Windgilde Bünsdorf — Gildefest

An Insurance Company as a Cooperative

The Windgilde Bünsdorf is a remarkable peculiarity of the Schleswig-Holstein cooperative landscape. Its roots date back to 1685 — a pewter candlestick from that year is considered the oldest proof of the guild's existence. Originally, it was purely a fire guild: if a member's house burned down, the other members provided "wood, straw, grain, and labor" to support the reconstruction. A cooperative insurance, long before commercial policies existed.

From Fire Protection to Storm Protection

In 1883, the guild transformed into a storm damage insurance, and in 1894, it received its current form as Windgilde Bünsdorf. Seven board members lead the community: headed by the Ältermann (elder), along with the treasurer and scribe, who have kept detailed minutes for centuries. Today, the guild has 64 male members with partners and 4 female individual members. Membership requires being over 18 years of age.

The Gildefest on the Last Saturday in May

The annual Gildefest has taken place on the last Saturday in May since 1973 — the shift from the original June 15th was necessary because the date and harvest time increasingly clashed. The festival day traditionally begins with a meeting where minutes are read, elections are held, and old customs are observed. This is followed by the social part: a festive procession, a communal meal, speeches, music, and stories. Here you will experience a living North German cultural practice that hardly exists anywhere else in this form.

Bünsdorf — A Village on the Wittensee

Bünsdorf is located in the Rendsburg-Eckernförde district, nestled between the Wittensee and the Borgstedter See in one of Schleswig-Holstein's most beautiful landscapes. The guild has a granite monument at the rectory, erected in 1985 for its 300th anniversary. Those who visit the Gildefest should take time to explore the quiet village with its thatched-roof houses, the small church, and the walks along the Wittensee.