Alst is a
hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
of the City of
Horstmar
Horstmar is a German town, located in North Rhine-Westphalia in the Steinfurt district, approx. north-west of Münster.
History
Its castle was built as early as the 9th century; the first mention of Horstmar is as early as the early 11th centur ...
in the northwest of
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a States of Germany, state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more tha ...
, near
Münster
Münster (; nds, Mönster) is an independent city (''Kreisfreie Stadt'') in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a state distr ...
, Germany.
Location
Alst is located in the
district of Steinfurt, which is part of the region of
Münster
Münster (; nds, Mönster) is an independent city (''Kreisfreie Stadt'') in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a state distr ...
, near
Horstmar
Horstmar is a German town, located in North Rhine-Westphalia in the Steinfurt district, approx. north-west of Münster.
History
Its castle was built as early as the 9th century; the first mention of Horstmar is as early as the early 11th centur ...
. The distance to the northern district town
Steinfurt
Steinfurt (; Westphalian: ''Stemmert'') is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Steinfurt. From roughly 1100-1806, it was the capital of the County of Steinfurt.
Geography
Steinfurt is situated north- ...
is about eight kilometers, Münster in the south-east direction is about 30 kilometers away. The Dutch border with
Gronau in northwest is also about 30 km away.
History
Already in 1155 AD
the hamlet Alst is mentioned. Its name might be based on ''alahstedi'' (Old German for ''sanctuary site'') and ''Alstet'' (about 1319). The name 'Alst (Alahstedi)' indicates an early Germanic place of sacrifice. This was probably at the site of the present 'Alster Kreuz' (''Alst Cross''), where a few years ago the remains of a Christ Corpus of early Christian times were found between ancient oak roots.
But the story goes far back in time, of which no written records exist. The local historian Heinrich Börsting says: 'There is no doubt that the existence of Alst Castle 'Haus Alst' starts in the Saxon period and is far older than any other castles of Horstmar and Schagern.'. Many historians conclude this advanced age from the name 'Alst'.
The inhabitants of Alst were very early called ''half citizens of Horstmar''. Most likely this is due to the fact that the lords of Haus Alst were
Burgmann
From the 12th century in central Europe, a ''Burgmann'' (plural: ''Burgmannen'' or modern term ''Burgmänner'', Latin: ''oppidanus'', ''castrensus'') was a knight ministeriales or member of the nobility who was obliged to guard and defend castles. ...
s of Horstmar at the same time and were therefore obliged by the bishop to perform military service and to defend the castle of Horstmar. As sojourners they paid half taxes and citizens were obliged to guard and other services.
Festschrift
In academia, a ''Festschrift'' (; plural, ''Festschriften'' ) is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during their lifetime. It generally takes the form of an edited volume, containing contributions from the h ...
Schützenvereines Alst e.V. 300 Jahre (a local memorial publication)
Flag
The
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...
of Alst is horizontally striped in the colors green and white.
Culture and sights
Haus Alst
Haus Alst, first officially mentioned in 1217 AD, is a former house of a Burgmann and has been residence of the family
Schorlemer-Alst. It was built on the site of an older castle and built in the Renaissance style.
Friedenskapelle Alst
![Friedenskapelle Alst](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Friedenskapelle_Alst.JPG)
Information text, available in the chapel:
''The desire for peace, born of the horrors of two world wars, was the motive for the construction of this chapel. In many hours of self-performance the 260 residents of the hamlet Alst and some friends created the monument, which was inaugurated in 1967. 1988 donated the spouses Erich and Gabriele Büttner the crucifix in the middle of the front wall. The Cross is assisted by a statue of the Madonna—the Queen of Peace. The group of figures in between should tell us: 'Join hands to peace'. A stele on the left wall, built in 1985, depicts the Annunciation and the Nativity.''
[Parts of an information text, available in the chapel]
Schützenverein Alst e.V.
The first known documents about the
Schützenverein
A Schützenverein (German for "marksmen's club") is a local voluntary association found in German-speaking countries revolving around shooting as a sport, often target shooting to Olympic rules or with historic weapons. Although originating as a ...
Alst are from 1705 AD, after historians first assumed 1880 and 1830 as year of establishment. The first statutes of the association have been recorded on 11 February 1880 in five points. On November 1, 1983, four members of the Schützenverein created statues for registration at the District Court. The statues were ratified on November 12, 1983, on the Annual General Meeting of the association.
Since 1984 the Schützenverein Alst organizes a ''Tanz in den Mai'' (''Dance into May'') annually.
''(Slogan on the association's flag)''
People
*
Burghard Freiherr von Schorlemer-Alst
Burghard Freiherr von Schorlemer-Alst (26 October 1825, Heringhausen, Westphalia – 17 March 1895, Alst) was a Prussian parliamentarian for the Centre Party (Germany), Centre Party. , Politician (1825–1895)
* Maximilian-Friedrich von Droste zu Hülshoff (1764–1840), Composer, lived and dies on Haus Alst and was buried on the cemetery of Leer near Horstmar.
References
External links
Website of Schützenverein Alst
{{authority control
Villages in North Rhine-Westphalia