Review: 777 years of Neustadt-Glewe & 47th "Neustadt in Europe" meeting from September 12 to 14, 2025

Our city proudly celebrated its 777th anniversary in 2025. This anniversary was a reason to celebrate in style. And we invited the other Neustadt towns in Europe to join us in the celebrations and held the annual "Neustadt in Europe" meeting during the festival weekend from September 12 to 14, 2025.

The town of Neustadt-Glewe was first mentioned in a document in 1248 as Nova Civitas. With the addition of "Civitas," it was granted city rights and proudly celebrated its 777th anniversary in 2025. Many citizens of Neustadt-Glewe took part in and helped organize the city's anniversary celebrations. Houses, buildings, and company premises were colorfully decorated with pennants and balloons. It was a great pleasure to drive through our city.

For the anniversary, 777 guests from 28 cities, municipalities, and districts with the name "Neustadt" from a total of six Central European countries traveled to Neustadt-Glewe. Delegations from Romania, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, as well as Germany, of course, came to Neustadt-Glewe for the Neustadt meeting.

As was the case two years ago, the highlight of the city's anniversary celebrations was the grand parade. It was a logistical masterpiece, as this time there were even more participants than at the 775th anniversary celebrations. Numerous clubs, companies, private individuals, daycare centers, and schools took part and designed their parade floats in a very original and creative way. The parade showcased the history of our city and its great diversity.  In addition, there were delegations from "Neustadt in Europe." The result was a colorful mix that visitors could marvel at from the side of the road. They came with camping chairs & picnic baskets and made themselves comfortable on the side of the road to watch the grand parade pass by. Music, singing, and fun echoed from the parade floats. Candy, sweets, and even small shots of schnapps were distributed to visitors. Once they arrived at the castle, the celebration continued for the city's 777th anniversary. Many thanks to everyone who participated in the parade for this great experience and, above all, for this sense of togetherness.

This feeling of "We belong together – we celebrate together" could be felt and perceived throughout the entire weekend at the festival grounds.

The highlight on Friday evening was the magnificent laser show, which took place under the motto "Neustadt in Europe & 777 years of Neustadt-Glewe." A logo was created especially for this event. Ostseewelle accompanied the city anniversary on Friday and Saturday evening with its party program. The huge festival tent, which was open to everyone free of charge, was completely filled to capacity on Saturday evening. The party band "Coverpiraten" really got the party going that evening. People sang, danced on the tables, and celebrated extensively. On Saturday evening, the Neustadt shooting club organized a fantastic fireworks display together with the Neustadt fire department. A big thank you goes to the many cultural contributors: - Neustadt-Dosse. The dance group "Die coolen Kids" (The Cool Kids) were more than cool for Neustadt-Glewe and put on a lively performance.
-    Neustadt-Glewe. The after-school care children presented an impressive musical journey through Europe in a very professional manner.
-    Neustadt-Glewe. The line dancers "Angel Wings" provided a grand finale on Sunday. The audience swayed, clapped, and danced along energetically.
-    Neustadt an der Donau in Austria. The Schuhplatteln boys not only attracted everyone's attention visually, they also put on a great show with their lederhosen, clapping, yodeling, and kicking their feet in the air, captivating everyone.
-    Bad Neustadt an der Saale. The jazz band "Generations" took to the stage and thrilled the entire audience with a mix of jazz standards and jazz evergreens.
-    Nové Mesto na Morave from Czechia. The student brass orchestra "Z-USáci" really blew everyone away. Many people didn't realize that brass instruments could create such an incredible atmosphere. It was great what the students achieved here. A big thank you also goes to the CDU Neustadt-Glewe. They covered the entire catering costs for the 32 band members from Czechia for the whole weekend.
-    European Mile on the castle forecourt with the participation of several Neustadt delegations.

