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Swimming protest: Berliners fight against 100 years of bathing ban!
On August 12, 2025, the second swimming demonstration against the 100-year ban on swimming in the Spree will take place in Berlin.
Swimming protest: Berliners fight against 100 years of bathing ban!
The Spree, this glittering watercourse in the heart of Berlin, could soon become the scene of lively summer days again - if the activists at Flussbad Berlin, equipped with water wings, have their way. A swim-along demo is planned for next Tuesday, August 12, 2025, which will campaign against the ban on swimming in the inner-city Spree that has existed for over 100 years. This campaign is intended to draw attention to the unused potential of water in the city and finally get the Berlin Senate to lift the ban.
The demonstration, which had its first edition in mid-June with over 400 participants, begins at 4:30 p.m. at Schinkelplatz near Museum Island. Speakers such as Prof. Katrin Androschin and Tim Edler from Flussbad Berlin as well as representatives of the parties Alliance 90/The Greens, The Left and the SPD are invited to present their perspectives. From 5:30 p.m., participants can go into the cool water, weather conditions and water quality permitting. Because safety comes first!
Call for creative participation
What is particularly exciting is the call to participants to get creative. Creative swimming outfits and individually designed posters are very welcome! A prize in the form of a printed wrap-around fish awaits the best poster and the most creative outfit. As if that weren't enough, it is also recommended that you register for the demo to stay up to date and support the organization.
The Flussbad Berlin association has been campaigning for the creation of bathing areas in the Spree for years and sees the demonstration as a further step towards climate justice. Active voices like that of Laura, an urban planning student, get the message across clearly: “The water in the city is not being used – we want to change that!” The untapped potential of the resource can be crucial in creating cooling opportunities in the city center, especially in the hot summer months.
The fight against the bathing ban is moving more and more people: According to reports, around 300 Berliners recently demonstrated and slipped into bathing suits in brilliant weather to reiterate their demands in front of the City Palace and the Berlin Cathedral. At the same time, ideas and proposed solutions are flourishing to make the water areas accessible to the population.
In a city as intertwined with history and culture as Berlin, the bathing ban is causing debate and ongoing frustration. With every demonstration the hope grows that these unused water areas will soon become accessible to everyone. “We have to bring the city back to the waterways!” said the activists. It remains to be seen whether the coming actions will find the desired response in the Senate.
Participating in the swim-along demo is not only an opportunity to advocate for fair water use, but also a call to all Berliners: Get involved, bring color into play and show that the Spree belongs to the city!
Flussbad Berlin provides information about the swim-along demo...