North Rhine-Westphalia

Schöppenstedt – October 27, 2026 -- The folk band Bierschmeichler plays parts of its live sets directly among the audience at medieval markets and folk festivals, including events in North Rhine-Westphalia. What looks spontaneous is backed by a planned setlist.

Acoustic instruments put the music inside the crowd

At a classic concert, the edge of the stage separates musicians from visitors. At medieval markets, Bierschmeichler removes that line. Because the band plays acoustic instruments, the sound does not come only from loudspeakers but arises right among the listeners.

The effect is strongest on singalong choruses: people who hear voices next to them are more likely to join in. The musicians also see immediately how the crowd reacts to each song. For Caspar Bierschmeichler, this give-and-take is part of the character of tavern folk.

Cologne – September 11, 2026 -- German broadcaster WDR has produced a second batch of 1,000 free "Maus" school-start packages for first-grade classrooms in North Rhine-Westphalia after the initial run sold out within days.

The free kits, tied to the long-running children's show Die Sendung mit der Maus, are designed to ease the transition into elementary school and introduce young children to responsible media use.

Demand exhausted two full print runs in days

The first 1,000 packages were claimed by teachers almost immediately after launch. WDR responded by printing 1,000 more, but those were also fully requested by educators shortly after.

WDR Director General Dr. Katrin Vernau said the response shows strong demand for reliable, child-friendly educational materials, and that the broadcaster plans to expand the program further in 2027.

Cologne – September 7, 2026 -- Roughly 170,000 children in North Rhine-Westphalia are starting school this year, and German broadcaster WDR is rolling out a package of free educational content through its long-running children's brand "Die Maus" to help them adjust.

The Maus website offers school-starter materials in six languages

Parents and teachers can access craft activities, puzzles, coloring pages, and ABC letter-learning films on the Maus website in German, Turkish, Polish, Ukrainian, Arabic, and Russian. A feature called "Maus-Schul-Weltreise" shows how children attend school in other countries, while a series of factual segments answers everyday questions about school life.