Summertime chaos at the swimming pool in Berlin
Multiple Outdoor Pools in Berlin Close Early Amid Budget Cuts and Unfavorable Weather
This summer, Berlin's outdoor pools have faced an unexpected challenge, with three pools closing over one weekend due to a combination of budget cuts and unfavorable weather conditions. The closures have been a cause for concern among locals and visitors alike, especially during the first weekend of the summer holiday.
The incidents at the Sommerbad Wilmersdorf, Sommerbad Insulaner, and Sommerbad Lipschitzallee involved the presence of emergency services and resulted in the evacuation of the pools. At the Sommerbad Wilmersdorf, an 11-year-old boy was pulled unconscious from the outdoor swimming pool on Monday, July 22. After regaining consciousness, he was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Unfortunately, no further details about the boy's condition were provided in the article. Another incident occurred at the Sommerbad Insulaner in Steglitz on Sunday, requiring the evacuation of the pool, but the exact nature of the incident was not specified.
The incident at the Sommerbad Wilmersdorf was particularly distressing, as it involved a young boy who had reportedly been underwater for several minutes. Rescue workers successfully resuscitated him, but no further details about his condition were provided. At the Sommerbad Lipschitzallee, a fight broke out involving 20 young people who reportedly beat up two brothers. The exact nature of the fight was not specified, but the pool was evacuated as a result.
The closures and incidents come as a result of budget cuts faced by Berliner Bäder, the municipal pool operator. All public outdoor pools are scheduled to close by September 7, significantly earlier than the usual late September or October closure dates. Funding for energy costs was cut by around three million euros, causing pools to turn off heating except for a small number of locations maintaining minimal heating at 22°C. The poor weather has also contributed to a decline in visitor numbers, with approximately 110,000 fewer visitors compared to last year by the end of July.
The combination of municipal budget restrictions and lower attendance due to unfavorable summer weather are the main causes for the multiple early closures of outdoor pools in Berlin this summer. The summer of 2025 has been marked by unusually cool and unsettled weather, which has resulted in a decrease in visitor numbers and further impacted revenues.
While the closures and incidents are concerning, it is hoped that the pools will reopen next summer and that the issues faced this year will be addressed to ensure a safer and more enjoyable swimming season for all.
Despite the summer holiday season, various incidents and early closures of outdoor pools in Berlin have been reported, such as crime-and-justice incidents like the fight at Sommerbad Lipschitzallee and unfortunate events like the boy rescued at Sommerbad Wilmersdorf, which is a matter of general-news concern. Meanwhile, the rise in sports-betting activities is capturing the interest of many residents, providing a contrasting narrative to the city's challenging summer weather and pool closures, offering an interesting trend to follow in the coming weeks.
