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Security Costs Split Germany’s Christmas Markets as Small Towns Cancel

New anti-terror rules are raising bills many small organisers say they cannot pay without city support.

Overview

  • Overath near Cologne has cancelled its market after the city declined to fund anti-terror measures, with the organiser reporting about €17,500 spent on security over 18 months.
  • Kerpen will run a smaller “Genussmarkt im Advent” from November 28 on an easier-to-secure site to cut barrier and staffing requirements.
  • The historic market in Rostock’s IGA Park has been called off again for 2025, and Hamburg-Rahlstedt’s “Winterterrassen” was permanently closed after weak attendance and low vendor income.
  • Major Berlin events are proceeding with announced dates and features, including Alexanderplatz (Nov 24–Dec 26), Rotes Rathaus (Nov 24–Dec 30) and the Humboldt Forum’s Wintermarkt (Nov 19–Jan 4).
  • Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt opens November 28 to December 24 with a police-coordinated security plan, while fact-checkers note that nationwide cancellations remain limited.