Wort vor Ort — Poetry Slam Flensburg

Slam Culture in Northern Germany

Flensburg, a city in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, boasts a surprisingly rich slam scene — a result of its proximity to Kiel, Scandinavia, and the vibrant Kühlhaus socio-cultural scene. For years, Wort vor Ort has been the central event where stage literature, spoken word, and performance poetry converge at a high level.

The Kühlhaus as a Stage

The Kulturwerkstatt Kühlhaus in Flensburg's Neustadt (Mühlendamm 25) is a socio-cultural venue housed in a former industrial building. With its raw brick architecture, high ceilings, and atmospheric lighting, it provides the ideal setting for poetry slams — intimate enough for interludes and punchlines, yet large enough for over 200 spectators per evening.

Who Performs

Based on experience, the 2026 slammer lineups typically include:

• Established Slam Stars such as Luise Wolff, Andy Strauss, Fatih Serbest, Dajana Halse
• Regular Northern German Talents like Rune Vollbehr, Tim Jürgensen, Christina Kehles
• Newcomers from the in-house open mic series
• Moderation usually by Björn Högsdal, one of the most renowned moderators on the German slam scene

Format and Atmosphere

As with poetry slams everywhere: six to eight poets, six minutes of performance time each, an audience jury, one winner per evening. What makes Wort vor Ort special is the unusually attentive audience atmosphere — Flensburg has established itself as a "stronghold of true listeners," where punchlines are given time and more challenging pieces resonate. Texts range from political slams to love and relationship slams, and absurd comedy pieces.

Organizer Assemble ART

Assemble ART is the largest poetry slam organizer in Schleswig-Holstein, hosting regular events in Flensburg, Kiel, Neumünster, Sylt, and other cities. The Wort vor Ort series is the flagship event in Flensburg and ranks among the highest quality slam events in northern Germany.