How the German capital is greening up to adjust to the changing climate the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent absorb heat throughout the day and retain it at night Impermeable surfaces not only exacerbate heat waves but also prevent rainwater from seeping into the ground which can overwhelm drainage systems during heavy downpours Experts have long advocated for more greenery in cities trees and vegetation serve vital functions: they purify the air They also create habitats for small wildlife and insects urban greening has a profound impact on mental well-being helping people feel more at ease and refreshed While there is a broad consensus that our cities must embrace greener solutions local administrations struggle to find the resources needed to bring these changes to life The Nature Conservancy Europe (TNC) launched the Europe Urban Greening Program in 2020 "To assist cities and municipalities in tackling the enormous challenge of climate adaptation integrating practical research with pilot projects," says Program Director Jamie Chan Partnering with Berlin’s Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district office TNC launched the first urban greening project five years ago It focuses on creating a scientific framework for urban grassland development serving as the foundation for designing and enhancing green spaces in the district it fosters pilot projects that can serve as models for other municipalities It’s achievable if just one percent of the district’s roofs are greened annually the potential for new green space is immense This figure comes from the Urban Grassland Plan developed with the district office and finalised in 2024 Green roofs bring significant benefits—they absorb rainwater Traffic areas also hold promise: 56 medians are identified as prime candidates for improvement a method was devised to quickly assess green space quality alongside curated lists of climate-resilient and ecologically valuable plant species—key tools for efficient future planning TNC collaborated with district authorities and the Senate Administration to host a series of workshops Interest in the topic is high - early 2025 and practice discussed "Guidelines and Species Selection for Seeding and Planting in an Urban Context" They assessed species selection based on local conditions The debate over non-native species remains ongoing "We have found that plant selection depends on diverse While establishing universal criteria is challenging continuing the discussion is essential," says Maria Knaus who is leading the Urban Grassland Project in Berlin "There may not be a standardised species list but at least city-wide recommendations within Berlin’s administration could emerge," noted Dr Ulrich Heink from the Nature Conservation Office Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf The sheep on Wilmersdorf Stadium’s slopes don't care about selection criteria their grazing is being tested as a natural way to enhance the grassland and the slopes became overgrown with ash maple and garden blackberry - dense species-poor growth that required regular mowing To improve ecological value, sheep were introduced in 2021. Their natural grazing helps control shrubs, making room for new species. To further boost biodiversity, drought-resistant plants were introduced in selected grazed areas, with their growth monitored by the T echnical University. A busy road transformed into a species-rich While sheep graze peacefully in Wilmersdorf Stadium busy roads can be transformed into species-rich meadows five different meadow mixtures were sown on the median strip of Hardenbergstrasse creating a colourful aspect and testing the species' resilience to street conditions Berlin's public nursery in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is expanding to ensure a local supply of plants and seeds and serves as a coordination hub for other districts the nursery collaborates with the Nature Conservation Office to cultivate native perennials and test non-native species from Southeastern Europe Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf now has a clear roadmap for future greening through the Urban Grassland Plan beyond government agencies and political leaders civic organisations and residents all play a role Their contributions over the years have helped the district become greener Although The Nature Conservancy's Urban Greening Program officially concludes in June 2025 its five-year span has sparked lasting initiatives and built structures that will continue to shape urban greening Pilot projects already demonstrate the tangible benefits of greening efforts “We’ve learned that there are many ways to make cities more climate-resilient,” says Jamie Chan Alongside Berlin, the program has partnered with the city of Stuttgart and Environmental Action Germany (DUH) The insights gained from these projects will hopefully inform climate adaptation strategies in municipalities across Germany and beyond *This program is funded by Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund Martina Fürstenberger is a German freelance journalist and writer Read more about our urban greening work in Germany A multi-pronged approach to building climate resilience in cities Climate change is not a threat that’s headed our way in the future; it is here today and already has a profound impact on people’s lives across Europe and around the world Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker ...var cex1 = "V2lsbWVyc2RvcmZAc2Nobml0emVsZWkuZGU=";var dex1 = atob(cex1);dex1 = decodeURIComponent(escape(dex1));jQuery(document).ready(function() {jQuery(".ex1").html(""+dex1+"");});030 8217615.schnitzelei.de The name Schnitzelei may not initially evoke meat-free associations, but appearances are deceptive. Behind this group of Berlin restaurants, whose newest branch we were allowed to test in Wilmersdorf, the philosophy is somewhat different: the menu is divided into three parts. There are just as many vegetarian and vegan dishes as there are meat dishes. As the name suggests, the focus is on schnitzel, with a meat-free alternative for every meat option - either vegetarian or vegan. For example, the Viennese schnitzel made from Hohenlohe veal (24.50 euros) replaces one with oyster mushrooms, the alternative to the Jägerschnitzel is made from lye dough