Schützenfest Leer-Dorf — 400th Anniversary

Horstmar and Leer — A Small Münsterland Town with Two Districts

If you're travelling through the western Münsterland, between Steinfurt and Coesfeld, you'll come to Horstmar — a small Münsterland town with around 6,500 inhabitants in the Steinfurt district. Horstmar consists of two districts: Horstmar town itself and Leer, each with about half the population. Leer is a typical Münsterland farming and club village, characterized by Catholic tradition, the farmers' association, and a dense network of clubs. The Schützenverein Leer-Dorf 1626 e.V. is the most traditional club member — four centuries old, older than the Kingdom of Westphalia, older than the Peace of Westphalia.

400 Years of Schützenverein Leer-Dorf — A Rarity

Founded in 1626, in the midst of the Thirty Years' War, the Schützenverein Leer-Dorf is a true historical rarity. Clubs from the early 17th century are exceptionally rare in German shooting traditions — most date back to the 18th or 19th centuries. With 400 years, Leer-Dorf joins the league of the oldest German shooting clubs, comparable to the tradition of historical Hanseatic shooting brotherhoods or some medieval citizen militias.

Four Days of Jubilee Schützenfest 2026

The 2026 jubilee festival runs from Saturday, June 13th to Tuesday, June 16th. Friday, June 12th (eve): Local history afternoon starting at 4 PM in the festival tent at Kalvarienberg — opening with a remembrance and picture presentation on the club's history. Saturday officially marks the start of the festival with an opening ceremony and formal banquet. Sunday, June 14th, is the highlight: the grand parade with friendly clubs and brotherhoods from across the Münsterland. Monday features the bird shooting and coronation. Tuesday concludes with a club brunch.

Festival Tent at Kalvarienberg

The venue for the festival is the festival tent at Kalvarienberg, a small hill on the outskirts of Leer. Kalvarienberg is a religiously significant site — historically a Way of the Cross station with a chapel, today the traditional festival grounds of the shooting club. The festival tent can accommodate several hundred visitors, with a stage, dance floor, bar, and outdoor area for the bird shooting post and beer service.

Grand Parade on Sunday

The parade on Sunday, June 14th, is the central public display of the anniversary. With floats, music bands, and brotherhood delegations from the entire Münsterland, the procession winds through Leer. Shooting clubs from neighboring villages and districts with whom friendly relations exist are invited — a manifestation of the Münsterland shooting club network. The second Leer shooting club, the Schützenverein Leer-Haltern, also participates in the anniversary parade.

Commemorative Book for the Anniversary

For the 400th anniversary, a commemorative book will be published at a retail price of €29.90. The book documents the 400-year history of the club with historical sources, king lists, photographs, and contributions on Westphalian shooting traditions. A valuable collector's item for those interested in history and club life. Orders can be placed through the club and on-site during the festival weekend.

Shooting Traditions in the Münsterland

The Münsterland is one of the regions with the strongest shooting club presence in Germany. Practically every village, every farming community cluster has its own brotherhood or shooting club. The district brotherhoods organize annual church services, district shooting competitions, and joint pilgrimages. With 400 years, Leer-Dorf stands as a particularly venerable member in this landscape — many younger clubs have emerged as daughter clubs or offshoots.