Borkum’s Klaasohm Festival Reforms After Years of Violent Assaults

A notorious festival tradition is gone—but can new rules truly protect women? Locals and officials weigh in after a scandal-rocked year.

, and Administrator

2025 November 30 . 1:16 PM

1 min read

In the image there is a cow and it looks like a sculpture, behind the cow there is a man and there... — In the image there is a cow and it looks like a sculpture, behind the cow there is a man and there are a lot of flowers around the sculpture, on the right side there are few people and they are standing beside a temple and in the background there are trees.

No more hitting with cow horns at Klaasohm on Borkum - Borkum’s Klaasohm Festival Reforms After Years of Violent Assaults

The 2024 Klaasohm festival on the island of Borkum took place without major disturbances, according to local authorities. This year’s event followed months of controversy after a 2024 investigative report exposed violent assaults on women during past celebrations. Organisers and officials had introduced stricter safety measures to prevent further incidents.

The festival came under scrutiny in early 2024 when ARD’s Panorama programme revealed a long-standing tradition of men striking women with cow horns. The report also detailed accounts of aggressive assaults, leading to public outrage. After the broadcast, police received 25 complaints of grievous bodily harm, along with allegations of official obstruction of justice.

The 2024 Klaasohm festival marks a shift from previous years, with organisers and police enforcing stricter controls. The abolition of the cow horn tradition and the introduction of safety zones reflect efforts to address past violence. Authorities have stated their intention to maintain these changes for future events.