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Local Germany
14-04-2025
- Climate
- Local Germany
Will Germany's Easter bonfires be cancelled this year due to drought?
Europe's hottest March on record , on top of a very dry start to the year, has left German farmlands and forest particularly dry and increased the risk of wildfires. On Saturday, firefighters were busy fighting fires in western regions, such as one southwest of Dortmund that burned around 20 square kilometres. Now Easter bonfires may need to be called off in many parts of the country, unless there are sizable rain showers before then. "Easter fires can be prohibited from warning level 4 in the event of a high risk of forest fires," says the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND). When vegetation in forests and grasslands are too dry, there is a high risk that flying sparks from a fire could trigger a larger wildfire. Where could Easter bonfires be cancelled? In many parts of Germany Easter bonfires, or Osterfeuer, are intended to welcome spring and symbolically drive away winter, and have been part of the holiday tradition that dates back to pre-Christian times. For many, the Easter fire is a highlight around this time of year. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold Today, larger fires hosted by various municipalities are registered with the local authorities or specially approved. This year a final decision is still pending in some places. Authorities will make their decision based on whether it rains in the coming days. READ ALSO: What's on over the Easter holidays in Germany in 2025 DPA reported over the weekend that a number of municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia are discussing whether the fires can take place this year. In several districts, such as in the Sauerland, the public order offices are in contact with the fire department. "Unless weather conditions change significantly in the coming week and noticeable rainfall is recorded, the three municipalities of Bad Berleburg, Bad Laasphe and Erndtebrück will have to prohibit the Easter fires from a risk point of view," the city of Bad Berleburg in southeastern Westphalia has announced. Advertisement In the state of Brandenburg, the fire brigade association does not consider a blanket ban to be appropriate - but have warned people to take caution. "No one wants an Easter bonfire to turn into an Easter fire," said Frank Kliem, vice-president of the state's fire brigade association. The Federal Environment Agency estimates that between 10,000 and 20,000 Easter fires are lit each year in Germany. READ ALSO: Drought prompts rethink for ancient trees at Potsdam's Sanssouci palace Showers forecast in the coming days Germany's weather service (DWD) confirms that this past March was one of the driest since records began. So far, April has continued in the same vein, but weather experts predict this could change later this week. Starting from Tuesday or Wednesday, DWD predicts that western Germany will see a spell of wet, rainy weather. Advertisement According to forecasts, there will likely be some regional showers ahead of the holiday weekend. Rain showers certainly increase the likelihood of Easter bonfires going forward, as immediate fire warning levels would go down. However, it would take significantly more rain than has been predicted to put an end to the current drought conditions in the country, which have also affected shipping lanes along the Rhine River. READ ALSO: ' Denial of reality' - Is Germany's future government ignoring the threat of climate change? With reporting by DPA.
Local Germany
07-04-2025
- Local Germany
REVEALED: Where travel on Deutsche Bahn will be disrupted this April
Travellers planning to pass through southwestern Germany around the Easter holiday, especially from April 18th to the 27th, can expect serious disruptions in both long-distance and regional rail services due to construction work on the Rhine Valley Railway ( Rheintalbahn ). Some trains will be cancelled, while timetable changes and diversions are planned for others. On some routes travellers will need to use replacement buses. Sleeper train operator NightJet also recently announced a number of cancellations in the area from April 14th to the 28th, citing Deutsche Bahn (DB) construction 'announced at short notice'. Here are the major construction disruptions expected to impact train travel in the Rhine Valley and elsewhere Germany over the Easter holiday period. How will work on the Rheintalbahn affect long-distance passengers? DB is adding new tracks and switches as part of a long-term railway upgrade in the Rhine region, and the work appears to be entering a new chapter just in time to