and egg, and there are also creative variations on other German dishes. Cordon Bleu is also available as Cordon Grün (18.50 euros) with various vegetables and cheese baked in-house breading, as is a vegan Roulade Reloaded made from soy (21.50 euros). Despite the modern menu, the Schnitzelei retains its tavern charm. With 86 seats, the Schnitzelei Wilmersdorf, which opened in December, is the smallest branch. In the entrance area with its very high ceilings, illuminated by a multitude of bocci lamps, the first thing on the left is the inviting bar, from which all guests always receive a Kölsch-sized Pilsner as a welcome drink. We opt for vegan curry sausage, where the sausage is replaced by carrot, which works surprisingly well. Also made of carrots is the sea mousse, an alternative reminiscent of salmon due to smoke aromas. The meat-free Königsberger Klopse taste good and are not too heavy on the stomach. For the main course, we stick to the classics in our choice of schnitzel. All the meat comes from free-range farms with species-appropriate husbandry. The fine Viennese schnitzel, in particular, makes us wish for a glass of white wine, but we stick to beer this evening. Nevertheless, we recommend visiting the Schnitzelei Wilmersdorf to wine fans, especially in summer, because then you can combine your visit to the restaurant with the Weinbrunnen festival on Rüdesheimer Platz next door, which takes place from the end of May to the beginning of September. Then the restaurant's 120-seat terrace will also invite you to linger in the sunshine. After enjoying the tender meat, there is only room for one dessert to share. So we choose a Toblerone mousse, which more than satisfies the sweet tooth. Then off into the night for a little digestive stroll home. Bestellen Sie jetzt Ihren individuellen Newsletter Note: Our newsletter is only available in German Bitte schicken Sie mir bis zum Widerruf meiner Einwilligung den Newsletter mit Informationen zu neuen Beiträgen. Die Datenschutzerklärung habe ich zur Kenntnis genommen und akzeptiere diese Would you like to discover more beautiful things Match Expires at Midnight GIVE NOW Germany’s largest city has reinvented itself many times in its 785-year history it must do so once again in the face of climate change Berliners coming to exercise at Wilmersdorf Stadium were greeted by a strangely bucolic scene Sheep were grazing where the former grandstands had once stood feeding where soccer fans had once cheered—their gentle bleating a surprising and pastoral note in the busy urban soundscape The animals were part of a pilot project initiated by the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district’s Department of Nature Conservation and The Nature Conservancy’s Urban Greening Program which launched in Germany in 2020 with a roughly $4 million gift from Amazon Wilmersdorf Stadium offered a chance to enhance urban biodiversity while also testing an inexpensive and low-carbon form of landscape maintenance That maintenance had become necessary after the stadium built as a community athletic facility in the mid 20th century to host 50,000 spectators—a capacity it never reached—removed its grandstands in the 1990s Over time the newly exposed ground on the stadium’s embankments became overgrown with invasive box elder and other difficult-to-control species local conservation officials suggested the parks authority try sheep The animals would both manage the invasives and leave a more diversified landscape in their wake helping the hillside eventually evolve into an urban grassland and provide habitat for native insects and other wildlife it is a novel approach to repurposing an urban space But looking to the restorative power of nature is an idea with deep roots in Berlin green space makes up nearly a third of the German capital The city’s rooftops buzz with urban beehives and bicycling accounts for more than 13% of all traffic Berlin is looking to its history as a laboratory for understanding urban nature to chart a path forward Berliners have often made parks and green spaces from the city’s former ruins now-fallow border strip of the former Berlin Wall has been designated as a landscape conservation area and is being transformed into a 9-mile-long chain of parks the runways and fields of Berlin’s century-old Tempelhof Airport have been reborn as a 740-acre public gathering space—areas of which are also grazed by sheep The instinct to allow nature to reclaim disused spaces in the city stems in part from Berlin’s history as a pioneer in establishing the value of biodiversity in cities “Berlin is called the cradle of urban ecology,” says Ulrich Heink the head of the Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf Department of Nature Conservation an ecologist named Herbert Sukopp began studying the vegetation that had sprung up in the “Brachen,” or fallow spaces Sukopp succeeded in demonstrating that cities are rich in species and often develop novel ecosystems distinct from those outside the city limits “He introduced the idea of urban ecology worldwide,” Heink says cities like Berlin will only become more important as refuges for vulnerable species Some species have already carved out ecological niches for themselves exhibit higher rates of reproductive success in urban areas than in rural ones According to an international team of researchers cities can even foster larger and more diverse bee populations than the surrounding countryside All of this makes reclaimed natural spaces like those being cultivated at Wilmersdorf Stadium important green pockets throughout the city “Urban sites have huge potential for nature conservation,” Heink says The stadium project is one of several investments being made through TNC’s Urban Greening Program TNC is also working with local officials in Berlin yet-to-be-announced municipality in Germany to identify opportunities for green infrastructure and other nature-based solutions that can help mitigate severe effects of climate change the lead scientist for nature-based solutions at TNC Scientists predict that a warmer climate will produce more frequent and severe storms when catastrophic flooding tore through several countries are deadly heat waves—already the most fatal of all weather events Northern European cities ill-adapted to hot climates will be hit especially