musik:landschaft westfalen — Schloss Raesfeld Open Air

Raesfeld — Moated Castle in Western Münsterland

The municipality of Raesfeld, with around 11,000 inhabitants in the Borken district, North Rhine-Westphalia, is located in western Münsterland between Bocholt and Dorsten. Its landmark is Schloss Raesfeld — a striking 16th-century Renaissance moated castle complex with moats, towers, and a game park. Today, it houses the Academy of Crafts and serves as a venue — and since 2009, it has been the stage for open-air concerts by the association musik:landschaft westfalen every summer.

Since 2009 — musik:landschaft westfalen

The musik:landschaft westfalen festival was launched in 2009 with an opening concert by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra — an ambitious start that set the standard for the following years. Since then, artists such as Christoph Eschenbach, Ute Lemper, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra from Beijing have performed. Eschenbach praised the venue as “truly magnificently done”. The festival combines classical programs with crossover formats (film music, tribute concerts, star comedy), appealing to a broad audience.

2026 Program — Six Concerts in Ten Days

The 2026 season runs from August 6th to 15th with six open-air events at Schloss Raesfeld:

• Thursday, August 6th — Dvořák: From the New World with the festival:philharmonie westfalen (starts 8:00 PM)
• Friday, August 7th — Hollywood in Concert with mezzo-soprano Susan Albers (8:00 PM) — film music program
• Sunday, August 9th — Bohemian Sounds: 70 Years of Egerländer (6:00 PM) — brass music tradition
• Thursday, August 13th — Helge Schneider Live (8:00 PM) — comedy concert with the Mülheim multi-talent
• Friday, August 14th — Central Park — A Tribute to Simon & Garfunkel (8:00 PM) — tribute concert
• Saturday, August 15th — Spanish Night with Rolando Villázon (8:00 PM) — tenor concert with a Spanish program; sold out

Atmosphere and Stage

The concerts take place in the castle's courtyard — an open-air stage in front of the historic castle facade. Tiered seating is available in several categories, along with side seating offering partially restricted views. The gastronomic offerings, including wine, sparkling wine, and light snacks, are concentrated in the castle garden — attending the concerts often combines with a stroll through the game park and the castle park area before the event.

Context in the Münsterland Summer

The festival is positioned alongside major Münsterland summer festivals — the Festspiele am Wasserschloss Raesfeld every few years, the Bocholter Sommer in the neighboring town, and the OWL Filmfestival. With its unique blend of classical and pop-crossover music and its spectacular castle backdrop, musik:landschaft westfalen has carved out a firm place in the Münsterland summer calendar. Visitors to Raesfeld in August can tour the castle during the day — and enjoy music in its courtyard in the evening.