Personalized Border Control - Crowds of thousands anticipated at Emden's Maritime Festival.
Celebrating the heritage of sailing, singing shanties, and enjoying herring: The Emder Matjestagen in Ostfriesland is all about herring this weekend. "It's the biggest herring festival on the German North Sea coast," shared Frank Nowak, a spokesperson for the Emder Matjestage. In the past few years, this maritime folk event has gathered a lot of attention. This year, the organizers are expecting approximately 180,000 female and male visitors, along with many traditional ships, such as the three-mast "Goldener Löwe," and around 40 shanty choirs from North Germany and the Netherlands.
The festival kicks off on Friday morning with the mayor of Emden ringing a ship's bell if he's fond of herring. These traditional ships in the inner harbor then reply with their signals, officially opening the event.
The Emder Matjestagen commemorates the rich history of East Frisian herring fishing. Back in the day, herring was the primary food source, contributing to the region's wealth. Although the fishing industry no longer defines Emden's economy, it's still a part of its identity, mentioned Nowak. Many citizens of Emden used to engage in fishing, net making, or barrel making. In 1969, the fishing industry was moved to Bremerhaven after more than 450 years of playing a significant economic role in Emden. Matjes, or young, salted, and seasoned herring, is now considered a high-end fish dish.
The herring offered and consumed at the festival was previously sampled by 50 tasters. "The catch originated from Norwegian waters," informed Nowak. It is then processed in Emden.
Read also:
- Visitors to the Emden's Maritime Festival can look forward to seeing the iconic three-mast "Goldener Löwe" ship, which hails from the North Sea coast of East Frisia, Lower Saxony.
- On Friday mornings, the festival is traditionally opened with the mayor of Emden ringing the ship's bell, a ritual he enjoys due to his fondness for herring.
- The "Goldener Löwe" and other traditional ships in the inner harbor reply with their signals, marking the start of the annual event filled with shanty singing, herring, and food & drink.
- During the festival, around 40 shanty choirs from North Germany and the Netherlands perform their heartfelt melodies, paying homage to the rich maritime history and seafaring traditions of the region.
- The Emder Matjestage is not only a celebration of the region's fishing heritage but also a marketplace featuring an array of high-quality food and drink, showcasing Emden's once-thriving industry of herring, net making, and barrel making.
- To ensure a successful weekend, the organizers set a fixed visitor capacity and follow strict customs regulations, making it an unforgettable affair for both locals and tourists alike.
