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Jürgen Rausch, who managed and operated the kiosk for 26 years, is delighted: “The Bundesbüdchen is a living monument and recalls the era of the Federal Republic when Bonn was the federal capital. The kiosk has been preserved in its original design, as was insured by the committed efforts of many people: the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz, the Nordrhein-Westfalen-Stiftung, the Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media, the city of Bonn, and private sponsors such as the present lease- holder Peter Maul."

The Bundesbüdchen Returns It was a wait of 14 years for the legendary Federal Kiosk to begin operating once again in the heart of Germany’s federal government district in Bonn. The day finally came on Friday, 21 August 2020, when the Friends of the Historic Kiosk celebrated its return together with former owner Jürgen Rausch and numerous guests.

For attorney Peter Storsberg, Chairman of the Friends of the Historic Kiosk association, the re-opening of the Bundesbüdchen is the beginning of a new chapter and the successful result of 14 years of hard work, stubborn argument, and concerted efforts. "A cliff-hanger of 14 years has now come to an end." He thanked everyone who made the reconstruction of the kiosk a success. Above all those who provided financial assistance, the sponsors, the involved construction firms, and the outgoing Chairman of the CDU caucus in the municipal council, Dr. Klaus Gilles, who helped cut the knot that blocked progress in connection with sub- surface construction. “With the Bundesbüdchen, Bonn has acquired a new landmark and a further highlight to attract tourists in the former government district".

That was echoed by Vice-Mayor Reinhard Limbach, who represented Bonn’s Mayor Ashok Sridheran at the ceremonies.

Dr. Stephan Eisel, Bonn’s former Member of the Bundestag and official on the staff of Helmut Kohl, played Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” at the reinstatement of the kiosk. A member of the Friends of the Historic Kiosk association, he refused to let the re-opening ceremonies take place without musical accompaniment. Eisel even composed a hymn in honor of the Bundesbüdchen.

Dr. Winands, Managing Director for the State Minister for Culture and Media, Professor Monika Grütters, pointed to the expanding UN campus and suggested “UN-Büdchen” as a possible variant for the Bundesbüdchen.

The next speakers, such as Dr. Steffen Skudelny, Chairman of the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz and Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Erdmann, Chairman of the Nordrhein Westfalen Stiftung, reminded those in attendance of the former kiosk’s important function as information bourse and informal venue for a dialogue between politicians, journalists, and citizens, absent any partisan political divisiveness or social barriers.

As virtually the first supporter, the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz lent a helping hand for the Bundesbüdchen and, despite the thorny path leading to the re-opening, stayed the course. Without the NRW-Stiftung, the complex sub-surface construction measures would not have been conceivable, despite grants by the city of Bonn and the work of BonnNetz. Both supporters presented the Friends of the Historic Kiosk with plaques of their institutions which, after consultation with the historical monument authorities, are to be affixed to the kiosk.

Among the numerous guests at the opening ceremonies were some 70 persons, despite Covid-Corona restrictions. They included Prof. Ulrich Kelber, German Commissioner for Data Protection and Information Freedom and Bonn’s former Member of the Bundestag, as well as two contemporary witnesses – to the surprise of the Friends association.

Architect Günther Peters helped draft the blueprints for the original Bundesbüdchen: in 1957 he had just passed his examinations and begun to work at one of Bonn’s architectural firms. A surprising and delightful encounter – Günther Peters, an architect from the first days of the kiosk, and Bonn architect Christof Pfeifer who directed the re-erection of the Bundesbüdchen.

The oldest person in attendance at the ceremonies was likely to have been Richard Kögler, age 94. From 1954 to 1991 he worked at the Bundesrat and often met politicians such as Wolfgang Schäuble at the kiosk when purchasing their morning sandwich at the kiosk.

Bettina Adenauer-Bieberstein also did not want to miss the occasion for celebrating the return of the Bundesbüdchen; her grandfather Konrad Adenauer was one of the renowned politicians who was guest at the kiosk back in the day. Heinrich Böll was said to have written: "At the Bundesbüdchen you could inhale the Catholic air of the Adenauer era.“

Bakery Master Peter Mauel, who holds the lease for operating the “new” Bundesbüdchen, set a special accent at the official opening of the Federal Kiosk with the cutting of a cake in the form of the kiosk, that he had baked especially for the event.

The kiosk is open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 6 pm; operations were begun on 24 August.

picture: Jürgen Schulz

Fotos: Jürgen Schulz

News

Jürgen Rausch, who managed and operated the kiosk for 26 years, is delighted: “The Bundesbüdchen is a living monument and recalls the era of the Federal Republic when Bonn was the federal capital. The kiosk has been preserved in its original design, as was insured by the committed efforts of many people: the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz, the Nordrhein- Westfalen-Stiftung, the Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media, the city of Bonn, and private sponsors such as the present lease-holder Peter Maul."

pictures: Jürgen Schulz

For attorney Peter Storsberg, Chairman of the Friends of the Historic Kiosk association, the re-opening of the Bundesbüdchen is the beginning of a new chapter and the successful result of 14 years of hard work, stubborn argument, and concerted efforts. "A cliff- hanger of 14 years has now come to an end." He thanked everyone who made the reconstruction of the kiosk a success. Above all those who provided financial assistance, the sponsors, the involved construction firms, and the outgoing Chairman of the CDU caucus in the municipal council, Dr. Klaus Gilles, who helped cut the knot that blocked progress in connection with sub-surface construction. “With the Bundesbüdchen, Bonn has acquired a new landmark and a further highlight to attract tourists in the former government district".

picture: Jürgen Schulz

That was echoed by Vice-Mayor Reinhard Limbach, who represented Bonn’s Mayor Ashok Sridheran at the ceremonies.

picture: Jürgen Schulz

Dr. Stephan Eisel, Bonn’s former Member of the Bundestag and official on the staff of Helmut Kohl, played Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” at the reinstatement of the kiosk. A member of the Friends of the Historic Kiosk association, he refused to let the re- opening ceremonies take place without musical accompaniment. Eisel even composed a hymn in honor of the Bundesbüdchen.

picture: Jürgen Schulz