February 27th - March 2nd 2025
Kieler Umschlag
We are celebrating 50 years of Kieler Umschlag. You can look forward to a varied programme ranging from a medieval market on Alter Markt to a pirate spectacle on Asmus-Bremer-Platz and a fire show in Holtenauer Straße. There will also be a colourful stage programme and traditional crafts in the crafts tent and on Holstenplatz.
What you can expect
To mark the 50th anniversary of Kiel's modern Umschlag, the festival traditionally begins with the wake-up call of Kiel's former mayor Asmus Bremer and his wife. The city centre is transformed into a journey through time, from the early Middle Ages to the glorious age of pirates and the modern era. Along the way, there are authentic stalls, historical figures, traditional handicrafts and a wide range of food and drink.
A varied programme with live music, storytellers and various performances provides entertainment. The popular crafts tent is also back this year. On Sunday, Kiel's shops open from 1 pm to 6 pm following the motto "I feel Kiel" and invite you to go on an extensive Sunday shopping tour.
Holtenauer Straße
The Kieler Umschlag takes place not only in the city centre, but also in Holtenauer Straße. A varied programme will delight young and old on Ansgarkirche square. These include a creative workshop organised by the Kunstquartier, where clocks and compasses can be made, glitter tattoos and a historical games trail. Highlights include a fairy tale reading at 2 pm in the Ansgarkirche hall and a spectacular fire show "Die zwei Skalden" presented by Weltentor at 5.30 pm.
Programme February 27th - March 2nd 2025
Old market
Thursday, February 27th 2025
12 pm: The market bailiff arrives - testing of goods and weights
3 pm: Bagpipe sounds around St. Nikolai
15.30 pm: Opening: hoisting of "Bürgermeester sin Büx" followed by a beer tapping by the Kiel brewery
6.15 pm: Minstrels show off - with bagpipes and drums
Friday, February 28th 2025
12 pm: Mr Asmus Bremer and his entourage arrive for the ceremonial opening of the market
3 pm: A juggling game with Nikodemus
5 pm: Bagpipes and lyre playing - Folgelvreie minstrelsy
6 pm: Minstrels show off - with bagpipes and drums
7 pm: 500 years of Kiel's city history gather once again on the stage - listen to stories from ancient times
Saturday, March 1st 2025
12 pm: The market opens - Mr Asmus inspects the goods, Brother Adolf gives the blessing
3 pm: Basseltan - The jugglers arrive. A ludicrous spectacle
5 pm: Fogelvrei decorates the ears - exquisite musica
6 pm: Fire shows by the jugglers light up the evening sky over Kiel
7 pm: Music, dance and allevances - a comedy in honour of Asmus Bremer and his entourage
Sunday, March 2nd 2025
2 pm: Basseltan's juggling - Come and be amazed!
3 pm: Fogelvreie Spielmannskunst - old sacks, new sounds
4.30 pm: Basseltan - The jugglers are coming. A ludicrous spectacle
5.30 pm: Retrieval of the "Büx" and farewell to Asmus Bremer with salutes from the pirates
Craftsmen's tent/ Holstenplatz
Thursday, February 27th 2025
11 am - 6 pm: Basket weaving with Christian Kuhtz
2 pm: Hops and malt; God help us! The Kiel brewery shows you a look behind the scenes of beer production
4.30 pm: Starting point of the parade to wake up Asmus Bremer at Warleberger Hof
6 pm: Tobilicious: The best of the 80s and 90s!
Friday, February 28th 2025
11 am - 6 pm: Basket weaving with Christian Kuhtz
11 am - 6 pm: The Lord of the Rings - cold forging on the anvil with Geschichtswerkstatt Barockoko
2 pm: Hops and malt; God help us! The Kiel brewery shows you a look behind the scenes of beer production
7 pm: Well Done: Fjord Blues Rock with covers and own arrangements. dancing is allowed. Rock on!
Saturday, March 1st 2025
11 am - 6 pm: Basket weaving with Christian Kuhtz
11 am - 6 pm: The Lord of the Rings - cold forging on the anvil with Geschichtswerkstatt Barockoko
2 pm: Hops and malt; God help us! The Kiel brewery shows you a look behind the scenes of beer production
4 pm: The Förde brass orchestra performs: a lot of hops and malt!
7 pm: DJ Harry Kohrt heats you up
Sunday, March 2nd 2025
Hops and malt; God forbid! The Kiel brewery shows you a look behind the scenes of beer production
3 pm: Lennon von Seht: Songwriter tradition from Schleswig-Holstein
5 pm: Starting point of the procession to bid farewell to Asmus Bremer and his entourage
Warleberger Hof
Thursday, February 27th 2025
8.30 am: Bringing Kiel's city history to life - guided tour for school classes, further information on request (also at 9.15 am, 10 am, 10.45 am, 11.30am, 12.15 pm)
5 pm: Wake-up call for Asmus Bremer and his wife Dorothea Katharina
Friday, February 28th 2025
8.30 am: Bringing Kiel's city history to life - guided tour for school classes, further information on request (also at 09.15 am, 10 am, 10.45 am, 11.30 am, 12.15 pm)
4 pm: Guided tour through the old aristocratic house - costume tour with museum educator Susanne Mohr, registration at: 0431 9013425
Saturday, March 1st 2025
10 am, 11.30 am, 1 pm: Water, Beer and Piepenböme - costume tour with Johanna Flügge
3 pm: "De Bürgermeister sin Büx" - a short walk through the old town to the Kieler Umschlag
4 pm: Guided tour of the old aristocratic house - costume tour with museum educator Susanne Mohr
Sunday, March 2nd 2025
11.30 am: Sunday guided tour through the exhibition "Kaufrausch. Consumption and the world of goods in the 1980s"
3 pm: "De Bürgermeister sin Büx" short walk through the old town to the Kieler Umschlag
3.30 pm: Sunday guided tour through the exhibition "Capturing Kiel. City views by Gretel Riemann".