hard and when you get heat events that last multiple days Warmer temperatures will affect more than the city’s human inhabitants Berlin can be as much as 9 degrees warmer than areas outside the city creating an environment in which non-native species from hotter climates can thrive “We can bemoan this situation and call it unnatural,” Heink says “But it’s also a chance to have a very specific flora and fauna which is part of what forms the biological identity of Berlin Heink and the scientists at TNC planned for just such a future at Wilmersdorf In the seed mix used to revegetate the stadium’s former grandstand areas were seeds of species native to warmer climates—a hedge against the coming heat A team from the Technical University of Berlin will monitor the project and measure changes in biodiversity over time Heink is pleased with one of the unexpected benefits of the sheep: public delight For the three weeks the animals were present they served as incidental ambassadors of the kind of work his department and TNC are trying to do Families with small children seemed to spend as much time watching the sheep as they did playing “I think [the project] has huge potential in terms of environmental education.” A Gentler Lawnmower: In the 1990s officials removed some of the old bleacher seats from Wilmersdorf Stadium a vineyard was planted where the old grandstands had stood to combat invasive weeds and create a meadow of native plants the local parks authority brought in a small herd of sheep to graze Wildlife in the City: Urban ecology—a field of study that gained early traction in Berlin—has shown that cities can develop ecosystems distinct from more rural areas nearby hundreds of wild bee species flit among green spaces around the city that are also home to boars By some estimates there are more fox dens within the city limits than in nearby forests catastrophic flooding in northern Europe killed more than 200 people and heat waves threatened multiple countries inner-city areas can be 9 degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas making green spaces like parks and streams important refuges Resident Leon Stiebl (above right) cools down in a fountain at Marheinekeplatz at the peak of a heat wave that hit the city in June 2021 And on one of the hottest days of the year city residents (above left) listen to a soccer game as they soak in a stream near a Viktoriapark waterfall Redefining Space: Berlin’s history is visible in its cityscape in ruins and monuments to past events City residents have chosen to turn some disused areas into communal green space fallow ground is being converted into a 9-mile chain of parks and meadows And on the banks of the Spree River (above) soccer fields and communal spaces make up the 6-acre Spreebogenpark the park pays homage to an embassy district that Hitler’s regime cleared for a planned “world capital.” Only the Swiss embassy remains The People’s Parks: Once key to the Berlin Airlift of 1948 and 1949 that kept the city’s west side viable during a Communist blockade Tempelhof Airport ceased operations in 2008 the citizens of Berlin successfully fought for the runway fields to be turned into a public park is the largest inner-city open space in the world and is home to community gardens athletic fields and other public gathering spaces Schuler is a freelance writer based in Kansas who writes about design He is a contributing editor for Landscape Architecture Magazine and his work has also appeared in Bloomberg CityLab and Places Journal Tuesday till Thursday 18.00-2.00Friday till Saturday 18.00-3.00 AddressStairs BarUhlandstraße 133 10717 Berlin-Wilmersdorf.How to get there ...var cex1 = "a29uc3RhbnRpbkBzdGFpcnNiYXItYmVybGluLmNvbQ==";var dex1 = atob(cex1);dex1 = decodeURIComponent(escape(dex1));jQuery(document).ready(function() {jQuery(".ex1").html(""+dex1+"");}); +49 176 703 443 43.stairsbar-berlin.com Hidden behind a mirrored door on Uhlandstraße 133 in Wilmersdorf you’ll find the eponymous staircase taking guests directly down to Stairs Bar. Dimly-lit like in a fancy basement, guests sit or hover around the counter. To the right, smaller groups huddle together, while to the left you’ll find the ‘Chocolat Room’ with its chocolate-brown padded walls. Cigar smoke rises, but at the same time lures you in. Dark wood, graphic wallpaper and many, many steps make up the interior of Stairs Bar. The crowd is a colourful bunch: graphic designers, artists, lawyers. An exciting mix of people, who enjoy time-honoured classics as well as more innovative variations. Especially those sustainability-minded innovations play a big part at Stairs Bar. From the glass straws to the fruit, which is always fresh and fully processed. Instead of fresh lemon juice, you’ll find homemade lemon water, and instead of egg whites you’ll find chickpea water, known as ‘aquafaba’. ...var cex1 = "aGVsbG9AcHJvdm9jYXRldXItaG90ZWwuY29t";var dex1 = atob(cex1);dex1 = decodeURIComponent(escape(dex1));jQuery(document).ready(function() {jQuery(".ex1").html(""+dex1+"");});+49 30 22 05 60 60.www.provocateur-hotel.com Dancing on the volcano near Konstanzer Straße subway station? For a long time, a desolate no-man's land in culinary terms, apart from the Hamann chocolate factory. Just a few houses away, however, glaring golden lamps shine from the canopy, pointing the way to a wicked darkness. With grandiose drinks. We are not so far from the legendary and glamorous Kurfürstendamm, the epitome of the wild 1920s, when Berlin became the destination of Europe's bohemians. Marlene Dietrich charmed in "Der Blaue Engel", poets and painters met in the Romanisches Café and Josephine Baker proved the sex appeal of the banana skirt at Nelson's Revuetheater. A century later, the Provocateur Hotel with its bar picks up where that era left off and adds a pinch of Paris à la Edith Piaf and Oscar Wilde. But without seeming too nostalgic. The cocktails are contemporary and delicious. The team works out a thematic concept for each bar menu, which serves as a common thread that animates and accompanies the guests in an atmospheric way. Most recently, the motto was "Liquids, Leisure, L'Amour", but today we're drinking our way through the brand-new "Cocktail Exhibition". How about a devilish "Lucifer"? White tequila meets grapefruit, white cocoa, lime water, and goat