https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Many Germans were able to visit a beer garden, dine outdoors or go swimming for the first time in months on Friday as parts of the country began easing Covid-19 curbs. https://www.thelocal.de/20210521/germans-return-to-pools-and-beer-gardens-as-some-covid-curbs-are-lifted Fri, 21 May 2021 14:36:35 +0200 germans-return-to-pools-and-beer-gardens-as-some-covid-curbs-are-lifted With pools and gyms closed under Covid-19 restrictions, a handful of Munich residents are challenging themselves with a new way to stay active - by swimming in the icy waters of the Eisbach. https://www.thelocal.de/20210119/munich-swimmers-take-to-icy-waters-in-covid-era-challenge Tue, 19 Jan 2021 15:09:27 +0100 munich-swimmers-take-to-icy-waters-in-covid-era-challenge A recent report that lifeguards had been told it was up to them to make a judgement call on saving drowning people during the pandemic caused concern among readers. We talked to the lifeguard service to set the record straight. https://www.thelocal.de/20200820/german-lifeguard-service-coronavirus-wont-stop-guards-saving-drowning-swimmers Thu, 20 Aug 2020 16:39:59 +0200 german-lifeguard-service-coronavirus-wont-stop-guards-saving-drowning-swimmers With temperatures soaring in Germany, here are our top tips for staying cool, and hydrated. https://www.thelocal.de/20190625/how-to-stay-cool-during Tue, 25 Jun 2019 12:20:56 +0200 how-to-stay-cool-during Some German states have already opened swimming pools, whereas others will be following in the coming weeks. Here's what you need to know, whether you're just taking a dip or swimming laps. https://www.thelocal.de/20200520/what-are-the-new-rules-for-swimming-pools-in-germany Wed, 20 May 2020 13:35:28 +0200 what-are-the-new-rules-for-swimming-pools-in-germany Most outdoor pools, as well as some lakes, are opening to the public by the end of the month around Germany. But just how safe is it to go for a swim? https://www.thelocal.de/20200514/is-it-safe-to-go-swimming-in-germany-this-summer Thu, 14 May 2020 13:19:39 +0200 is-it-safe-to-go-swimming-in-germany-this-summer A 13-year-old boy in Bavaria is being praised for his swift action in saving a youngster from drowning at an outdoor pool. https://www.thelocal.de/20190710/teenager-hailed-hero-after-saving-four-year-old-boy-from-drowning-in-german-outdoor-pool Wed, 10 Jul 2019 11:18:42 +0200 teenager-hailed-hero-after-saving-four-year-old-boy-from-drowning-in-german-outdoor-pool Open-air swimming pools offer relief to the sweltering heat. But they are increasingly becoming “aggressive” places, pool bosses say, with the latest row involving hundreds of people in Düsseldorf. https://www.thelocal.de/20190701/hundreds-clash-at-freibad-in-latest-german-swimming-row Mon, 01 Jul 2019 11:09:15 +0200 hundreds-clash-at-freibad-in-latest-german-swimming-row Germany recorded its hottest ever June temperature on Wednesday, breaking a record that lasted over 70 years. https://www.thelocal.de/20190626/germany-breaks-new-june-temperature-record Wed, 26 Jun 2019 19:06:29 +0200 germany-breaks-new-june-temperature-record People are flocking to Germany's swimming pools to cool down this summer. But a staff shortage is causing problems across the country. https://www.thelocal.de/20190619/german-pools-cut-opening-hours-amid-lifeguard-shortage Wed, 19 Jun 2019 14:34:50 +0200 german-pools-cut-opening-hours-amid-lifeguard-shortage Many people head to the water to cool down during Germany’s hot spells. However, swimming in lakes and pools can be dangerous, as a series of deaths across the country show. https://www.thelocal.de/20190603/four-die-in-swimming-accidents-across-germany Mon, 03 Jun 2019 12:14:20 +0200 four-die-in-swimming-accidents-across-germany When the weather gets hot, Germans like nothing more than to take to the water. Yet swimming in lakes and rivers can also be highly dangerous, as a series of six tragic accidents in just 24 hours attests. https://www.thelocal.de/20180730/six-deaths-in-24-hours-as-germany-suffers-spate-of-swimming-accidents Mon, 30 Jul 2018 18:49:01 +0200 six-deaths-in-24-hours-as-germany-suffers-spate-of-swimming-accidents Anyone who jumps into the Spree river these days runs the risk of catching e-Coli or some other nasty illness flushed out through Berlin’s sewers. But that might not be the case for too much longer. https://www.thelocal.de/20180712/the-ambitious-plan-to-turn-berlins-central-canal-into-a-giant-swimming-pool Thu, 12 Jul 2018 19:20:24 +0200 the-ambitious-plan-to-turn-berlins-central-canal-into-a-giant-swimming-pool We've skipped spring and gone straight to summer; as such you're probably ready to cool off with a swim in a Bad or a See. After over 400 people drowned last year, the German lifesaving society has come up with some swimming tips and has debunked some swimming myths. https://www.thelocal.de/20180607/all-you-need-to-know-about-keeping-safe-while-swimming-this-summer Thu, 07 Jun 2018 18:25:53 +0200 all-you-need-to-know-about-keeping-safe-while-swimming-this-summer A new report released by the European Union on Tuesday has found that 98 percent of the 2,287 German lakes, seas and rivers examined meet the bathing water standard. But the study also revealed which sites do not make the grade. https://www.thelocal.de/20180529/almost-100-percent-of-german-swimming-spots-have-high-water-quality Tue, 29 May 2018 16:10:58 +0200 almost-100-percent-of-german-swimming-spots-have-high-water-quality A dark aspect to the warm and sunny weather over the weekend in Germany is that at least two people have died due to swimming accidents in lakes. https://www.thelocal.de/20180528/at-least-two-deadly-swimming-accidents-over-summer-like-weekend Mon, 28 May 2018 11:35:42 +0200 at-least-two-deadly-swimming-accidents-over-summer-like-weekend Around 30 hardy swimmers jumped into the waters of the Sonnenbad in Karlsruhe on Friday to mark the opening of the outdoor swimming season - in chilly February weather. https://www.thelocal.de/20180223/swimmers-take-plunge-as-germanys-first-open-air-pool-of-season-opens Fri, 23 Feb 2018 15:13:31 +0100 swimmers-take-plunge-as-germanys-first-open-air-pool-of-season-opens Controversy is brewing at Germany's century-old and only women's swimming pool, over the fact that more men are now working there. https://www.thelocal.de/20170704/hundreds-sign-petition-to-kick-men-out-of-historic-women-only-baths Tue, 04 Jul 2017 18:25:42 +0200 hundreds-sign-petition-to-kick-men-out-of-historic-women-only-baths While southern Germany is all about idyllic lakes, the north means white sands stretching as far as the eye can see. These ten beaches are perfect summer getaways. https://www.thelocal.de/20170602/germany-best-beaches-holiday-swimming-summer-sand-to-do Fri, 02 Jun 2017 18:27:50 +0200 germany-best-beaches-holiday-swimming-summer-sand-to-do Two young men have been charged for molesting teenage girls in a swimming pool in a small town in North Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20170208/two-asylum-seekers-abuse-5-girls-in-swimming-pool Wed, 08 Feb 2017 10:38:22 +0100 two-asylum-seekers-abuse-5-girls-in-swimming-pool