disrupt travel over the Easter holiday. READ ALSO: Why rail travellers in western Germany face 80 weeks of disruption From Good Friday (April 18th) intensive work will commence between Karlsruhe and Rastatt, at Rastatt station, and between Denzlingen and Freiburg. Long-distance trains have not stopped in Offenburg since the end of March due to related work. Advertisement The approximately 200-kilometre-long route through this region is among the most important north-south connections in Europe, so international rail travellers passing through Germany will also be affected during construction periods. Long-distance trains affected include those coming south from Baden-Baden and sometimes from Karlsruhe are affected. Passengers headed to Freiburg or Switzerland will need to change to DB's replacement buses. From Freiburg, long-distance trains pick up again going toward Switzerland. READ ALSO: Where can you go by direct night train from Stuttgart? Track work was previously carried out on the 'Riedbahn' main railway line between Mannheim and Frankfurt. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold ICE trains on the Hamburg-Dortmund-Cologne-Karlsruhe-Basel connection will only run as far as Karlsruhe. How will the Rheintalbahn work affect local transport? Between Karlsruhe, Rastatt and Baden-Baden, only one track will be available in some places, which will significantly impact some local connections. The section between Rastatt and Baden-Baden will be fully closed for 24 hours starting April 22nd from 10:00 pm. The route via Ettlingen will be paused for the entire duration of the renovation work. Advertisement Also travel is limited to one track between Müllheim and Basel - resulting in timetable changes. DB will deploy over 100 replacement buses on affected routes. Passengers should be aware that bicycles are not allowed on the replacement buses. DB says that more serious restrictions can be expected during nighttime hours, from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am. READ ALSO: How to navigate roads and trains in Germany over the Easter holidays Other major DB closures in April Trains between Erfurt and Nuremberg, as well as between Nuremberg and Munich, are subject to partial cancellations and diversions from April 5th to the 25th. From the 12th until the 20th stops in Coburg, Bamberg and Erlangen will be cancelled. From the 11th to the 21st, trains connecting Hamburg and Berlin to Nuremberg and Munich will take an extra 105 minutes due to diversions. The ICE/IC route from Berlin to Stralsund in the north will see diversions and stop cancellations from April 11th until May 30th. Stops in Eberswalde, Angermünde, Prenzlau, Pasewalk, Anklam, Züssow and Greifswald will be cancelled, and one replacement stop in Neustrelitz will be added. Passengers arrive at Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Annette Riedl Diversions and stop cancellations will also affect the Frankfurt to Fulda connection from April 17th until May 2nd. READ ALSO: Where Berliners are facing travel disruptions this spring Stops in Wabern, Treysa, Marburg, Gießen, Friedberg, Wiesloch-Walldorf will be cancelled during this time, and trains running over this track – including on the Frankfurt, Erfurt, Berlin/Dresden axis – will run less often. For more information on upcoming DB construction projects, you can check DB's website .
Local Germany
31-03-2025
- Health
- Local Germany
Wild garlic and nettles: The spring herbs to forage for in Germany
We all recognise the appearance of spring flowers as a promise of brighter, warmer days to come. But for some seasonal chefs and nature lovers, it's also a reminder to get outside and take advantage of the freshly sprouted treats that are freely found in nature. Foraging, or seeking out and harvesting wild edibles, is a beloved tradition among German epicureans and outdoor enthusiasts alike. In the autumn, you'll hear more about Pilzsämmler , or mushroom collectors, and in the summer there are various fruits and berries to be found. But in the spring, nature's bounty comes mostly in the form of leafy greens and wild herbs. From edible weeds popping up in your front yard (or the nearest grassy field) to wild herbs that you'll have to hike around a bit to find, here are some of the spring greens that Germans like to forage and eat at this time of year. Dandelions ( Löwenzahn ) You might see a dozen dandelions every day, but did you know they're one of the most nutrient dense greens you can eat? Every part of the dandelion plant is edible, and it's a particularly good source of iron, calcium, manganese, potassium, carotenes, and inulin. Dandelion is also said to be good for promoting healthy liver function. Among the easiest