cheese. Topped off with a pinch of cherry-smoked salt. The other cocktail exhibits also surprise with a brushstroke of unusual ingredients framed by appealing, aromatic combinations. allowing guests to forget the dreary gray of the outside world in an atmospheric setting the discreet golden light and the black counter block around which nearly two dozen bar stools cluster They provide a view of the bartenders' deft touches and attentive service which makes any drink and cocktail request possible even beyond the creative bar menu The bar at Provocateur means charming service, outstanding cocktails and a special - discreetly wicked - atmosphere with the delicate golden veil of the wild 20s of Berlin and Paris. Musically summarized from the gramophone would now sound: "First drink with me a little alcohol" and then "La vie en rose". Chin chin! The TimesJutting out from behind the trees of the wealthy west Berlin district of Wilmersdorf there is an architectural and theological oddity a Moghul mosque whose history is a curious microcosm of modern Germany — involving a gay Jewish convert who hoped to make Islam the national religion Built in the aftermath of the First World War and ruined by Soviet artillery at the end of the second the Berliner Mosque is the oldest surviving one in Germany the Taj Mahal in miniature is getting a long-overdue facelift and a rediscovered purpose Far removed from the ornate marble mosques set up by Saudis abroad or the psychedelic intricacies of ancient Iranian ones Berlin’s unique districts have their own personalities and style By Victoria Pearce Few places have a story to tell like Berlin. Although it has experienced ideological and physical divisions, like the Berlin Wall, today, it is a welcoming home to newcomers from Germany and all over the world. This German city is constantly reinventing itself while learning from its past Berlin’s evolution is clear from its immense urban renewal projects and looming gentrification With so many different areas to choose from it can be difficult to decide where to live Learn more about this thriving capital city and dive into the details Spotahome takes the hassle out of househunting by doing the hard work for you and book rental properties all from the comfort of your own home Take the stress out of househunting in Berlin with Spotahome Known for its tumultuous past, the city has since transformed itself into a global hub of creativity Although it’s been over 30 years since the Berlin Wall fell you can still see the marks of division in the city’s architecture and infrastructure This divided past has led to distinct neighborhood atmospheres and varying prices across the city. Finding housing in Berlin can be challenging, as there is a high demand for property. There are several options for your house search, including estate agents (Makler) and online portals. As in any city, it’s important to be cautious and vet advertisements carefully, particularly if you don’t speak German fluently or are contacting people online Newcomers also need to check whether their new home will provide Anmeldung. This official residence allows you to register with the German government and access many government services. Short-term rentals often cannot offer this These buildings occasionally have private or shared gardens The types of accommodation vary immensely – for example you’re more likely to find communist-era housing in the east of Berlin you’ll find single-family homes and the odd mansion you can be out in the forest with no neighbors in sight Approximately 85% of Berlin residents rent their homes, and the market value for rentals has been climbing quickly in recent years Although there is a constant stream of apartments and houses coming up for rent Newcomers should expect to dedicate significant time to seeking, visiting, and applying for housing. Rent is typically most expensive in central districts like Mitte Cheaper rents are available further from the city center Most people moving to Berlin find their rented accommodation through an estate agent or online property portal though – three months’ rent plus VAT is standard Agents usually represent properties rather than renters Ads online are sometimes listed as provisionsfreie meaning ‘without agent’s fees.’ you can find rental accommodation on the following websites: Those looking for short-term and serviced apartments can check out: though: if your name isn’t on the tenancy agreement you forfeit many of your rights as a tenant expect to fill in a lengthy application form and provide supporting evidence of your status If you’re a new arrival and don’t have all the documents available consider including a letter of recommendation from your employer and contact the rental agency to explain your situation Tenant rights are strong in Germany, but unscrupulous landlords are still out there. Your local tenant’s association (Mieterverbände) can advise and assist you if you wind up in a rental dispute There are no restrictions on expats owning property in Germany, but Berlin’s housing market can be limited. It’s often also less expensive for long-term tenants to continue renting rather than purchasing a property, as German law places strict limits on annual rent increases consider renting when you first arrive so that you can get to know the different districts you can be sure to buy property in an area where you’ll enjoy living for the long term. and the vibe can even change from street to street Whether you intend to settle down in the city with your family or change neighborhoods each year you’re sure to find somewhere that suits you new builds and standardized services have been eroding the former division between the East and West you’ll find pleasant and exciting places to live on both sides of the old line One of the few visible remaining differences is in the ceilings An altbau (‘old building’) in former West Berlin will commonly have ceiling heights of 3.5m panel-sided buildings) can be a full meter shorter Internationals live throughout Berlin’s neighborhoods. Young professionals tend to seek central districts close to the action, but higher prices have led many to look further out. Even families find homes in various districts, largely because there are international schools across the city a pleasant leafy neighborhood in western