Open-air swimming pools in Thuringia close: Protest against cuts on October 30th!

Open-air swimming pools in Thuringia close: Protest against cuts on October 30th!

Against the background of acute financial problems, many outdoor swimming pools in Thuringia will close their doors on Thursday, October 30, 2025 as a sign of protest against the cuts in state funding. This is a clear message from pool operators, who find themselves in an increasingly precarious situation. In the Ilm district, the reaction to this crisis is mixed: While the swimming pool in Ilmenau remains open, the “Am Wollmarkt” sports and leisure pool in Arnstadt and some other facilities are closing. However, it remains open for exceptions such as school swimming. Pool manager Anette Engel-Adlung recorded a video to promote understanding for the closure, as the day of protest is planned in front of the Thuringian state parliament. This reports in southern Thuringia.

The reasons for this protest are varied. The political and economic conditions for Thuringia's swimming pools are particularly tense. For many companies, the sharp increase in personnel and energy costs is an overwhelming problem that leads to the threat of closures. According to a resolution signed by representatives from politics, municipalities and associations from Thuringia, they are demanding 30 million euros annually from the Thuringian double budget 2026/2027 in order to stop the decline of the pools. The signatories also reiterate the need for a “hardship fund” to avert the impending closure of indoor swimming pools. This is done by the n-tv.

The future of Thuringian swimming pools

The situation is forcing the state government to think about the future of the Thuringian spas. Schenk, a key player in the discussion, emphasizes the importance of a new state pool concept for 2040 in order to develop clear criteria for eligibility. In this context, a particular focus is placed on locations that enable school swimming, club sports and rehabilitation services. This is important because Lutz Thieme from the Koblenz University of Applied Sciences has dealt intensively with the pool landscape in Thuringia and calls for intelligent management of pool funding. He criticizes the flat-rate subsidies, which do not meet the needs of the pools. In this way, a sustainable solution could be found that helps swimming pools to survive in the long term, rather than providing selective support that would plug short-term holes. This reports MDR.

Another point that deserves attention is the urgency of integrating school swimming into everyday primary school life and also taking into account the distance to the nearest swimming pool. The CDU district administrator Christian Herrgott recently pointed out that indoor swimming pools are essential to enable school children to swim. Financial support has been cut to zero, seen by many as a disastrous decision. In order to improve the situation, clear and long-term financing is required that takes current and future challenges into account. The need for viable future concepts for pool operators is undisputed and is addressed in political discussions.