1) Our beer is called Kölsch and is served in much, much, much smaller glasses than in Bavaria. In some parts of this republic, Kölsch is not even recognized as a beer. But this is clearly „fake news“ from a Cologne perspective.

2) Kölsch is also the name of our language, which is more than just a Rhenish dialect. When it is spoken by the „ahl Lück“ (the older people of Cologne), it is almost as difficult to understand for the rest of the world as Scottish. When Kölsch (the beer) is added, it becomes even more difficult.

3) Cologne football fans are as famous for their good atmosphere as the Tartan Army. Only the quality on the pitch isn't always on par.

4) The anthem of our local football club 1. FC Köln has Scottish roots and is called „Loch Lomond“. The band Runrig, which you should know very well, is practically a regular at Cologne's largest concert hall with its Scottish version of „Loch Lomond“.

5) Another Cologne anthem, „Du bes die Stadt“ by Bläck Fööss, sounds also scottish. The melody comes from the song „Highland Cathedral“. Incidentally, we in Cologne also love our cathedral. A lot. If you haven't discovered it yet, just look up from the Fanzone at Heumarkt!

6) The bass player of one of Cologne's best-known bands wears a kilt at their gigs. According to reports, however, he wears something underneath. Click below for the Brings hit „Kölsche Jung“.

7) Anyone who spontaneously longs for home: There are Scottish Highland cattle in the Lindenthal zoo. For food and drink, there's the Scottish specialist shop in Cologne you and we trust. For other culinary delights, please read point 8.

8) Your haggis takes more than a little getting used to, but so does our Blootwoosch aka Flönz. Give it a try, the breweries in this city will be happy to advise you.

9) You dance Ceilidh, we Stippeföttche! In this case, you win the cup hands down in terms of complexity. Click here for a Stippeföttche impression (starts at 1 Minute).

10) Cologne is not „Düsseldorf South“ (and Gelsenkirchen is not Düsseldorf North) – please don't let the English tell you otherwise. But you know a lot more about crazy English people anyway.

11) The rivalry between the cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne is like the rivalry between Edinburgh and Glasgow: chicness vs. joie de vivre and (slightly ragged) nonchalance.

Very small Bier-Gläser

11 Dinge, die schottische Fußball-Fans dringend über Köln wissen sollten

Merken

General note: „Die Schotten sind dicht“ (Literal translation: „The Scots are wasted“) can be misunderstood as a figure of speech. Under no circumstances does it refer to drunken Scots – at least not exclusively! „Dicht“ means „wasted“ as well as „tight“/„closed“/„sealed“ in German. „Closing the Scots/Bulkheads“ means sealing the part of a leaking hull in such a way that the ship does not sink. And as for the former proposed meaning: the people of Cologne are known for their love of drinking, so they don't have any problem with accepting wasted Scots.