Krefeld Flax Market on Linn Castle, Whitsun June 8-10, 2019

“What’s my line?”. Guessing game, in a  different way

Agate and fossil grinders, barbers and blue printers, turners, falconers, felters, flax processors (where, if not on this market?). Glass blowers, hand weavers, ceramists, leather punchers. Ropes and soap boilers. Stick maker, bag maker, weaver and cylinder maker.

A whole alphabet could be filled in this way. And the long list from A to Z is not complete at all. Filled with partly mysterious trades and mysterious activities. Well over 230 exhibitors will be presenting their guilds and craftsmanship. At Whitsun on the Krefeld flax market at Burg Linn (“Linn castle”).

Why not embark on a voyage of discovery next weekend, and perhaps even on a very special journey through time?

Traditionally, and for over forty years now, you can meet very special, partly forgotten and almost disappeared craftsmen on the flax market. Take a look over the shoulder of a blacksmith, a turner or a printer. Or perhaps just join in and let us show you how it works. The Krefeld flax market at Burg Linn not only offers a lot to see, but also numerous interactive activities, for adults, and of course especially for children. And if you like, you can also make an excursion to the knights’ camp, with sword fighting, archery and historical dances.

“Old” craftsmanship in an “old” ambience. Linn Castle

There are many craftsmen markets. Numerous “new” markets at different locations, which stage old craftsmen’s art and traditional life. What is really special about the Linn market, however, is not least the special ambience of a castle complex. And the beginnings of it date back to the 12th century, to the lord of the castle, Knight Otto von Linn.

Although the original Linn flax market has not “always” taken place at Linn Castle, it can be dated back to the time when Linn town was founded in 1315. Even then there was a lively market, not only for flax and the various products around it. For example, linen was sold or exchanged for household goods or livestock on the market square in Linn, the Andreasmarkt. And this “flax market” quickly developed into one of the most important marketplaces in the region. Flax traders and farmers came all the way from Kerpen and Erkelenz. Merchants and grocers even travelled from Moers to the market days. They offered flax and linen, iron, wood, leather and wicker goods, stones, pottery, textiles (also used), horse harness, grain and later, also meat and bread.

And flax? Of course there is also some flax here. Not only as textile.

What would the flax market be without flax? You can see how flax is spun into a linen thread at the Erna Evers stand. This year she is showing her old craft for the first time on the flax market. By the way, flax is not the only material that can be made from this very special plant. Flax is an ancient cultivated plant with a wide range of applications. The fibres are used to make linen, but also paper. Linseed can be found in bakery products, as health food and pharmaceuticals, linseed oil is a popular food product, but can also be processed into paints, varnishes, printing inks, wax cloths, soft soap and linoleum.

Flax is not only available on the flax market as a textile, oil or pastry. In German, you say “Kein Flachs” (=”no flax” or “without flax”) if you want to emphasize that you are not talking nonsense, “empty stuff”, or making a joke. And in fact, the “flax” in this meaning probably goes back to the fact that people used to spend their time with jokes and stories that were somewhat monotonous, while they laboriously processed the flax into linen. And while we are at it: there is not just “flax”, but some “yarn spinning” as well.

Not only in the literal sense. Because of course, there are also spun, imaginative, funny stories on the Krefeld flax market. Musicians, jugglers and storytellers make sure of that. They go across the market in traditional costumes and entertain children and adults with stories, fairy tales and entertaining anecdotes from past days. Some of them will certainly tell you “a lot of flax” or will do a little “spinning”, but that can be very entertaining. Have fun!