Sunday open for business and "Bocholt Blüht" with large classic car meeting in the city centre

Starting with a high number of registrations for the classic car meeting in advance (169 registered vehicles), the meeting of old vehicles at "Bocholt Blüht" in Bocholt in the city centre developed into a great rendezvous for classic cars! Almost 400 vehicles were parked on the squares and in the streets of the city centre! In 2023 and 2022 there were a similar number of cars, in 2017 there were around 300 vehicles, in 2013 there were around 350 vehicles. "The weather is excellent just in time for the event weekend and the event is now well established in the classic car scene. A really great atmosphere in the city centre," says Ludger Dieckhues from City Marketing.

The many vehicles, all of which are more than 25 years old, could be admired in warm temperatures and dry weather until shortly before the end in the Liebfrauenviertel, on the market square and St.-Georg-Platz, on Neutorplatz, at the Easter market, on Crispinusplatz, in various streets and at the shopping centres - and the city visitors were already very, very numerous from 12 noon. By 2.00 pm there were no parking spaces in Bocholt, neither for visitors nor for classic cars. "We really freed up every square metre in the city centre for the classic cars to accommodate everyone," explains Ludger Dieckhues. "The people from the Oldtimer-Stammtisch Grenzland Classic and the THW-Jugend helped really well - but if anyone really didn't get a stand, then we're really very sorry, but we simply couldn't fit any more into the city centre!

From 3 p.m., several small motorcades set off from Gasthausplatz and Liebfrauenplatz under the guidance of Dieter Niemann from Grenzland Classic to drive over the ramp in front of the historic town hall, where they were introduced to the interested public by expert presenter Georg Meyering. "We are delighted that so many classic cars found their way into the city centre of Bocholt. We would have liked to have done without the rain shower shortly before the end, which brought the event to an abrupt end, but it was still another successful and beautiful event", said Niemann.

Vintage fire engines and tractors in the new town
The Barlo tractor club and the Bocholt fire brigade provided the attractions in the south of the city centre: the interest group for the preservation of historical fire service technology in the Bocholt city fire brigade association set up the turntable ladder truck "Emma" and several other old emergency vehicles on Neutor-Platz. The Barlo tractor club set up numerous exhibits in front of the shopping arcades and a small tractor course was great fun for young visitors.
fun for the young visitors. "Nice tractors and lots going on - both here in the shopping arcades and in the city centre! " Heiko Wagner, centre manager of the arcades, was delighted.

Sunday open for business
The city buses were very busy, as were the bicycle stands. People thronged through the city centre streets and the shopping centres, as the afternoon attracted people to look at classic cars, stroll around, visit cafés, meet people and also go shopping: the shops were open from 1pm to 6pm to coincide with the classic car meeting. Ice-cream parlours and cafés were full to bursting. The ladies were often seen in the shops and the men in the classic cars: "This is how it should be - event and shopping complement each other, and with old cars it is of course a perfect match for the men in terms of interests," says Mechtild Hoffs from ISG Altstadt. "But the men are also happy to be served and advised in the shops!

All in all, a great spring Sunday for the whole family!