Schützenfest Holtwick — ABSH 1619

407 Years of Shooting Tradition in Holtwick

The Allgemeine Bürgerschützen Holtwick 1619 e.V. (ABSH) is one of the oldest shooting associations in West Germany. For over four centuries, since its founding in 1619, the citizens of Holtwick have maintained their shooting traditions. The annual festival in 2026 will take place from Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21, 2026 in the Holtwick Festival Tent. It begins on Friday at 5:30 PM.

The Festival Program

As is customary at Westphalian festivals, the proceedings follow a set choreography over three days:

• Friday, June 19, 2026 from 5:30 PM — Opening: Festival tent opening, first concerts, and dance program
• Saturday, June 20, 2026 — Parade and King's Shooting: Grand parade through Holtwick, king's shooting at the clubhouse
• Sunday, June 21, 2026 — Coronation and Family Day: Coronation of the new shooting king/couple, morning pint, family program

Association and Activities

In addition to the annual festival, the ABSH 1619 e.V. maintains a vibrant year of activities with numerous events:

• Visits to Hegeort shooting festivals (regional networking)
• Participation in the Brock shooting festival in August
• Participation on Volkstrauertag (Remembrance Day) in November
• Members' meeting in November
• 375th anniversary of a neighboring association in June 2026

These activities demonstrate the close ties of the Holtwick shooters with the surrounding Westphalian shooting community.

Holtwick — District of the Municipality of Rosendahl

Holtwick is a district of the municipality of Rosendahl (approx. 11,000 inhabitants) in the Coesfeld district in western Münsterland (North Rhine-Westphalia). Besides Holtwick, the municipality also includes the districts of Darfeld and Osterwick. The rural landscape of Münsterland, with its farms, meadows, and small forests, provides the backdrop for a traditional community life where shooting associations continue to play a central role in shaping identity.