Throughout the weekend, fairground rides on the castle lawn provided further entertainment. In addition, there was a European Mile on the castle forecourt, where several European Neustadt delegations presented highlights from their regions. In the inner courtyard, the Neustadt Castle Association organized a small medieval camp with crafts, a campfire, a program, and music performed by the folk band "Hinterhof." Our Neustadt delegations in particular felt very welcome and well looked after here. Thank you for this incredibly wonderful festival weekend. The town of Neustadt-Glewe is proud to be a member of the largest town twinning association in Europe and to be able to contribute to the exchange of culture and traditions and to the formation of friendships across town and country borders.

A big thank you goes to everyone involved in making our 777th anniversary celebration an unforgettable experience: Music-Eggert, all the participating Neustadt associations & companies, the Evangelical Lutheran parish of Neustadt-Glewe, the Neustadt-Glewe Air Sports Club, the Neustadt-Glewe Photo Club, the Castle Museum and Art Gallery of Neustadt-Glewe, the city administration staff, the building yard, the service providers for security, order & cleanliness, medical services, and all helpers in front of and behind the scenes. Special thanks go to the local history and culture association and the Neustadt-Glewe Castle Association.

The 48th "Neustadt in Europe" meeting will take place in Bergneustadt from May 14-17, 2026.

City of Neustadt-Glewe

 

Neustadt an der Donau celebrates anniversary: festive weekend with Neutadt meeting

Whether in the Neustadt-Mile, dancing to live music coming from various stages or at the sales booths of the local associations: Guests and local Neustadt residents celebrated the city´s great anniversary together.

750 years of „city rights“ – it is a special anniversary that Neustadt an der Donau celebrated. Fort the town festival, which is held every year, Neustadt an der Donau was also very pleased to welcome visitors from many other Neutadts. Because on the occasion oft the big anniversary year also the meeting oft the consortium „Neustadt in Europa“ took place on this festival weekend.

Reception in the castle moat

The blue carpet (the same blue of the Neustadt an der Donau logo) was specially rolled out in the moat to receive all the Neustädter who had traveled there. The celebration started with music form the Bad Gögging brass band. Thomas Memmel, First Mayor of Neustadt an der Donau, warmly welcomed the approximately 900 Neustadt residents, as did Petra Bieber, Chairwoman of the „Neutadt in Europa“ consortium. Short clips gave impressions oft he last Neustadt Meeting and a film introduced Neustadt an der Donau as this year´s host.

The guests had traveled a total of almost 9.000 kilometers line of sight on their journeys to Neustadt an der Donau- In the castle moat, it was only a few meters across the blue carpet that one resident of each Neustadt carried the respective city coat of arms to the stage, where a group photo was taken as a memento.

Alley as a lasting memory

On Saturday morning, the mayors oft he participating Neustadts met in the board room oft he town hall. Following the mayors` meeting, the participants walked together through the city and the fesival area to a special alley: Especially as a lasting reminder of the Neustadt Meeting 2023 an alleys of trees were planted – one tree representing each participating Neustadt. The mayors and representatives ceremoniously watered their tree.

Music, specialties and insights

With performances of music groups and booths in the Neustadt-Mile, the Neustädter also participated in the city festival program: from wine or sausage specialties, informations and raffles to even brass music from near and far Neustadts.

Conversations and new acquaintances were made, Neustadt residents got to know each other and new places, people celebrated and exchanged ideas: „A successful Neustadt meeting an a great festival weekend, ``everyone agreed at the end of the three-day city festival.

Due to the current development of the Corona pandemic and the resulting lack of planning security, the city of Neustadt/Harz has decided to cancel the 44rd Neustadt Meeting.

Due to the current development of the Corona pandemic and the resulting lack of planning security, the city of Neustadt in Holstein has decided to cancel the 43rd Neustadt Meeting from June 25 - 27, 2021.

Unfortunately, the planned Neustadt meeting 2020 in Neustadt an der Aisch from July 3 to 5 had to be canceled due to the corona pandemic.