6 pm: Asmus goes to bed: The Kieler Umschlag comes to an end
Asmus-Bremer-Platz
Friday, February 28th 2025
12.30 pm, 2 pm, 4.30 pm: Octavia Kliemt tells stories and fairy tales for young and old
3 pm: Ready to board! Scary and funny pirate spectacle
Saturday, March 1st 2025
12.30 pm, 2 pm, 4.30 pm: Octavia Kliemt tells stories and fairy tales for young and old
3 pm: Ready to board! Scary and funny pirate spectacle
Sunday, March 2nd 2025
12.30 pm, 2 pm, 4.30 pm: Octavia Kliemt tells stories and fairy tales for young and old
3 pm: Ready to board! Scary and funny pirate spectacle
Further programme items
Sunday, March 2nd 2025
1 pm - 4 pm: Clowns without borders - Pampelmusina and Lolle are out and about in the city centre on Sunday with cheeky jokes and cheerful songs as they pass by!
Thursday to Sunday
The Leefen bakery will be selling the "Umschlagsbrot" in all Kiel branches on the 4 days of the event: Exerzierplatz, Kehdenstraße, Holtenauer Straße, Holtenau (Richthofenstraße)
Town hall
Friday, February 28th 2025
12 pm: Town hall tower tour with Mathild from Ohwacht (further dates & information on booking further down the page)
1 pm: Festive town hall reception with Asmus Bremer and the city president with food and drinks
Saturday, March 1st
12 pm: Town hall tower tour with Mathild from Ohwacht (further dates & booking information further down on the page)
Kiel Monastery
Saturday, March 1st 2025
11 am: Carillon concert with tower tour in Kiel Monastery
Sunday, March 2nd 2025
approx. 11 am: Coffee reception after the festive service in St. Nikolai Church
St Nikolai Church
Saturday, March 1st 2025
7 pm: Concert by Angli Clamant: Faith-Love-Sin
Sunday, March 2nd 2025
10 am: Festive service for the Kieler Umschlag: Pastor Maren Schmidt, Pastor Peter Schuchardt (Low German sermon), Asmus Bremer & entourage
Organ: Volkmar Zehner, brass players from Kiel trombone choirs, conducted by Gerald Kühne
Followed by a coffee reception in the Kiel Monastery
Holtenauer Straße
Sunday, March 2nd 2025 - Ansgarkirche
1pm: Creative workshop "Middle Ages - the age of invention" - making clocks and compasses for young and old together with Kunstquartier Kiel
1 pm: Glitter tattoos
1 pm: Historical games parkour
2 pm: Fairy tale stories with the Förderverein e.V. (Ansgarkirche hall)
5.30 pm: Fire show "The two scandals", presented by Weltentor
February 28th & March 1st 2025
Town hall tower tour special
Come with us on a journey into the past! To mark the 50th anniversary of Kiel's transshipment centre, the town hall tower tour not only offers an incomparable panoramic view over Kiel, but also takes you back to the 15th century. Mathilde from Ohwacht, a character from a wealthy merchant family who traded in salt and herrings, accompanies you in historical dress on a story-rich themed tour.
Sunday open for business
As part of ICH FÜHL MICH KIEL, not only shops in Kiel city centre are open, but also Galeria/Holstentörn and Sophienhof as well as Holtenauer, CITTI-Park, IKEA, Möbel Höffner and Famila Kiel-Wik.
Approach
Kiel city centre and Holtenauer Straße can be easily reached by bus, bicycle, car or on foot.
Bus
Kiel city centre and Holtenauer Straße are served by various KVG bus routes. Here you can get timetable information about Nah.SH.
Car
There are plenty of parking spaces in the immediate vicinity. Information at www.parken-plus.info.
Bicycle
Bicycle racks are available. You can also use the SprottenFlotte bike sharing service. The first 30 minutes are free of charge.
Our partners
Your contact persons
Christian Schütze
Project Management Historical Programme
Tel.: 0431 / 679 10-53
Mail: c.schuetze (at) kiel-marketing.de
Jaqueline Hahn
Project Management Market
Tel.: 0431 - 67910 - 54
Mail: j.hahn (at) kiel-marketing.de
Eva Zeiske
Press Officer
Tel.: 0431 / 679 10-26
Mail: e.zeiske (at) kiel-marketing.de
Media download: Here you can download pictures and videos of the Kieler Umschlag.