Overview

• About 300 people swam near Museumsinsel on June 17 to protest the 100-year ban on bathing in the Spree.
• Verein Flussbad Berlin argues modern, real-time water monitoring shows the river is safe for swimming most of the year.
• The Berlin Senate Administration cites safety, hygiene, legal hurdles, wastewater overflow during heavy rain as reasons to maintain the ban.
• Ongoing tests by the Kompetenzzentrum Wasser are assessing water quality with results expected later in 2025.
• District councilor Ephraim Gothe says creating pilot bathing sites at the Spreekanal by summer 2026 is realistic.