ways to consume dandelion is to harvest the leaves and sauté them with some oil and garlic. You can also eat them fresh in a salad or on a sandwich, but you can expect them to have a bit of a bitter kick when eaten raw. Spring is the best time to harvest dandelion leaves as the fresh leaves are more tender and a bit less bitter. READ ALSO: Seven signs that spring has arrived in Germany If you're feeling a bit more ambitious you can dig up dandelion root, to be roasted and eaten like a carrot or used for tea. Dandelion flowers can also be boiled down to make a flavoured syrup. Or, adventurous home-brewers may want to try their hand at making dandelion wine. Here are some dandelion recipes to get you started. Stinging nettle is seen on the side of a path. New-growth leaves can be harvested for salads or making tea. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold Stinging nettle ( Brennnessel ) Casual tea drinkers in Germany will have likely come across Brennesseltee, or stinging nettle tea, in the market aisles. But to level-up, you could try harvesting your own nettle leaves in a field or forest area nearby. Advertisement READ ALSO: Herbal tea and sick leave - An American's ode to the German attitude towards health Nettle leaves can also be eaten, after being eaten or dried, and are a great source of iron as well as A, C, K and B vitamins. They're also thought to help detoxify the body and have anti-inflammatory effects. Of course, as the English name warns, they can deliver a sting if they come in contact with your skin. So sensitive foragers may want to wear gloves and long sleeves when foraging. Otherwise you'll want to carefully grab the leaves only with your finger tips to try and avoid the sting. (That said, there is some evidence that the sting itself also has medicinal effects.) Once the leaves have been boiled or dried, they'll lose their sting and are safe to eat. New growth leaves harvested in the spring are often thought to be the best. Some say it's best not to harvest nettles after they've started producing seeds at the end of summer. Use fresh or dried leaves for tea, or flash boil the leaves and use them as you would other cooked leafy greens. Here's an extensive list of recipe ideas for inspiration. Advertisement Wild garlic and onions ( Bärlauch / Wunder-lauch ) Wild garlic – also called Ramsons in English, or Bärlauch in German – grows in shady patches of low-land forests across the country. Wild garlic bears little resemblance to the garlic bulbs you're used to seeing in the grocery store, but you can recognise it by its unmistakable garlic smell, which should be obvious when you pinch a leaf. Wild garlic can be found in shady forested low-lands around Germany. Photo by Paul Krantz. Its leaves can add a mildly spicy kick to fresh salads and its stalks can be chopped up and used in a similar way to garlic. You can also finely chop leaves and stems (or grind them up in a blender) to make pesto, or add the puree to melted butter and let it re-solidify to make your own herbal butter ( Kräuterbutter ). In the same plant family are wild onions, which can be called Wunderlauch , among other names, and may be found in similar environments. As opposed to wild garlic leaves, wild onion leaves are cylindrical – looking similar to spring onions or chives. Wild garlic and onion season tends to come in mid-March to April in Germany. Tips for foraging in Germany Should you feel inspired to try foraging yourself, there are a few things to know. F oraging in Germany is not allowed in parks, nature reserves ( Naturschutzgebiet ) or on private property. (You may also want to avoid public spaces in urban areas that are near to busy streets or walking paths.) If it's your first time, it's best to go with someone who has a bit of foraging experience. Unlike with mushrooms, there are not many highly toxic plants that you need to worry about, but you still want to make sure you know what you've found. What's more, an experienced forager may help guide you toward places where you are more likely to find what you're looking for. Advertisement Lastly, make sure not to over-harvest when foraging. A good rule of thumb is to seek out places where these plants are in abundance, and only take a couple leaves or plants from an area before moving onto the next one. An excellent resource for foraging in Germany is ( Mund raub means mouth robbery), which has an interactive map showing foraging sites for herbs, fruits, berries, nuts and more. READ ALSO: Six spring festivals to mark the changing of the seasons in Germany
Local Germany
14-02-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
What costs do homeowners in Germany pay themselves - and which are shared?
