Award of the Freiherr-vom-Stein Certificate of Honour to municipalities / cities

  • Performance specification

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

  • Process flow

    The Freiherr-vom-Stein certificate of honour is awarded on application.

    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.

  • Requirements

    • 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 certificate of honour is awarded when the anniversary number is divisible by 25.
  • Which documents are required?

    • The application for the award of the Freiherr-vom-Stein Certificate of Honour.
    • 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.
    • Festival programme.
  • What are the fees?

    There are no fees.

  • What deadlines do I have to observe?

    The application must be submitted at least two months before the anniversary date (ceremony).

    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.

  • Processing time

    4-6 weeks.

  • Legal basis

  • Applications / Forms


Who do I need to contact?

Hessian Ministry of the Interior, for Security and Homeland Defence

Responsible departments