From a far-right scandal to the legalisation of weed, 2024 was a year of dramatic shifts in Berlin. Political tensions flared, while cultural landmarks faced an uncertain future. Amidst the chaos, the city even embraced some long-awaited Digitalisierung. These are some of Berlin’s biggest news stories of the year.
Berlin techno added to UNESCO cultural heritage list
UNESCO defines intangible cultural heritage as evolving cultural expressions passed down through generations, and now, Berlin’s booming club beats have officially passed muster. Sounds like a perfect excuse to party – after all, you’re just preserving culture!
AfD politicians discuss plans for “remigration” in a Potsdam villa
We were mere days into the new year when a political scandal – perhaps the scandal of the year – came flying through the gate. A Correctiv investigation reported that high-ranking AfD politicians, CDU members, neo-Nazis and wealthy business people gathered in November 2023 at a villa in Potsdam to discuss strategies for the German far-right to gain power. Investigative journalists from Correctiv covertly shot photos outside the event, where Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner outlined a plan for “remigration” that would deport asylum seekers, foreign nationals with residency status and “unassimilated citizens”. The plans included creating a “model state” in North Africa to house deportees.
Following his presentation, Sellner was initially banned from re-entering the country, but the decision was overturned in June. The attendees, which allegedly included business figures like backwerk owner Hans-Christian Limmer and entrepreneur Christian Goldschagg, were asked for donations of at least €5,000. You wouldn’t think that following a scandal of this magnitude the AfD would poll as high as it currently does, but the party is the second-most popular in Germany. The group is once again under increased scrutiny by domestic intelligence, with some lawmakers pushing for a formal ban on the party, though this remains a complex legal issue. Prominent CDU members were also implicated by the report, prompting disciplinary discussions within the party, further intensifying the political ramifications of the exposé. What a time to be alive!
High time: Weed became legal
It was puff-puff-pass as soon as the clock struck midnight on April 1, and no, it wasn’t an April Fools’ joke: Germany finally legalised weed. While it was a joyous occasion for the many Berliners who celebrated by lighting up at the Brandenburg Gate, the ‘green’ legalisation came with a set of restrictions. Under the new law, adults over age 18 can carry up to 25 grams and grow three plants at home. Public consumption? Sure, but only in designated areas.
So no lighting up on pedestrian streets or near playgrounds. The reform is aimed at cracking down on the black market, with Health Minister Karl Lauterbach giving the policy a thumbs-up as a significant step forward in drug law reform. And that’s not all – social ‘cannabis clubs’ were set to open in July, with a strict 500-member cap. However, the rollout of these clubs is taking time. Progress is slow, as there’s plenty of red tape to navigate – maybe they’ve been smoking too much, you know how it goes.
450,000 depressed people in Berlin
In late October, just in time for the darkness to descend, a “Health Atlas” report from AOK health insurance revealed that Berlin’s depression rate is high, with about 450,000 residents (or roughly 13.3% of the population) affected. This makes Berlin one of Germany’s most depressed cities. So much for this being “the place to be”.
That’s bananas: Cocaine found in Lidl crates
Workers at the supermarket chain Lidl were surprised to find 95 kilograms of cocaine stashed inside crates of bananas. The police reported the drugs had a street value of around €7 million.
Self-Determination Act: Germany makes changing legal gender easier
In April, the Bundestag passed the Self-Determination Act, simplifying legal name and gender changes. Since August, when applications became available, over 1,200 applications have been filed in Berlin. Since November, transgender, intersex and non-binary individuals have been able to change their gender with just a declaration – no expert opinions or court hearings necessary.
#BerlinistKultur: Artists and citizens rally against culture budget cuts
Berlin’s culture budget cuts, amounting to €130 million, have sparked widespread protest under the banner #BerlinistKultur. This drastic measure, part of a broader austerity plan, threatens the city’s cultural identity by jeopardising institutions like theaters, museums, and the club scene. Artists, institutions, and citizens are rallying against the cuts, fearing a loss of jobs, opportunities, and the city’s unique cultural vibrancy.
Python haunts Hasenheide
Strange sights have surely been seen in Neukölln’s infamous Volkspark Hasenheide over the years, but a four-metre-long tiger python was not on that list until March this year. Sadly (or perhaps thankfully, we’re not quite sure) the reptile was already dead when it was found, the cause being salmonella, which had led to severe blood poisoning.
Attack of the anarchists: Amazon tower vandalised and Tesla factory set on fire
Berlin’s image as cheap, cool and creative has slowly faded with rising rents, tech startups and higher cost of living, perfectly encapsulated by Amazon and Tesla having set up shop here. Yet, the city’s anarchist spirit remains strong. In May, activists targeted Amazon’s headquarters by vandalising the tower. The Tesla Gigafactory was also set on fire, with the left-wing group Vulkan claiming responsibility for the arson.
A disappearing act: More club closures
It’s a tough pill for the city’s nocturnal creatures to swallow, but the Berlin club scene is in serious trouble. Just this year, two of Berlin’s most popular clubs announced their impending closures. Watergate, a renowned riverside location, said New Year’s Eve would be the last chance for clubbers to bid the club farewell. After 22 years, Watergate is citing “new challenges” that make survival increasingly difficult.
Meanwhile, Renate announced that its doors will close at the end of 2025; their landlord, the Padovicz Group – a real estate developer known for snapping up Berlin properties with little regard for the city’s cultural scene – has declined to renew their lease. Beloved for its Alice in Wonderland vibe, Renate has offered clubbers a home for hedonistic adventures since 2007. With the venue being nudged out, Berlin’s world-famous subcultural terrain is looking more corporate by the day. So, savour these remaining dancefloor moments – from a sweaty euphoria watching the sunrise over the Spree to Club-Mate-fuelled early mornings – while you still can.
The never-ending BVG saga
The Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe: Berlin’s beloved and somewhat comedy-prone transportation provider. There seems to never be a dull moment with them, and this year was no exception. It began back in March when a ticket inspector was bitten by a passenger trying to dodge the fare. Then came BVG’s departure from X. Much like a ride on the U-Bahn, the information on their account was a mix of funny, unhinged and occasionally helpful.
True to form, they abandoned X with a witty statement – “End of the line: We are leaving X” – citing the platform’s “communicative environment” as incompatible with company values. Now, all six official BVG channels on X are inactive. Finally, in September, the BVG announced that their buses would no longer accept cash. Payments are now accepted only via card – Spätis and restaurants could learn a thing or two.
Thaipark reopens at new location
Thaipark in Wilmersdorf’s Preußenpark has been serving the best spice-infused dishes in the city since the 1990s. However, its popularity was not enough to keep it from being uprooted by the district, which cited noise complaints and neighbourhood disruption. The weekly food fest then moved temporarily to Jules B-Part until reopening as a street market on Württembergische Straße in June under the name Thai Street Food Market.
A prayer answered: Berlin finally allows address registration online
Remember those 6am lines outside the Bürgeramt, hoping for a “quick” Anmeldung appointment? Those days are over! In October, the city of Berlin showed that it’s finally ready for the digital age as they announced the arrival of their online address registration system.
