Overview
- Overath in North Rhine-Westphalia has cancelled its market after 18 months of unresolved talks over who pays for mandated barriers and guards, with organisers saying the city declined to share costs.
- In nearby Kerpen, the traditional market is off and will be replaced by a smaller, easier‑to‑secure "Genussmarkt" after officials required full perimeter closures without offering financial support.
- OVplus in Overath reports spending roughly €17,500 on security in the past 18 months and cites a Berlin administrative court ruling to argue such public‑safety costs should not fall on private organisers.
- Not all closures relate to security: Hamburg‑Rahlstedt’s market was scrapped permanently due to weak attendance and vendor income, while other towns cite renovations or low demand.
- Large, centrally organised events are moving ahead under formal security plans: Berlin’s major markets list 2025 dates, and Nuremberg says the Christkindlesmarkt will run in full with a police‑coordinated concept and no significant cost increases.