Berlin is an exception: it has been a home-away-from-home for expat Brits since World War II and it does not get any more central in Berlin than this neighborhood It offers quick access to shopping and tourist sites like the Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz It is also where you will find the German parliament. Mitte hosts many business locations and start-up offices, making it popular for those wanting to live near where they work Several international schools are also located here although many families opt to live in other areas with more space and fewer tourists Housing costs are higher in Mitte than anywhere else in Berlin. Median rental rates run between €25.45/sqm for an older building and €36.60/sqm for new builds The largest city park in the area is the Tiergarten This leafy haven is often compared to Central Park in New York and covers over 200 hectares If you drive a car, bear in mind that parking is very limited and expensive in this area. Most commuters into Mitte rely on public transit to get around Pankow stretches from near the city center out to the northeast rental prices vary widely depending on how close or far you are from Mitte which is popular with professionals and young families thanks to its leafy streets Further out in Pankow, families become increasingly common as housing prices lower. Although Pankow stretches right to the border of Brandenburg, it offers strong transport links to get around Berlin quickly. If car ownership appeals you’ll find it easier to find parking as you move further from Berlin’s city center Pankow provides something for everyone – the Naturpark Barnim to the north offers fun outdoor activities while nightclubs and bars closer to Berlin Mitte provide great nightlife and young professionals flock to Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg for its mix of nightclubs the area remains your best bet for finding counter culture in central Berlin. Aside from partying options, this district is also home to hundreds of coworking spaces. This makes it a popular home for digital nomads and freelancers Recreation venues include quirky cafes, art galleries, and the Berlin Wall art park Mauerpark. This district is very centrally located and well-served by a variety of transit options and urban rail via S-bahn and U-bahn routes are the best modes of transportation between Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and other parts of Berlin Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is in the west of Berlin. This area is home to Charlottenburg Palace, surrounded by lovely baroque gardens This district also hosts numerous parks and walkable residential areas The district has been attracting English-speaking expats since the end of World War II It’s still popular with British arrivals in Berlin residents have easy transit connections via bus or urban rail Wilmersdorf is slightly further out and has fewer transport links The least well-connected part of Wilmersdorf is Grunewald Median rental prices in this area are €18.85/sqm. Although it’s more expensive than living in Mitte Located south of Mitte, Tempelhof-Schöneberg continues further south to the edge of Berlin. It’s a mix of suburban and countryside living – the district is home to the Tempelhofer Field, a former airport converted into an expansive city park You’ll find many families making their homes in this area Not only are median rents lower in Tempelhof than in other central Berlin districts but the nearby Berlin and Alexander von Humboldt International schools are an additional draw Families seeking more space and access to parking for car owners will find it as they move south away from the city center Transportation links are also available from here to neighboring Potsdam making this area popular for commuters and those wanting easy access to the cultural offerings of both cities Spandau lies on the western outskirts of Berlin This area is a favorite among those who appreciate nature and a quieter pace of life That’s not all that makes it a great choice for families – the Swiss International School is also near the border between Spandau and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf If you’re thinking about moving to Spandau it’s good to know that it’s quite a long way from the action of Berlin’s central districts Many Berliners complain that it takes ages to go from Spandau to anywhere else regional trains take less than 20 minutes to reach Berlin Hauptbahnhof from Spandau’s railway station it’s worth considering the distance you’ll need to travel from your home in Spandau to the station when judging your commute Spandau offers a range of housing, from apartments in historic buildings to detached houses in smaller villages. The median rental price here is €11.35/sqm. There are many sports and leisure areas in this district, including running and hiking trails in Spandauer Forst. If you love the outdoors and can deal with a longer commute Lichtenberg is a primarily residential district in former East Berlin This neighborhood tends to attract diverse residents once at the heart of residential East Berlin is home to many GDR-era housing estates known as Plattenbau Housing here is typically more affordable than other areas in Berlin prices decrease the further you move from Mitte especially when compared with neighboring Friedrichshain and shopping centers in this area than elsewhere in the city Commuting into central Berlin districts is straightforward via bus or urban rail The Lichtenberg train station also hosts international train routes Recreation consists of small parks and river walks, though you’ll also find one of Europe’s largest zoos, the Tierpark. Neukölln is a quickly gentrifying favorite for new arrivals looking for the next up-and-coming neighborhood The areas closest to Tempelhof and Kreuzberg tend to be the most modern while areas further south are grittier and less expensive Neukölln used to be the place to find cheaper rent in central Berlin but these days you’ll find young professionals living here along with starving artists The whole district is well served by buses and urban rail making it quick and easy to get around Berlin from Neukölln. The district is also home to a large Turkish and Arabic-speaking community who have inspired and set up many of the restaurants