Ongoing Controversy in Berlin: Decision over Allowing Swimming in the Spree River
The Spreekanal, a side-channel of the Spree River in Berlin, has been off-limits for public swimming for almost a century. However, recent developments suggest that this could change in the near future.
Despite the ban, there is a growing public demand and activism to restore the right to swim in the Spreekanal. One of the key advocates for this cause is Flussbad eV, a group that has been fighting for years to bring public bathing back to the Spreekanal.
Recent proposals and projects indicate that some parts of the Spreekanal are slated for cleaning and opening to swimmers. This is part of a broader cultural or recreational events and urban renewal efforts in 2025. As of mid-2025, no complete official lifting of the swimming ban across the entire Spreekanal has been announced; the changes seem to be limited to specific sections pending cleanup and safety assurance.
The water quality in the Spreekanal is better than initially thought, but it can still exceed acceptable bacteria levels after heavy rains. To address this, Flussbad partnered with the Berlin Centre of Competence for Water (KWB) to create a model that generates real-time estimates of water quality conditions in the Spreekanal.
The group, led by Jan and Tim Edler, has been interested in swimming in the Spree since the late 1990s. Their passion and determination paid off in 2011 when they won a prestigious international sustainable architecture award, attracting attention from local politicians.
Paris, for example, plans to open three public swimming spots along the Seine this year, and Berlin city councilor Ephraim Gothe believes that Berlin should be able to do the same.
However, their efforts have not been without challenges. On May 20, Flussbad called for a demonstration to protest 100 years of being denied the right to swim in the river, but it was forbidden by Berlin's water police. Despite this setback, the demonstration was rescheduled for June 17, and hundreds showed up to take a dip in the river, despite safety concerns raised by the water police.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the city of Berlin has included funding for the construction of a pilot bathing spot along the Spreekanal in next year's urban development budget. This could mark a significant step towards bringing public swimming back to central Berlin.
[1] [Article 1 Link] [2] [Article 2 Link] [3] [Article 3 Link] [4] [Article 4 Link] [5] [Article 5 Link]
[1] The activist group Flussbad eV, which aims to bring public bathing back to the Spreekanal, has partnered with the Berlin Centre of Competence for Water (KWB) to improve the home-and-garden environment of the river by generating real-time estimates of its water quality.
[2] As urban renewal efforts continue in 2025, some sections of the Spreekanal could be transformed into lifestyle destinations, with proposals suggesting the inclusion of recreational and cultural events as part of this urban development.
