When the summertime heat strikes, Germans flock with their local pools. A lot more than 3,500 public pools are registered in Germany, meaning that each citizen is driving distance of one. They’re often called “Freibad” (free bath), although you still have to pay admission to enter. Some are surrounded by forests, others are part of public health centers, and some even combine indoor and outdoor swimming areas.
The open air is central to Freibad culture, as is food and drink. Many outdoor pools are combined with large grassy lounge areas that provide space to hold out all day. There are also lots of stalls where you could get Bratwurst, fatty fries drowned in mayonnaise and ketchup, and other traditional picnic snacks.
Many pools have kids’ areas where children can swim in the safe water with other kids, and most have a playground or other items for them. Most pools also provide lifeguards, but the principles really are a bit different from the US. For example, the lifeguards don’t appear to be as strict about keeping a detailed eye on small kids, especially in the deep pool. Some pools allow you to bring your own toys, while others have a strict no-toys policy. Schwimmbecken
Some pools are made to be much more luxurious than others. For example, Hotel Adlon in Berlin posseses an ethereal pool clad in mosaic tiling. Guests can swim in the pool for free, but non-guests will have to pay a bit more for usage of the rest of the cool amenities such as a Eucalyptus-infused steam room and a Finnish sauna.
In a few parts of the nation, public lakes are popular swimming spots. However, it’s crucial that you keep in mind that swimming in fresh and salt waters without proper protection from bacteria can cause serious infections. If you’re likely to go swimming in a river, ensure you check the water quality online when you do. Just type the name of the lake and “wasserqualitat” into a search engine to find the info you’re looking for.
The German saying “Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur schlechtes Kleidung” (“there’s no bad weather, just poor clothing”) relates to pools as well. It’s not uncommon to see nude bodies in the changing rooms, but it’s usually nothing more than practical – getting changed requires showing components of skin.
The recent uptick in violence at some German pools has raised concerns about their state of the nation’s pool culture, particularly for young people. Some are blaming the fights on alcohol and too little supervision, while others have accused refugee men of sexual assault. It has led to some German towns banning adult male asylum seekers from their public pools. But a large proportion of pools remain open, and many are staffed by volunteers from immigrant backgrounds to simply help refugees understand German pool culture.
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