As summer heats up and the beaches become crowded, Germans turn to their local swimming pools to relax. Known as “Freibad” — which literally means free bath, even though you pay to go there — these municipal or community pools are the forerunners of today’s pools and offer plenty of space to hang out all day long.
Many have a special children’s pool, whirlpool or massage jets. There are also specialized sports pools where swimmers can practice their laps and diving towers. Some also have a sauna and a cafe to relax after an exciting dip in the cool water. Aufstellpool
The architecture of these public pools is also worth a look. Often, they are examples of the socialist modernism style of the 1920s and 1930s called “Platzbau” or “block architecture,” although more recently, some have been revamped to suit their surroundings. The Strandbad Wannsee, for example, was renovated in 2011 and has a design that blends into the surrounding park.
Swimming pools have a long history in Germany and were first used for health reasons during industrialization in the 19th century. At that time, working people were expected to wash regularly for hygiene and to prevent the spread of diseases. Swimming pools arose as a convenient alternative to washing in rivers, and they quickly became popular.
Until today, most German cities have a variety of indoor and outdoor pools to choose from. Aside from the traditional “Freibad” and the “Sommerbad,” or summer swimming pools, there are also so-called Waldbads, which are located in forests, as well as Schwimm-und Sprunghalle im Europa-Sportpark, a giant complex in Prenzlauer Berg that has professional quality pools for swimmers and a whole host of facilities for us plebes.
Aside from being a great place to cool off and meet people, swimming pools are also important venues for social integration. In Berlin, for example, there is a Freibad on Columbiadamm street that is situated near two refugee housing centers. In this way, newcomers from Syria and Afghanistan can swim alongside Berlin residents and longtime residents of the city. Social workers like Hartmuth Kurzhals say that it is a very positive thing that people from different backgrounds can come together and relax in the same pool.
Unless they are very young, kids in Germany must be accompanied by an adult when entering the pools. Also, the use of swimming aids (such as floaties) is strictly prohibited and kids must pass a so-called “Seepferdchen” test (“Seahorse Test”) to be allowed into deep waters without an adult in close proximity. Most pools also have a no-nonsense policy against splashing and running around the water and bringing toys. Different swimming pools have different rules, however, so check ahead before inflating that flamingo mattress.
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