Borkum’s Klaasohm Festival Faces Scrutiny Over Controversial Tradition

The island’s cherished celebration continues without the practice of striking women, following nationwide criticism and heightened media attention.

The Klaasohm Festival on Borkum, a long-standing cultural event, was held without the controversial practice of striking women with cow horns for the first time this year.
Nationwide outrage arose after media reports highlighted instances of women being struck, sometimes against their will, leading to accusations of violence and calls for change.
Many Borkumers feel misrepresented by the coverage, emphasizing the festival’s focus on community and tradition rather than the criticized behavior, which they claim was not central to the event.
The festival proceeded under heightened police presence and media scrutiny, with organizers and local officials pledging that violence has no future in the celebration.
The backlash has impacted the island's reputation, with some residents reporting threats and canceled tourist bookings, while others defend the festival's cultural significance.