BMT Camp Rules

The approval of the camps for the Burgmannen-Tage takes place via an application procedure in advance. After selection and approval, we expect appropriate implementation within the framework conditions on site. A check will be carried out at the market within the framework of an appearance check. At the same time, there will be the A-Schnack as an open, cosy round which serves to clarify questions and exchange suggestions.

At the Burgmannen-Tagen, once you have applied, there will be a preliminary check by the Museum and Heydenwall to see if you could fit into our event. Here we always give new groups and inexperienced people a chance. In case of rejection, we also report back the reasons for our decision. All decisions are made at the discretion of the organising team and are arbitrary in this sense, but are based on established rules. Decisions are made solely for the purpose of shaping the event as a whole. In your application, you should show us that your representation and your equipment are based on historical models (pictorial and textual sources as well as archaeological finds from the period represented) and are made of historically documented materials. To do this, you send us illustrative material with which you present your representation, with evidence of the equipment and clothing. The material can be sent by e-mail or by post.

We expect those admitted to the event to independently realise a presentation with the awareness that they are participating in a museum event. For us, this means that you have your own high standards for your presentation, both in terms of your stock and your personal equipment. In addition, you show a willingness to have positive and active contact with the audience. We are particularly pleased if the camp remains as authentic as possible even outside opening hours, and we will give preference in applications to those who give us this pleasure and contribute to the atmosphere.

If we find that this requirement for the event is not fulfilled in our sense, we will give you concrete advice on how to improve this and within what framework we expect this to happen. Should we not be able to agree directly, we will make a note of this for next year's application and hope that we can come to an agreement by then.

We offer the A-Schnack forum on site to help you improve your presentation. In addition, we are willing to exchange ideas with you in advance and afterwards on how camps and displays can be set up and improved. However, please bear in mind that we also have limited capacities. We will also be happy to help you with questions on how to address the audience.

Although the entire event is multi-period, the individual representations (both persons and camps) should be consistent and coherent. This means concretely:

• limited in time
• locally determined
• corresponding to the social roles/statuses
• according to the culture

We want good bearings and representations that are appropriate to the context of a museum and aligned with the current state of research. We are aware that these are ambitious goals, which cannot be achieved by hobbyists alone and which are not achieved by every museum. It is precisely against this background that we want to formulate our longer-term hopes and wishes in order to ensure that we are on a common path. We also want to walk this path together insofar as we, as the shapers of this market, are also always on a path. We think that concepts like the A-Schnack promote positive, communal cooperation and look forward to good exchange among the groups.

Concrete wishes, hopes and goals:

• General.
  • Representations, which independently gradually tighten up the framework we have set for ourselves.
  • More regional representations (preferably with reference to Vechta)
  • Representations that do not exceed a time frame of 30 years (fixed rule from 2025)
  • Camps that represent a historical community or a historical social context.
• Social.
  • An overall picture of lived representation and experiential history.
  • Performers who engage in an active dialogue with the visitor, keeping history education and historical culture in mind.
  • presenters who are aware of the context of their presentation and who can explain developments before, after and in parallel with their presentation
  • open camps, who are willing to interact with the audience
• Persons
  • clothing
    • historical colours in appropriate contexts and combinations
    • Clothing made of historical materials (wool, linen, silk) in the appropriate weave for the garment.
    • „You shall not wear any fabric in which wool and linen are mixed.“ (5th Book of Moses: (22, 11).)
    • all seams with matching stitches and hemming.
    • reversible sewn shoes for the respective epochs.
  • combat and everyday life
    • depictions that do not alternate between combat and civilian life depictions.
    • depictions of the simple and lower classes, servant roles and slavery
  • Body changes
    • Dirty people with the impurities of their everyday craft and life
    • Historical hairstyles (braiding …)
• camp image
  • Tents and the trappings
    • Overall images such as the merchant with his trade goods and his family, the master craftswoman and her journeymen, the sergeant with his unit and the troop, the ministerial with his servants.
    • Sparing use of furniture in tents and camps not filled with household goods. (This applies especially to the period before the 11th century).
    • More tents that are open
    • lighting with more valley lamps, some oil lamps, few candles
  • kitchen utensils, crockery and tools.
    • less metal, more clay and earthenware in the kitchen display
    • More wooden tableware (mugs)
    • Historical crafts
• Food
  • Preparation of food that fits into the period depicted.
• Sale goods
  • Clear distinction between historical and modern, historicising goods (the latter are only allowed to a limited extent anyway)
  • Handouts on places where the goods were found (package inserts)

We would be pleased to see comparable items in the warehouses of the Burgmannen-Tagen. You can find them at this link: Example camps