Selfkant-Musical 2.0 — Oh wie Heimat ist das Grenzland

Homeland Theater on the Selfkant

The Selfkant is the westernmost tip of Germany — a region in the Heinsberg district, almost entirely surrounded by the Netherlands. Here, people speak Dutch, German, Limburgish, or Selfkanter Platt in everyday life. The identity is hybrid, the history complex (in 1949, the Selfkant was ceded to the Netherlands as reparations, only returned to Germany in 1963). The Selfkant-Musical addresses precisely this borderland identity — as open-air theater in Sportpark Höngen.

2026 Program — Oh wie Heimat ist das Grenzland

The musical is divided into four thematic segments:

• Karneval: the jester tradition, which is as deeply rooted in the Selfkant as in the Rhineland
• History: from the Middle Ages through the Selfkant cession to the return
• Kirmes atmosphere: the rural Volksfest, the annual reunion of the village community
• Choral singing: joint songs with clubs from German border towns and Dutch neighbors

Local clubs participate on stage. The dance group Xanadu provides the choreographic interludes. Moderation: Jack Dijcks and Rolf Houben. Direction: Bas Stelten from Nieuwstadt (NL) — the musical is thus also practically produced across borders.

Second Edition After Premiere 2023/2024

The first edition of the Selfkant-Musical in 2023/24 was a surprise success — organized purely as a local project by club members and villagers, it received supra-regional attention in the Aachener Zeitung. Selfkant-Musical 2.0 responds to demand: expanded program, more clubs, increased Dutch participation.

Sportpark Höngen as a Stage

The sports park in Selfkant-Höngen becomes an open-air stage. Grandstands, stage, and sound technology are specially set up. In good summer weather, a unique experience — in case of rain, performances take place under pavilions.

Selfkant Identity

Those unfamiliar with the Selfkant will learn a lot here about German-Dutch borderland culture: about the region's history (Selfkant question 1949–1963), the bilingual everyday culture, the strong connection to the Netherlands despite German citizenship. The musical is a blend of local studies, history lesson, and Volksfest.

Selfkant — Municipality with 12 Districts

The municipality of Selfkant has around 10,500 inhabitants spread across 12 districts (Höngen, Süsterseel, Hillensberg, Schalbruch, Tüddern, among others). It is the westernmost municipality in Germany. The Selfkantbahn — a historic narrow-gauge railway — is another tourist attraction in the region.