Overview

• Meerbusch's emergency ordinance took effect Tuesday, making it the third city in North Rhine-Westphalia to allow only ankle-deep access to the Rhine.
• The measure covers roughly 11 kilometers between the Krefeld city border and Düsseldorf-Lörick and mirrors Düsseldorf's wording on what counts as bathing.
• Violations are administrative offenses punishable by fines of up to €1,000, with municipal regulatory officers increasing patrols to enforce the rules.
• Authorities point to safety and workload concerns, citing ten Rhine deaths in NRW by the end of July per the DLRG and 25 Meerbusch callouts for 'person in the Rhine' since January 2024.
• Cologne is preparing a council vote on a similar ban while Krefeld reviews implementation, and Düsseldorf persuaded Google to rename 'Paradiesstrand' to 'Rheinstrand' to discourage risky bathing.