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Germany’s Christmas Markets Open as Magdeburg Reopens Under Tight Security

One year after a deadly vehicle attack in Magdeburg, officials reopened the market under a 3.5‑tonne vehicle ban with reinforced barriers.

Overview

  • Magdeburg’s market proceeded after a regulatory pause, with concrete blocks, sandbags, metal fencing, black bollards, and stepped-up police and security patrols in place.
  • City authorities barred vehicles over 3.5 tonnes in the inner city to compensate for protection certified only up to that weight, a measure accepted by the Landesverwaltungsamt.
  • Organizers and many visitors in Magdeburg framed the reopening as an act of resilience, while some residents objected to festivities at the site of last year’s deaths; the attacker is on trial nearby.
  • Düsseldorf’s city-center markets are open with seven themed areas and about 160 stalls, as Roncalli’s promenade adds six stands and vendors debut new items such as a hot espresso martini and matcha-coated almonds through December 30.
  • Bremen’s main market opens November 24 with more than 170 stalls plus the Schlachte-Zauber and the Ansgari-Winterwald, while cities including Dortmund, Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen, and Berlin-Neukölln stage additional neighborhood events expected to draw large crowds.