culture that is rarely found elsewhere in Germany in this form. The horses are often private horses from surrounding farms, the riders are children, parents, grandparents. Frisian Plattdeutsch can be heard on the festival grounds, the beer comes from Flensburg, and the cake is made by the village women.