Quickborn Vereinigung für niederdeutsche Sprache und Literatur e. V.

The Quickborn Vereinigung für niederdeutsche Sprache und Literatur e. V. is a German literary society based in Hamburg dedicated to the cultivation, promotion and scholarly study of Low German (Plattdeutsch) language and literature. It was founded on 17 February 1904 on the initiative of the Hamburg school official Adolf Stuhlmann under the name "Freie Vereinigung von Freunden der Niederdeutschen Sprache und Literatur"; from 1906 it adopted the name Quickborn. The association emerged from the educated-bourgeois Heimatkunst movement and has remained active for more than a century. The society's core activity is publishing: since 1907 it has issued its journal four times a year, originally as Mitteilungen aus dem Quickborn and from 1968 as Quickborn – Zeitschrift für plattdeutsche Sprache und Dichtung. In 1993 it merged with the journal Plattdüütsch Land un Waterkant (published since 1915) to form Quickborn – Zeitschrift für plattdeutsche Sprache und Literatur. The association also long operated the Quickborn-Verlag publishing house. In addition to its journal, it organizes lectures, readings and gatherings, and since 1977 it has explicitly included scientific research on Low German among its goals. Quickborn is also known for the Quickborn-Preis, awarded together with the savings banks (Sparkassen) in Lower Saxony; the 2026 prize went to Rolf Zuckowski. The association is led by a chairperson; Rolf-Dieter Klooß has held the office since 2012, succeeding Dirk Römmer (1997–2012). Its historical chairs include Paul Wriede (1908–1926) and Friedrich W. Michelsen (1965–1968 and 1970–1977). The society maintains an archive documenting its long history and continues to publish and promote Low German literature and language in northern Germany.

The Quickborn Vereinigung für niederdeutsche Sprache und Literatur e. V. was founded on 17 February 1904 in Hamburg on the initiative of Adolf Stuhlmann, a Hamburg school official (Schulrat). It was initially named "Freie Vereinigung von Freunden der Niederdeutschen Sprache und Literatur" and from 1906 bore the name "Quickborn, Vereinigung von Freunden der niederdeutschen Sprache und Literatur". The association was an institution of the Heimatkunst movement, carried by educated-bourgeois consciousness, and its declared goal was and remains the "cultivation of Low German language and literature". Since 1977 it has also explicitly taken on scientific research in this field. Before the First World War, its members held 164 gatherings, most of which were working meetings at which lectures and talks on linguistic, folkloric and literary topics were given from within their circle. The writer Gorch Fock, who was active on the association's board for several years, presented his first Low German story at one of these evenings. Public events with numerous participants brought the association many new members and raised the prestige of Plattdeutsch, especially in Hamburg. These events commemorated the early-deceased Low German dramatist Fritz Stavenhagen (1876–1906), the founder of modern Low German literature Klaus Groth (1819–1899), the even better-known "classic" of this literature Fritz Reuter (1810–1874), his compatriot the narrator and poet John Brinckman (1814–1870), and the Holstein writer Johann Hinrich Fehrs (1838–1916), who was an honorary member of the association. From 1908 the chairman and actual driving force was Paul Wriede, who until his death in 1926, with skill, commercial foresight and commitment, led the association and the two [institutions] he founded. Since 1907 the association has published its journal four times a year, originally as Mitteilungen aus dem Quickborn with essays, reviews, reports and news. From 1968 it was called Quickborn – Zeitschrift für plattdeutsche Sprache und Dichtung. The journal Plattdüütsch Land un Waterkant appeared twice a year from 1915. In 1993 the two were merged into Quickborn – Zeitschrift für plattdeutsche Sprache und Literatur. The association also long operated the Quickborn-Verlag publishing house. Together with the savings banks (Sparkassen) in Lower Saxony, Quickborn awards the Quickborn-Preis. Chairpersons have included Paul Wriede (1908–1926), Friedrich W. Michelsen (1965–1968 and 1970–1977), Dirk Römmer (1997–2012) and, since 2012, Rolf-Dieter Klooß. A centenary commemorative volume, "100 Jahre Quickborn, Vereinigung für niederdeutsche Sprache und Literatur e.V. Hamburg. Festschrift", edited by Friedrich W. Michelsen, Wolfgang Müns and Dirk Römmer with the collaboration of Jürgen Meier, was published by Quickborn-Verlag in Hamburg in 2004 (ISBN 3-87651-283-2). The association maintains an archive that documents its long history and continues to publish and promote Low German language and literature.

• 2026

  Quickborn-Preis awarded to Rolf Zuckowski; issue 2/2026 of the journal published.

• 2012

  Rolf-Dieter Klooß became chairperson, succeeding Dirk Römmer.

• 2004

  Published a centenary commemorative volume (Festschrift) edited by Friedrich W. Michelsen, Wolfgang Müns and Dirk Römmer.

• 1993

  Merged Plattdüütsch Land un Waterkant with Quickborn to form Quickborn – Zeitschrift für plattdeutsche Sprache und Literatur.

• 1977

  Scientific research on Low German was explicitly added to the association's goals.

• 1968

  The journal was renamed Quickborn – Zeitschrift für plattdeutsche Sprache und Dichtung.

• 1915

  The journal Plattdüütsch Land un Waterkant began publication twice a year.

• 1908

  Paul Wriede became chairman, serving until his death in 1926.

• 1907

  Began publishing its journal four times a year, initially as Mitteilungen aus dem Quickborn.

• 1906

  Adopted the name "Quickborn, Vereinigung von Freunden der niederdeutschen Sprache und Literatur".

• 1904

  Founded on 17 February in Hamburg on the initiative of Adolf Stuhlmann as "Freie Vereinigung von Freunden der Niederdeutschen Sprache und Literatur".

A long-established literary society and publisher dedicated to preserving and promoting Low German language and literature, with a scholarly and cultural mission.

• Quickborn – Zeitschrift für plattdeutsche Sprache und Literatur

  Quarterly journal publishing Low German literature, essays, reviews and news from the Low German world.

• Quickborn-Verlag

  Publishing house long operated by the association.

• Quickborn-Preis

  Award given together with the savings banks in Lower Saxony.

1. 1Quickborn – Vereinigung für niederdeutsche Sprache und Literatur e. V. (official website)quickborn-vereinigung.de
2. 2Die Entstehungsgeschichte der Vereinigung – Quickbornquickborn-vereinigung.de
3. 3Quickborn Vereinigung für niederdeutsche Sprache und Literatur e. V. – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Hamborger Quickborn – Wikipedia (Low German)nds.wikipedia.org