and supermarkets in the area Reinickendorf is a large district north of Mitte that offers a little of everything It’s home to several international businesses – large global companies like Bosch and MAN have offices here However, there’s also something for nature lovers in Reinickendorf, as it’s almost a third forest or water. The district is home to the second largest lake in Berlin, and the Dicke Marie oak, the city’s oldest tree Some dense housing estates offer apartments and many homes have driveways or on-street parking included this also means traffic can cause headaches at peak times If you’d rather avoid the bottlenecks which connect Reinickendorf with the rest of Berlin This district is the largest by area in Berlin which appears at first glance to be mostly forest It’s a great place to live if you want to enjoy natural surroundings while still living in a city but more distant sections can involve an hour’s commute or longer to Mitte Those considering Treptow-Köpenick who want more urban vibrancy should check out the areas adjacent to Kreuzberg and Neukölln While still within easy reach of Berlin’s central districts Steglitz-Zehlendorf offers homes nestled among lakes and forests appreciate Steglitz-Zehlendorf for its many international schools The BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School is just outside the Zehlendorf boundaries and detached houses are all available in Steglitz-Zehlendorf housing prices run slightly lower than in other upscale family areas like Charlottenburg. Commuters can easily connect from here to central Berlin districts or neighboring Potsdam Marzahn-Hellersdorf is in the far east of Berlin This district retains a significant proportion of communist-era housing blocks Berlin’s boundaries give way to farmland and forests and many houses have on-street or driveway parking and regional rail lines to the rest of Berlin and beyond Berlin is generally a safe city to live in, but it does have more reported crime (in German) than any other region in Germany This is likely due to it being the country’s largest city The highest crime rates (in German) are in: However, this does not necessarily mean that these areas are to be avoided – Mitte, in particular, has a higher population density and more tourists than other districts. Meanwhile, Alexanderplatz is extremely popular with visitors, yet it has a reputation for crime and racial profiling by police Victoria is an American writer (and mom) living in the UK she focuses on local content for employment law and business culture articles Monday to Friday: 10:00am - 6:00pmSaturday: 10:00am - 3:00pmAddressBellwinkelGüntzelstraße 4610717 Berlin-Wilmersdorf.How to get there ...var cex1 = "bWFpbEBiZWxsd2lua2VsLWZlaW5rb3N0LmRl";var dex1 = atob(cex1);dex1 = decodeURIComponent(escape(dex1));jQuery(document).ready(function() {jQuery(".ex1").html(""+dex1+"");});+49 30 86 39 66 86.www.bellwinkel-feinkost.de The Bellwinkel culinary concept store in Günzelstraße in Wilmersdorf looks like a private kitchen and is so cosy that guests don't really want to leave. Not even when the shopping bags are full to bursting, the plate has long since been eaten, or the catering has been thoroughly planned. With a passion for good food, high-quality delicatessen products and beautiful accessories, former architect Carola Doering and social pedagogue Pia Koppelkamm opened their beautiful Bellwinkel shop over ten years ago. Over the years, this veritable treasure trove of fine specialities and enchanting things from all over the world has become even more beautiful and personal. The range of goods is not for people who like to buy things repeatedly for years, because apart from a basic range of oils, vinegar, salts and oriental ingredients, the product selection changes every three months or so and is then dedicated to an entirely new theme. The concepts are harmonised so that fine delicacies and particularly beautiful trade fair discoveries are always lined up harmoniously on the shelves. It is a great pleasure to explore each item on its own and take in the overall work of art created by the two owners. for which all the spices typical of the country are also available That's why Bellwinkel always smells of exotic spices when seasonal soups and salads are freshly prepared in the shop as take-away lunches Many of the dishes are oriental-inspired and always made from fresh the two owners also prove how well they have mastered their profession with their equally lovingly prepared catering They prepare hot and cold dishes for up to 120 people almost always oriental or Mediterranean-inspired the food is delivered and even served on request Carola Doering and Pia Koppelkamm have a perfect knack for this backed a controversial proposal for the Berlin city government to take over about 240,000 apartments worth billions from corporate owners to curb sharply rising rents in the city The count of Sunday’s referendum showed that 56.4 per cent of voters were in favour of the expropriation measure The non-binding referendum forces the Berlin city government to consider expropriating big corporate landlords in a radical move to cool one of Germany’s hottest real estate markets where rents have become unaffordable for many residents in recent years The proposal would affect about 15 per cent of rented apartments in Berlin known as Expropriate Deutsche Wohnen & Co which has lobbied for the measure since 2019 welcomed the result on Monday and said they would put pressure on the coalition talks for Berlin’s government to implement the measure “We will neither accept delaying strategies nor other attempts to stop the proposal,” Kalle Kunkel from the initiative told German news agency DPA “We will not let go until the public ownership of the housing coporations has been implemented.” Whether the referendum will be implemented will be up to the Berlin government which was elected on Sunday The results of the Berlin vote showed that the centre-left Social Democrats defended their hold on the mayoral post but it was not immediately clear with which other parties they would form a coalition government to run the country While the more left-leaning parties have expressed support for the measure The Social Democrats’ candidate for mayor Rising rents have been a hot-button issue for years in Berlin The controversial fight over affordable housing pits two philosophies against one another: free-market companies that see real estate as a means to profit and housing activists who see low rents not only as a necessity but as central to the German capital’s character Critics of the referendum have also pointed out that the expropriation of some 240,00 apartments will cost the Berlin government billions of euros which will be unavailable for other areas where the city needs to invest the city government announced it was buying some 14,750 apartments from two large corporate landlords for €2.46 billion (US$2.87 billion) to expand the supply of publicly owned accommodation View the discussion thread. The restaurant has been closed! AddressLanskMeierottostr. 