First Low German ambassador to Brandenburg: Neele Hübner from Prenzlau

First Low German ambassador to Brandenburg: Neele Hübner from Prenzlau

Prenzlau, Deutschland - On May 27, 2025, Brandenburg took a significant step towards promoting the Low German language by appointing a Low German ambassador for the first time. Neele Hübner, a 21-year-old cultural worker from Prenzlau in the Uckermark, was introduced to her volunteer work as part of a solemn event in the town hall of Culture Secretary Thomas Dünow. Her tasks are diverse: it will take care of the care of the Low German language, also known as Low German, and at the same time maintain contact with other Low German -speaking regions, such as the Prignitz and the Fläming.

The appointment is not only symbolic, but also practical. Hübner will represent Brandenburg in the Federal Council to promote the Low German language. It is an ambitious volunteer office that exists for five years. The importance of this appointment underlines Ute Eisenack, the deputy chair of the Brandenburg Association for Low German by noting that it is of crucial importance for the future of language. Hübner himself learned from her grandfather and school and also trained through lectures at the University of Greifswald.

inspiration and commitment

Hübner is not only committed in theory. She is currently working in the Prenzlauer Kulturzentrum Dominican monastery and has actively participated in Low German competitions. One of her remarkable achievements is the development of the Harry Potter Day "Plattdütsch in de Töwerschool", which promotes the interest of the younger generation in the Lower Saxony language. Their appointment also falls on the 150th birthday of the writer Max Lindow, who has campaigned for the Low German language throughout his life.

Low German is the only protected regional language in Germany and is spoken in a total of eight federal states, including Brandenburg. The majority of Brandenburg is traditionally part of the Low German language area. In order to ensure the protection and maintenance of the language, corresponding regulations were included in the Brandenburg constitution in 2022, and in 2024 the state parliament passed a Low German law that regulates the protection and promotion of language.

an example of the future

Another example of the commitment of young people in the care of the Low German language is Jette Bolz, 16 years old, from Siedenbrünzow. It was also appointed ambassador for Low German by the state government and shows that language is modern and alive. Bolz has already won the “Low German Word of the Year” competition twice and is actively committed to the preservation of Low German hours at their high school. Minister of Education Simone Oldenburg praises her commitment and emphasizes the importance of young ambassadors for the future of the Low German language.

In the past school year, 1,791 students learned at 51 schools in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while four schools act as profile high schools with a focus on the language. Bolz plans to take off her Abitur in Low German, which demonstrates her tireless efforts.

The appointments by Hübner and Bolz are a ray of hope for the Low German language and a sign that more and more young people are committed to preserving this important cultural heritage. A common effort that preserves both tradition and carries the language into the modern world.