From 28 to 30 June 2019 the big family of Neustadt cities met for the third time, after 1979 and 1999, in Bad Neustadt an der Saale and celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Neustadt movement. On a beautiful sunny day 1200 Neustadt citizens from a total of 28 Neustadt cities and six European countries came to the city on the Saale River and celebrated a fabulous anniversary city festival. Two stages were packed with all-day entertainment, many guests were able to get a taste of several regional Neustadt culinary specialities along the Neustadt mile. Absolute highlight was the festive parade of all Neustadt cities which wound through the mediaeval city.

Mayor Bruno Altrichter hosted the Neustadt Meet-up already for the second time and left no wish open in order to ensure that the guests had a great time. For the Chairperson of the Working Group Neustadt in Europe, Petra Bieber, this year’s Meet-up was a “home game” and she was very pleased by the turnout. “The European thought behind the idea is also catching on”, she stressed on the evening of the festival. On this evening. Heinz-Jürgen Huber from Neustadt/ Hesse was honoured by the Director of the Working Group Martin Franck, already for the 25th time he has ridden his bicycle to the Neustadt Meet-up.

With an ecumenical service on Sunday and a following Jazz "Frühschoppen" (late Sunday morning drink) event the festival slowly came to a close. What is left is the memory of a wonderful Neustadt Meet-up with many friendly encounters between the Neustadt cities of Europe.

From 1 to 3 June 2018 a Meet-up of the Neustadt family in Poland took place for the first time in Nowe Miasto nad Pilica. City Mayor Mariusz Dziuba has sent out the warmest invitation to “his” Neustadt. The sister city has approx. 4,000 inhabitants and is located 80 kilometres south of Warsaw.

Here, the press review:

• Many apples and Neustadt citizens
• Celebratory gunfire at the Neustadt Meet-up
• Neustadt Meet-up for Europe
• Contagious friendship
• Working Group Neustadt in Europe wants to consciously make its mark
• Opinions about the Neustadt Meet-up in Nowe Miasto nad Pilica

In 2016 the Neustadt Meet-up took place on 17 and 19 June in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. A comprehensive program with guided tours through the historical old town with the night watchman, wine cellar tour with sparkling wine tasting, a wine village and music shows on various stages were presented to the visitors. The highlight was again the large, colourful parade with several hundred participants through the historical old town.

2017: Neustadt b. Coburg
2016: Neustadt an der Weinstraße
2015: Neustadt am Rübenberge
2014: Neustadt-Dosse
2013: Breuberg-Neustadt
2012: Neustadt an der Orla
2011: Neustadt (Hessen)
2010: Nové Mésto na Moravé (Tschechien)
2009: Neustadt an der Spree
2008: Neustadtl an der Donau (Österreich)
2007: Neustadt in Holstein
2006: Neustadt bei Coburg
2005: Neustadt in Sachsen
2004: Neustadt am Rennsteig
2003: Neustadt am Kulm
2002: Neustadt (Dosse)
2001: Nove Mesto nad Metuji (Neustadt an der Mettau)
2000: Titisee-Neustadt
1999: Bad Neustadt an der Saale
1998: Neustadt-Glewe
1997: Neustadt an der Orla
1996: Breuberg-Neustadt
1995: Neustadt in Sachsen
1994: Wiener Neustadt
1993: Bergneustadt
1992: Neustadt an der Donau
1991: Neustadt am Rübenberge
1990: Neustadt an der Aisch
1989: Neuenstadt am Kocher
1988: Neustadt (Hessen)
1987: Titisee-Neustadt
1986: Neustadt an der Weinstraße
1985: Neustadt (Wied)
1984: Neustadt bei Coburg
1983: Wiener Neustadt
1982: Neustadt an der Waldnaab
1981: Neustadt in Holstein
1980: Neustadt an der Aisch
1979: Bad Neustadt an der Saale