Ochtrup Schützenfest „Alt und Jung"

Ochtrup — the Tulle Town in the Western Münsterland

Ochtrup is located in the Steinfurt district, just under 30 kilometers west of Münster, near the Dutch border. With around 19,000 inhabitants, a history shaped by the textile industry (tulle weaving, hence the nickname "Tüllstadt") and a landscape situated between the Münsterland heath and the Dutch Achterhoek region, it is a typical representative of the western Münsterland. The club scene is dense — marksmen's associations have played a central role in social life since the 19th century.

The "Alt und Jung" Ochtrup Marksmen's Association

The Alt und Jung Ochtrup e.V. marksmen's association is one of the town's traditional clubs. The name refers to the association's principle: generations are meant to celebrate, practice, and compete for the title of king together. Like many Münsterland marksmen's associations, "Alt und Jung" is simultaneously a sports club (shooting sports), a custodian of customs, and a social meeting point — the annual Schützenfest week is the highlight of the club's year.

Program 2026 — from High Mass to Polonaise

The 2026 festival, from May 22 to 24, begins on Friday, May 22 at 6:00 PM with a solemn Holy Mass in Ochtrup's St. Lamberti Church — commemorating deceased members, followed by the Großer Zapfenstreich. On Saturday, May 23 at 3:00 PM, command is handed over in the church square, passing the battalion to the new club leadership — a highly ceremonial act with flag appeal and music. Sunday, May 24 starts at 11:00 AM with Frühschoppen and concert (until 1:00 PM) in the Stadtpark, followed by the grand festival parade and the Polonaise at 7:00 PM through Ochtrup's historic town ramparts — one of the most moving scenes of the festival, as marksmen and the public march together through the old town at a marching pace.

St. Lamberti Church as the Festival Core

The St. Lamberti Church is Ochtrup's Catholic parish church and stands in the middle of the historic old town. It is the venue for the festival mass and the liturgical anchor of the marksmen's tradition — as in many Münsterland marksmen's associations, the close connection between the parish and the club is a constitutive element.

Admission and Atmosphere

Admission is free. The festival takes place between the Stadtpark (Winkelstraße 1), the church square of St. Lamberti, and the ramparts. Food and drinks are provided by club stands, with a cozy marquee atmosphere and live music from marksmen's bands — a typical Münsterland Schützenwoche, celebrated throughout the region at Pentecost.

Ochtrup as a Travel Tip in the Münsterland

A weekend in Ochtrup can be well combined with excursions into the western Münsterland: Schloss Welbergen with its baroque park (5 km), the nearby Töddenland with historic farmsteads, the Weiner See lake, and cycle paths towards the Netherlands. The main city of Münster is reachable by car in 35 minutes — a worthwhile day trip.