A whimsical dance frozen in time. That is what the Radschläger – Kreismuster Sculpture embodies. It is more than just metal and form. It is a symbol of Düsseldorf itself.
The Düsseldorfer Radschläger is an emblem of this city. The tradition is that children cartwheel. It is considered Düsseldorf’s oldest custom. You will find the Radschläger symbol on many souvenirs. It also appears in Düsseldorf names.
But where did this tradition begin? Several stories surround the origin of the Düsseldorfer Radschläger. The most famous tale involves the Battle of Worringen. Count Adolf defeated the Archbishop of Cologne in 1288. Düsseldorf received city rights as a result of this victory. The story says that the people and children ran into the streets. They cartwheeled out of joy.
Another story tells of a wedding procession. A wheel broke on the wedding carriage. To prevent bad luck, a boy jumped to the carriage. He held the wheel becoming a living carriage wheel. It is debated whether this was Jan Wellem’s wedding to Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici. Another option is the wedding of Margravine Jacobe of Baden to Johann Wilhelm I.
There is another version of the wedding story from 1585. Margravine Jacobe of Baden was unhappy about her marriage. According to the story, the cartwheelers made her smile. They showed their skills next to her carriage.
At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, exhibitions drew travelers. The children found cartwheeling was a way to earn money. The middle class saw this as a local patriotic symbol. Initially, the kids would shout “f\u00f6r neene Penning”. This means “for a penny, I’ll cartwheel”. Later, they expected more money.
The area between the former Theresien Hospital and Düsselschlösschen was their stage. That is where the Düssel flows into the Rhine.
In 1945, the Jan-Wellem monument came back after the war. Cartwheeling boys accompanied the procession. There were also torches and fanfare.
The Radschläger appears on several fountains in the city. The Radschlägerbrunnen on Burgplatz is the most famous. Alfred Zschorsch created it in 1954. Hans Müller-Schlösser wrote the inscription. It says “Radschläger wolle mer blieve, wie jeck et de Minschen noch drieve”. This means “We want to remain cartwheelers, no matter how crazy people are”. Willi Hoselmann created a decorative vase around 1927. It shows the Radschläger motif on the Rhinepark Golzheim embankment wall. Many of the city’s manhole covers also feature it.
Professor Friedrich Becker created a well-known modern design in 1960. It is a minimalist Radschläger. First, it was a door knocker on the side entrance of the Lambertuskirche. Later, it was integrated into Düsseldorf’s insignia. This includes the Lord Mayor’s chain. In 1995, Becker created the Radschläger cube. This sculpture has six stylized cartwheelers.
The Radschläger-Kunst project took place in 2001. Over 100 Radschläger sculptures were created by artists. They were placed throughout the city. The sculptures are two meters high and wide. They have a depth of 30 centimeters. Private individuals and companies bought some sculptures. They are still visible in the cityscape.
The Alde Düsseldorfer Bürgergesellschaft has kept the tradition alive. They held the first Radschläger competition in 1937. Since 1971, it has been held annually in June. Since 2006, it has been on the Rheinwerft below the Old Town. It is a regular part of Düsseldorf’s event program. Over 500 boys and girls participate each year. The Radschläger tournament is a speed competition. There is also a style competition.
Max Kratz’s 36-meter-high “Pylon” stands in front of Düsseldorf Airport. It is commonly called Radschläger. The two diverging tips of the sculpture represent the legs of the Düsseldorfer Radschläger.
In 2022, a Radschläger sculpture based on Friedrich Becker’s design was installed. It is on the campus of the Hochschule Düsseldorf. Friedrich Becker was a professor at the Werkkunstschule Düsseldorf.
There have been copyright disputes over the form of Friedrich Becker’s Radschläger. The courts have ruled that other designs are sufficiently different.
The Radschläger motif is marketed as souvenirs and sweets. The Radschlägermarkt flea market is also named after them.
So, as you stand before the Radschläger – Kreismuster Sculpture. Remember the stories. Remember the history. Remember the children cartwheeling through the streets of Düsseldorf. It is a tradition that continues today.