Awarding the Freiherr-vom-Stein plaque to municipalities / cities

The Freiherr-vom Stein plaque is awarded on application.
The application must be accompanied by a current statement from the Hessian State Archives with regional responsibility for the municipality.

• The municipality must look back on a 750-year or more anniversary and celebrate the historic event in a festive setting.
• In the case of anniversaries of the granting of city rights, shorter periods (600 years) are also considered sufficient if the city has already existed for at least 750 years.
• The plaque is awarded when the anniversary number is divisible by 25.

• The application for the award of the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Plakette.
• The documentary evidence of the jubilee age is provided by submitting a current statement from the Hessian State Archives, which is regionally responsible for the municipality. The expert opinion of the historical records should be obtained at an early stage, namely before the anniversary to be celebrated is calendared.
• Festive programme

There are no fees.

The application shall be submitted at the latest two months before the anniversary date (ceremony) together with the documentary evidence of the anniversary age and the celebration programme.

Municipalities intending to submit an application shall notify the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sport directly in advance by 30 November of the previous year, stating the intended date of the anniversary celebrations.

4-6 weeks.

Decree of the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sport of 28 September 2016 - IV 13 - 14 f 06-04(StAnz. 42/2016, p.1071)

• Decree of the Hessian Ministry of the Interior, Security and Homeland Security of 15 March 2024 - IV 13 - 14 f 06-04 (StAnz. 15/2024, p. 390)

If the Freiherr-vom-Stein plaque can no longer be awarded to a municipality on the occasion of a local district anniversary, the Freiherr-vom-Stein certificate of honour may be awarded in its place.

• Freiherr-vom-Stein Certificate of Honour

• Application procedure for the Freiherr von Stein plaque or certificate of honour