Suche
Mein Konto
Cologne pulls the emergency brake: Bathing ban on the Rhine has been decided!
Cologne decides to ban bathing in the Rhine. Ankle depth will remain permitted until the announcement in two weeks. Safety in focus.
Cologne pulls the emergency brake: Bathing ban on the Rhine has been decided!
The city of Cologne has sent a clear signal: a ban on swimming in the Rhine was passed with a large majority in the city council. This topic was addressed today, September 5, 2025, in the Deutschlandfunk program, where the details of the new decision were presented. The city administration originally planned a strict ban on entry, but after extensive discussions and an amendment submitted by the Greens, CDU, SPD, Left and Volt factions, this plan was adjusted.
From now on it is allowed to go into the water up to ankle height in Cologne. This represents a certain compromise to take into account the dangers of local inland navigation and water level fluctuations. Ralf Mayer, the head of the Cologne public order office, expressed concerns in this context and emphasized that a general ban on entry could be viewed as reasonable. The dangers associated with the current and, not least, the sad numbers we have recorded in the Rhine this year - ten people have already drowned - make such a measure necessary.
Preparations for implementation
The bathing ban will come into force after an official announcement, which will take place in about two weeks. If the new ban is violated, those who do not adhere to the regulations face fines of up to 1,000 euros. The city's public order service will carry out checks both on land and from the water in cooperation with the water police and the DLRG (German Life Saving Society). Attention is paid to clarifying and informing before fine proceedings are initiated.
The serious background
The problem of drowning in Germany is serious and does not only affect the Rhine. Loud n-tv Every year, several hundred people drown in swimming accidents, most of which occur in inland waters, far from the coast. The DLRG has made it clear that rivers, lakes and canals are among the greatest sources of danger. In 2019, approximately 362 people drowned in inland waters, with the majority of tragic incidents occurring in standing water.
The situation is particularly oppressive for children and young people. According to DLRG President Achim Haag, it may be due to the younger generation's declining swimming skills - many primary schools can no longer offer swimming lessons, and the waiting lists for swimming courses are often one to two years. After all, more than half of primary school graduates are no longer safe swimmers. This shows how important public swimming pools are, not just for sport and leisure.
The city of Cologne has made an important decision to counteract the danger for swimmers in the Rhine. The new bathing ban will certainly spark some debate, but the safety of citizens is the top priority. It remains to be hoped that the measure will bear fruit and such tragedies can be avoided in the future.