110719 Berlin-Wilmersdorf.How to get there ...var cex1 = "aW5mb0BsYW5zay1yZXN0YXVyYW50LmNvbQ==";var dex1 = atob(cex1);dex1 = decodeURIComponent(escape(dex1));jQuery(document).ready(function() {jQuery(".ex1").html(""+dex1+"");});+49 30 88 70 88 60.lansk-restaurant.com The amuse-gueule alone – goose rillettes served along a king oyster mushroom and a balsamic reduction – is truly excellent! The first appetizer 'Pork Belly. Black Radish. Eggplant'. is impressive, not least because of its sweet, tender crust and is followed appropriately by 'Trout. Apple. Horseradish. Dill.'. The fish is extremely delicate, simply tempered and marinated with a pinch of lemon. Euphoria starts spreading! The pre-dessert 'Goat Cheese with Honey Ice Cream' is as simple as it is good and truly makes for a new kind of enthusiasm. To me, it does not in any way fall behind the visually much more demanding main dessert, 'Valrhona Chocolate Globe. Pear. Tarragon. Biscuit.'. However, no matter how good the chocolate globe by pâtissier Leray Pierrick is, filled with tarragon sorbet and braised marinated pear, it is impossible not to leave a bite behind on the plate. That was a lot of outstanding food! she returned to Berlin last weekend to visit the "Stolperstein" memorial stone dedicated to her mother Josie Le Blond traces her remarkable story three figures brave the drizzle on a Wilmersdorf pavement Their pilgrimage has led them across Europe to the brass plate at their feet; the only lasting memorial to the street's former resident Ninety-four-year-old Helga Lemer gazes up at the second floor of the building at Güntzelstraße 62 where she lived with her mother in the late 1930s before fleeing Nazi Germany alone for Britain "Why didn't she leave?" demands one neighbour from a small group of residents come to pay their respects to the foreign visitors "She couldn't leave without the correct papers but the papers didn't come." With her words a sombre mood settles on the locals as they observe a moment's silence the Nazis deported Helga's mother Gertrud by train to Riga After a three-day journey in squalid conditions she was shot in the woods by an SS death squad and buried anonymously in a mass grave by her murderers the name Gertrud Kirsch was marked only in Nazi officials' meticulously-noted registers of their deported victims when her surviving family in London had a "Stolperstein" embedded outside Gertrud's final residence "I only heard about these Stolpersteine last year," says Gertrud's granddaughter Barbara Anders accompanied her elderly mother on the journey to see the memorial plaque in place "The Nazis tried to wipe out all trace of their victims," Helmut Lölhöffel coordinator of the Wilmersdorf Stolpersteine project tells the gathered group of onlookers are a decentralised memorial designed to return the names of the Nazis' victims back to the place where they last lived Yet stepping inside the building for a closer look Helga immediately recognises the ornate hallway the stained glass doors and the original stucco ceilings her late teenage years spent living here come flooding back a place popular with those who had sold their flats in preparation to emigrate from Germany Standing in the reception room of the flat widow" on a framed list of former residents Helga remembers the steady decline of her and her family's social standing after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 came to school and didn't speak to me anymore When I asked her what the matter was she said her father was a Nazi," she says The daily morning ritual of obediently chanting “Heil Hitler” together with her classmates at the elite private school she attended took its toll on Helga In May 1935 she asked to be transferred to a Jewish school "I wanted to be altogether with the other Jews," she remembers enthusiastic sportswoman Helga celebrated a minor victory when she witnessed first hand the displeasure on Hitler's face when black American sprinter Jesse Owens won gold at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin "I went on a very interesting day when Jesse Owens won,” she says When the games were on they took all the notices down saying 'Jews not allowed.' The day after the Games finished everything went back up again." the true menace behind the Nazis' intensifying persecution only dawned on Helga's family when her uncle was arrested during the Kristallnacht anti-Jewish pogrom on November 9 After his release from a brief internment in a concentration camp Helga's uncle was adamant the entire family should get out of Germany while they still could "He said to my mother she had to send me away that there was no life for me here," she remembers with only a few suitcases and some petty cash to her name "My mother went alone to take me to Hamburg the 'Jews not allowed' signs were everywhere." It was April 19th Gertrud did not leave Berlin, even as many close relatives fled to Shanghai, one of the few remaining destinations still at that time accepting German Jewish refugees without visas "My uncle went with my grandmother to Shanghai He wanted to take my mother with them but she said: 'Now there's a war on Living alone in London and working as a maid for a British family Helga could guess little of her mother's impending fate In the intervening years they exchanged heavily self-censored letters sent via a convoluted postal route "My mother couldn't say much in the letters," says Helga I found out from a friend's mother that my mother had been taken But I didn't know any details until the war was finished." 