When you first purchase your very own apartment in Germany, you'll probably be preparing to pay off your mortgage in the coming years. Escaping the ever pricier rental market, it can feel good to know that the money you're paying is going towards a long-term asset, rather than your landlord's pension fund. That said, it's easy to forget that owning a property also comes with some ongoing costs, whether that's maintenance of your apartment, your monthly heating bill or general building repairs. In homeowners' associations (WEG), there are often disputes about who is responsible for paying what - and these disputes sometimes end up in court. To clarify some key questions, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) recently issued a ruling on homeowner costs and how they should be split. Interestingly, the court clarified that WEGs can also allocate some costs specifically to individual homeowners - though they need to have a good reason for doing so. This is what every homeowner should know about their rights and obligations in the WEG. What is a homeowners' association? A homeowners' association - or Wohnungseigentumgemeinschaft (WEG) in German - is a community of owners who own a flat or commercial unit in a particular property. The association is basically a way to coordinate between these homeowners and manage the maintenance of building as a whole. If you're wondering what the legal basis for this is, it's a piece of legislation called the Condominium Act. The law was last updated in 2020 by the grand coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD. What costs does the WEG have to pay? Here, the general rule of thumb is that the community shares costs related to common spaces and infrastructure in the building as a whole. If you've ever been in a flat share, this is a bit like pooling the cost of items that everyone uses, like cooking oils and toilet paper. "Costs relating to the common property, such as the maintenance of the roof, the façade, the stairwell or the heating system, are borne by the community," Luisa Peitz, legal advisor at Haus & Grund, explained. Unless otherwise agreed, these costs are distributed proportionately among all owners, depending on the amount of property they own. Blocks of flats in Frankfurt am Main. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold What do owners pay themselves? As your contract likely states, the costs for your specific property - or Sondereigentum - are your responsibility. "This includes, in particular, maintenance measures within the flat, such as interior painting, floor coverings or private sanitary facilities," Peitz clarified. In other words, if you accidentally break a window or notice the wallpaper is getting shabby, that's something you'll need to pay for out of pocket. In some cases, the WEG can choose to allocate some of these costs differently, but you'd have to make a good case for this at the next homeowners' meeting you attend. What exactly is Hausgeld and who has to pay it? Hausgeld, or the housing fee, is a monthly charge that covers the running costs for the operation, maintenance and administration of the common property. It's usually around a few hundred euros per month, but can vary according to the region you live and how much you pay for heating costs. How high your Hausgeld is will be based on the economic plan that building adminstrators draw up each year. As a rule, the amount you pay is proportionate to how much property you own on site, and is shared between all of the homeowners. What responsibilities do building administrators - the Hausverwaltung - have? The building administrator is appointed and dismissed by property owners, and generally organises things like ongoing maintence, annual financial reports, rubbish collections, and so on. "They only have the authority to decide on measures of minor importance - not anything that is significant and can cost money," Lothar Blaschke from the German Condominium Owners' Association told DPA. "They have to prepare this as a proposed resolution and present it at the next owners' meeting." In practice, however, communities often set a maximum financial limit within which the administrator is allowed to act independently. This frees up time and limits bureaucracy. When can the WEG redistribute costs? In principle, community costs are distributed according to the co-ownership shares in accordance with the statutory regulations. However, the law also states that the condominium owners can decide on a different distribution for individual costs or certain types of costs. Can costs also be redistributed at the expense of individual owners? They may, but there are limits. The case in question involved, among other things, a complaint by a condominium owner who was supposed to bear the costs for the renovation of a garage roof - even though she was not entitled to a parking space in the garage belonging to the complex. The community had decided to allocate the costs to all flat owners in proportion to their ownership shares. According to the BGH ruling, WEGs generally have the right to reallocate costs to homeowners - but not arbitrarily. The Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice) in Karlsruhe. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Uli Deck "If, as in this case, the separation of costs between the residential building and the underground car park has been agreed, an owner without a parking space may not, in principle, share in the costs of the underground car park," said the presiding judge. However, a final decision wasn't reached in this particularly instance as the BGH referred the case back to the lower court. This court must now clarify whether there was an objective reason for the changed distribution. Have there been any other rulings on this topic? In March 2024, the BGH had already ruled on such a first-time cost sharing of individual owners in a WEG and emphasised the community's room for manoeuvre. "According to the BGH, owners who were previously completely exempt from certain costs can also be made liable for the first time by amending resolutions," says Beate Heilmann, Chairwoman of the Tenancy Law and Real Estate Working Group at the German Bar Association. How can owners defend themselves against the costs? If an apartment owner considers a resolution to be unlawful, they can, for example, bring an action for annulment before the competent local court. The action for annulment serves to have a resolution declared invalid by the court and must be filed within one month of the resolution being passed. However, flat owners who file a lawsuit should bear in mind that they may have to share part of the legal costs - even if they win. That's because the costs are likely to be passed onto the WEG, which the homeowner in question would then have to pay a proportion of. With reporting by DPA
