Guidelines issued to present recommendations on safeguarding workers from dangers associated with digital communication networks.
In the heart of Germany, Hamburg is known for its vibrant urban life and picturesque waterways. However, unlike cities like Copenhagen, Oslo, and Malmö, Hamburg currently lacks official river bathing spots for its residents to enjoy. Anke Frieling, the urban development spokeswoman for the CDU faction, is advocating for a change in this landscape.
Frieling believes it's high time to make Hamburg's waters accessible for bathing, swimming, and enjoyment. She envisions a river swimming pool on the Elbe or Alster rivers, inspired by the successful public river bathing areas in the aforementioned Scandinavian cities.
Copenhagen, Oslo, and Malmö have transformed their urban waterways into accessible swimming zones, overcoming challenges such as water pollution and safety risks through filtration systems, safety protocols, and architectural solutions. These cities serve as a shining example of how waterways can be reimagined to support recreation and enhance urban quality of life.
However, Hamburg's Senate remains cautious due to water quality concerns, tidal flows, port traffic, and federal waterway usage. Proponents, led by Frieling, argue that these challenges are not insurmountable and point to the successes in Scandinavian cities as proof.
Hamburg's existing freshwater swimming facilities, such as Sommerbad Altengamme and Sommerbad Volksdorf, emphasize natural settings with amenities but are not integrated into urban river environments. In contrast, Copenhagen and Oslo's projects often involve river or harbour cleanup efforts and infrastructure investments to make urban waters reliably swimmable. Malmö leverages its harbour basin with barriers and filtration to enable safe swimming near the city center.
The CDU in the Hamburg Parliament is advocating for a river bath on the Alster or Elbe, learning from the innovative approaches used in Copenhagen, Oslo, and Malmö. These include engineered swimming pools within rivers or filtered open-water baths that balance safety, water quality, and city infrastructure constraints.
A parliamentary request titled "Urban development by the water - new perspectives for Hamburg's water bodies" is currently testing the suitability of the waters for bathing sports. However, the Senate has no plans for new tests or feasibility studies for water baths.
Frieling warns that Hamburg is wasting its potential by not pursuing water baths and argues that if the city is serious about urban living quality and innovative urban development, then creative solutions for more water access are necessary, not excuses. She questions the Senate's stance on the construction of high-rise buildings in a harbor basin, where swimming is not possible.
In 2015, the environmental authority examined the possibility of a public bathing spot in the Elbe, but safety concerns led to a decision against it. Frieling suggests that the Senate is ignoring the fact that challenges related to financing, safety, hygiene, and water quality have long been mastered in other cities.
As Hamburg continues to evolve, the push for river bathing access remains a topic of discussion and debate. Whether the city will follow in the footsteps of its Scandinavian neighbours remains to be seen.
[1] Hamburg's Freshwater Swimming Facilities [2] Innovative Approaches to River Bathing in Scandinavian Cities
Hamburg's Freshwater Swimming Facilities are situated in natural settings with amenities, but they are not integrated into urban river environments.
Innovative Approaches to River Bathing in Scandinavian Cities involve engineered swimming pools within rivers or filtered open-water baths that balance safety, water quality, and city infrastructure constraints.
