Overview
- The Facebook page “DDR 2.0” drew more than 16,000 reactions with a nostalgic list of GDR-era market prices and the claim that five Marks once covered a family outing, triggering stark pro‑ and anti‑Ostalgie responses.
- Visitors highlight steep contemporary costs, including a Düsseldorf father who said his family spent about €300 in three hours, while an international influencer documented roughly €100 spent on food in Cologne and praised the experience with no entry fee.
- Reddit threads and local reports criticize portions and quality — from €5 “weak” mulled wine to lackluster snacks — alongside a widely shared complaint that prepacked roasted almonds weighed less than the labeled 100 grams and were weighed out of sight.
- Prices vary sharply: a photographed list from the small Dörnten market showed Glühwein at €2 and snacks for a few euros, while a separate ranking cited Dortmund’s Glühwein at €3.50 as among the cheapest in Germany.
- The debate has broadened to culture and behavior after a column by journalist Negin Behkam drew backlash over her migrant‑perspective critique, even as organizers in northern cities report strong attendance overall, with one Hamburg operator noting 25–30% lower revenue on specific sites.