The Bundesbüdchen: a cult kiosk
Built in 1957 and kidney-shaped, with a tiled base and a wide canopy: a (cult) kiosk in the middle of the UN and former government district in Bonn.
In this district, somewhat away from the city centre, there has never been many shops or restaurants, just a small row of kiosks for essentials during government times. But the most important newspapers were available at Jürgen Rasche’s kiosk, named after his mother, the long-time owner. This is where prominent politicians of the time, such as Joschka Fischer and Norbert Blüm, as well as employees of the surrounding federal institutions and journalists would meet for a coffee or a bratwurst. In this government district, the distances to offices and meetings or to the plenary hall were short on foot or by bicycle, and people liked to meet for personal exchanges in the absence of other options in the press club, in Villa Dahm or in the small bar under the substitute plenary hall on the banks of the Rhine. Or – as mentioned – for a quick exchange of information at the Büdchen.
With the relocation of the capital to Berlin in 1999, the Bundesbüdchen initially lost its importance and eventually had to make way for the new WCCB (World Conference Centre Bonn) building. At least the noble kiosk was saved by its listed status and stored in a freight yard. It remained a symbol for the people of Bonn of the city’s heyday as the seat of government, so a dedicated support association was eventually able to finance its restoration, and today we can enjoy this relic from the days of government, now located next to the World Conference Centre, where bread rolls, cakes and more are sold.
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