Delegations from the twin towns visit Bocholt

Guests from the twin towns of Bocholt (Belgium), Rossendale (Great Britain), Aurillac and Arpajon-sur-Cère (France), Akmene (Lithuania) and Verkhniodniprovsk (Ukraine) as well as representatives from the neighbouring Netherlands met in the European city of Bocholt last weekend.

The varied programme of exhibitions, concerts and meeting evenings over these four days was held under the motto "80 years of peace and freedom" and "75 years of the European Union".

"The personal exchange with our European friends was a strong sign of living partnership, especially in the year in which we are celebrating 80 years of peace and freedom in Central Europe", said Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff at the end of the meeting.

Cross-border exhibition "Freiheitsstrom" opened

This European peace weekend kicked off on 8 May 2025 with the opening of the cross-border exhibition "Freiheitsstrom" on the kubaii site. The four sculptures can be seen there until 8 November 2025. There are also four sculptures from the cross-border art project in the neighbouring Dutch municipality. German-Dutch artist tandems have created sculptures for this exhibition that symbolise peace and freedom.

Commemorating the end of the Second World War 80 years ago

The LernWerk Bocholt hosted the ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. The keynote speaker was the mayor of the Ukrainian city of Verkhniodniprovsk, Gennadii Lebid. He said: "We are gathered here today to commemorate and reflect on one of the greatest tragedies in human history - the Second World War. This war left a deep mark on the history of every nation, changed the map of the world and taught us a lesson that we must never forget." The event was accompanied by a string quartet from the Bocholt-Isselburg music school and a Ukrainian duo from Doetinchem (Netherlands).

Mariengymnasium Bocholt celebrates 75 years of the EU

The 75th anniversary of the European Union was the focus of this year's Europe Day on 9 May. More than 100 pupils from Year 10 and Year EF of the European School "Mariengymnasium Bocholt" took part.

Benjamin Haase from the Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl Foundation gave a presentation on European cooperation entitled "Hand in Hand for Europe". Tim Nover from the Federal Foreign Office spoke about the direction of the new German government's European policy.

In their words of welcome, the headmistress Ruth Sonntag as well as the first deputy mayor Elisabeth Kroesen and Gennadii Lebid as representatives of the delegations from the friendly and twin towns of Bocholt emphasised the importance of the European idea, especially in the current times. The ceremony was organised in cooperation with Europe Direct Bocholt.

Inauguration of the "Akmene Promenade"

On Saturday, the "Akmene Promenade" in Bocholt's city centre was officially opened by Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff and the Mayor of the Lithuanian twin town of Akmene, Vitalijus Mitrofanovas. Both cities signed the twinning charter on 14 May 2022. It is a good tradition in Bocholt to name the promenades along the River Aa after the twin towns.

The European guests were particularly impressed by the visit to the "Nationaal Onderduikmuseum" (National Underwater Museum in Aalten, Netherlands). Here they learnt at first hand about the fate that people in hiding had to endure when they fled Germany.

"In contrast to the situation in Ukraine, where people have been living with the consequences of war for over ten years, this visit was an emotional highlight. The close exchange with the delegation from Verkhniodniprovsk made us all realise once again how valuable what we have in Europe is", said Mayor Kerkhoff.

European encounter at the Mussum Heritage Centre

A special highlight of the programme was the European get-together evening in the Mussum Heimathaus. There, the delegation members met representatives from associations, schools and institutions that maintain contacts with the friendly and twin towns. The event was accompanied by music from Edlira and Harapi, who have their roots in Albania and now live in Bocholt. A great atmosphere was created by "Nora & Band" from the Belgian twin town of Bocholt.

Concert fair raised 1,000 euros for Ukraine

In a show of solidarity with Ukraine, a concert mass was held in St George's Church under the motto "80 Years of Peace and Freedom". The choir community - consisting of the St. Georg church choir, the project choir "Städtepartnerschaften" Bocholt and the Stadskoor Bredevoort (Netherlands) - performed the mass together with a wind ensemble. The delegation members read intercessions and the Lord's Prayer in their own language. The door collection raised around 1,000 euros for aid projects in Bocholt's twin town of Verkhniodniprovsk.

Bocholt stands for a united Europe

On Sunday, the concert by the Bocholt-Isselburg Music School in the Drosselsaal of the LWL-Museum Textilwerk Bocholt concluded this European peace weekend. "The shared moments will remain unforgettable - from the friendship evening and the international mass in St. George's Church to the music school's Mother's Day concert and the ceremonial naming of the Akmene Promenade in our city centre. Bocholt stands for friendship, understanding and a united Europe," said Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff.

Support from the state of NRW

With the state initiative "Europe Cheques", the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia supports outstanding projects of European commitment that promote European values in NRW in a variety of ways, strengthen the idea of Europe in civil society and the municipal family and bring people closer to the different facets of a living democracy. The European Peace Weekend in Bocholt and the Mariengymnasium's Europe Day were co-financed by the "Europe cheque".