1942 the Gestapo came to Güntzelstraße to arrest Gertrud taking her first to be registered at an assembly point at a synagogue in Berlin Mitte From there she was transferred to Bahnhof Moabit where a train was waiting to take her and 1003 others to their final destination the records show Gertrud and the others were then led into a forest and shot by firing squad "A person is only forgotten when their name is forgotten," Berlin artist and Stolperstein conceiver Gunter Demnig is often quoted as saying 5000 of the tiny memorials have been laid on capital's streets since 1996 marking the last residences of some of the city's murdered Jews Roma and Sinti along with the Nazis' political and religious opponents Helga and her family left Berlin that evening after a whistle-stop tour of the Jewish museum Weißensee graves and the Holocaust memorial hoping the new Stolperstein will cement the name of their murdered relative in the city she spent her whole life In decades to come the shiny brass plate on Güntzelstraße will still catch the eye of some curious passerby a small act of defiance against those who wished to wipe her and so many others off the face of the earth Zur Startseite Monday to Friday: 11.00 am - 7.00 pmSaturday: 11.00 am - 2.00 pm AddressLakritz! Schwarzes GoldUhlandstraße 9810715 Berlin-Wilmersdorf.How to get there ...var cex1 = "bGFkZW1Ac2Nod2FyemVzLWdvbGQtbGFrdHJpdHouZGU=";var dex1 = atob(cex1);dex1 = decodeURIComponent(escape(dex1));jQuery(document).ready(function() {jQuery(".ex1").html(""+dex1+"");});+49 30 60 95 85 70.www.schwarzes-gold-lakritz.de Licorice! Even the Romans and Egyptians of the ancient world swore by the root of the sweet legume, which, for inexplicable reasons, turns dark after being processed and turns into what Lakritz! owner Sönke Baumeister calls 'Schwarzes Gold' [Black Gold]. The zesty sweets have always been especially popular in Scandinavia, and are now gaining more and more momentum in Berlin as well. Proof is available at this little Wilmersdorf location that regularly draws large crowds. It's been two years now that Baumeister has been fusing together anything tasty and licorice-related. You can even have pasta, mustard and jams! Black Gold's treats are being produced in many countries from Spain to Finland. Currently, chocolate refined creations are at the top of the list, for example those of Swedish Lakritsfabriken Ramlösa or Johan Bülow of Denmark. I was sceptical but this high-end candy, coming in a little bit pricier than your average sweets experience, is actually delicious and definitely worth it. My son's day was made with a meter long liquorice Cowboy string and I treated myself to a little ammonia-bonbon filled with a chocolate-coated nut at its core. Another big thing coming is cooking with licorice. That's why one of Black Gold's employees will be offering cooking classes in the near future, bookable right at the store. All licorice everything! famous for its water sports and beautiful sunsets is also plagued by marine pollution and a huge issue of plastic waste… A tide of hope however is on the rise with schoolchildren being encouraged to address these issues while driving towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) For four youngsters who had their own project called [...] is also plagued by marine pollution and a huge issue of plastic waste… For four youngsters who had their own project called Goodbye Plastics that aims to utilise the plastic washed ashore on the beach of their village Kandakuliya to create useful products the opportunity to see the greater potential for their effort came last month on a visit to Berlin The visit was a first for the youth from Kalpitiya and a giant step ahead owner of the hotel Kitesurfing Lanka founded ‘the Inter Municipality Partnership Project’ with Gianna from Merijaan They linked local authorities like the pradeshiya sabha and the education department of Kalpitiya and the town council of Berlin Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf The partnership instigated Education Box #2030 a tool used to educate students aged 12-16 in Kalpitiya and Berlin about marine protection Six schools from Kalpitiya linked hands with four schools in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf It was from among many projects from the six schools that Goodbye Plastics was chosen The children who decided to bid adieu to the ‘sea-monster’ were from Kandakuliya Sinhala Vidyalaya and the Kandakuliya Muslim Maha Vidyalaya The delegation organised by Kitesurfing Lanka that went to Berlin comprised Zainab Haifa and Sona Waranakulasuriya accompanied by Dilsiri Welikala (co-founder of Kitesurfing Lanka) Mangala Ramanayake (Pradeshiya Sabha Secretary Saheela Vijeyaratnam (Principal) and Kasun Dewpura (Teacher) Says Thakeisha de Silva: “The 10-day trip to Berlin meticulously facilitated by the Municipality of Berlin Charlottenburg- Wilmersdorf offered a multi-layered experience for the students The first five days were dedicated to the International Youth Conference where they presented their project ‘Goodbye Plastics; Building a Plastic-Free Future for a Sustainable Fishing Village of Kandakuliya Kalpitiya’ on an international stage alongside participants from Italy Sharing ideas: The youngsters from Kalpitiya with other young people in Berlin they engaged in workshops on specific water-related topics fostering connections and networking with like-minded youth aged 12 to 21 included visits to three partnering schools in the district of Charlottenburg Wilbersdorf learned about sustainability practices in the Berlin schools and laid the groundwork for future collaborations.” The products made in the Goodbye Plastics project are sold in the local community to generate income supporting the primary objectives of the project advocating for change with local authorities and collaborating with like-minded organizations to create new and sustainable policies that they are well on their way to be future leaders able to actively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 Searching for an ideal partner? Find your soul mate on Hitad.lk, Sri Lanka's favourite marriage proposals page With Hitad.lk matrimonial advertisements you have access to thousands of ads from potential suitors who are looking for someone just like you Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka