☀️ Guten Morgen, Berlin!
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Chance of Rain: 3%
Sunrise: 7:47 AM | Sunset: 4:00 PM
Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Wednesday, November 26 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 208 sources so you don't have to.
🫶 Witnessed an act of kindness lately? Berlin can be grey, but the people don’t have to be. Whether it was a stranger returning a lost wallet or a nice chat at the Späti, tell us about a small act of kindness you witnessed lately. Help us brighten the next newsletter by sharing it with the community. Tell us what you saw!
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🇩🇪 Senate adopts "heat action plan" for Berlin
The Berlin Senate has adopted a new “heat action plan” to better protect residents from rising temperatures. The plan combines 72 measures, some already underway, including “Cooling Points” in public buildings for rest and hydration, more drinking fountains, additional street trees and green spaces, and heat helpers in large housing estates. (Tagesspiegel)
Germany is experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves as the climate warms. The German Weather Service reported that 2023 was the second-warmest year since records began in 1881, with an average temperature of 10.6 °C, which is 2.2 °C above the 1961–1990 baseline. Such extremes raise health risks, especially in dense cities. (Deutscher Wetterdienst)
Heat is a leading weather-related killer. Across Europe, the summer of 2022 alone was linked to an estimated 61,000 heat-related deaths, highlighting what is at stake if adaptation lags. (Nature Medicine)
🇩🇪 Potential restrictions for temporary rentals
Green city officials in a Berlin district want to restrict temporary furnished rentals. Green councillor Florian Schmidt argues that most advertised apartments are now rented furnished and for limited periods, often at sharply inflated prices. The district aims to prohibit this practice, including at the state-owned company Berlinovo, although it currently lacks full data on its stock. (Tagesspiegel Checkpoint)
In Germany’s five largest cities, furnished apartments now cost about €10 per m² more than unfurnished units. In Berlin the gap reaches €17.70, with furnished flats averaging €36.82 per m², and making up around 35 % of listings by late 2023, especially in small-unit segments. (REFIRE)
A key driver is a legal loophole. Rentals classed as “temporary use” and “furnished” are largely exempt from rent control rules and many misappropriation limits for holiday-style sublets. Landlords can also demand loosely justified furniture surcharges, which turn regular homes into highly profitable serviced apartments. (The Guardian)
🇩🇪 Sick leave in Germany is increasing
Sick leave in Germany has risen sharply since 2021, according to data from company health insurance funds (BKK). The main causes are respiratory diseases such as Covid‑19, flu and colds, as well as mental health conditions and musculoskeletal problems like back pain or osteoarthritis. Regional gaps are large, and physically demanding jobs show especially high absence. (Berliner Zeitung)
Statutory insurers reported an average of 19.4 sick days per employee in 2023, up from 18.4 in 2022 and about 15 in 2020. Respiratory infections accounted for roughly one quarter of all sick days in 2022, far above pre‑pandemic levels. (Techniker Krankenkasse)
Mental illness has also become a major driver of long absences. In 2022, mental and behavioral disorders caused about 19.6 % of all sick days in Germany’s statutory system, although they represented a smaller share of individual cases. Average spells for depression or anxiety often exceed 30 days, which amplifies pressure on employers and social insurance. (Bundesministerium für Gesundheit)
⚡ Quick Hits
🇩🇪 From December: Berliners can expect these changes | Berliners face both upgrades and new costs. Long‑distance rail links and airport access improve significantly. At the same time, some commuter routes, street parking, and public broadcasting rules become notably stricter.
🇬🇧 U1 and U3 suspended for four months starting in January | The work focuses on repairing a damaged ceiling at Nollendorfplatz, Berlin’s only four-line hub. Around 560,000 daily passengers face disruptions. Extra U2 trains and replacement buses aim to absorb demand.
🇩🇪 “Not a private matter”: This is what the Berlin Senate is doing for the safety of women | Berlin senators outline justice, policing, education, housing and transport measures, including more women’s shelters, extended restraining powers, school prevention, safer public transport and prioritized social housing for women fleeing violence.
🇬🇧 Berlin relies on its own AI assistant in administration | BärGPT is an open-source AI tool for Berlin’s public administration. It automates routine text and document tasks, aims to ease staff shortages, and follows strict data protection rules.
🇩🇪 New job plus affordable lease: Berlin entrepreneurs are now building apartments for their employees themselves. | Berlin entrepreneurs form a housing cooperative that builds 112 staff apartments with subsidized rents from €7 to €11 per square meter. The model aims to attract scarce specialists and revive traditional company housing.
📅 Events Today
🎟️ Christmas at the Tierpark | November 21, 2025 - January 10, 2026 | From €15,90 | A historic palace glows amid 30 giant light sculptures. A two-kilometre trail winds through illuminated trees and water shows. Families enjoy a nostalgic steam carousel and festive food stalls.
🎟️ This weekend: Japanmarkt Berlin | November 30, 2025 | Not yet known | The market showcases Japanese-inspired design, fashion, and food. Local makers host hands-on workshops. A kimono fashion show pairs live music with seasonal gift ideas.
🎟️ This weekend: Charlottenwalk - Gallery Tour in Charlottenburg | November 29, 2025 | Varies depending on the event | Dozens of galleries throw open their doors. Art spans paintings, sculptures, photography and bold installations. You will find fresh openings and hidden gems (including early 20th-century works).
💬 What Berliners Are Talking About
🗣️ Scam: Stadtwerke klingeln an Haustür | Reddit users warn against scammers posing as utility employees (Stadtwerke) at doorsteps. Advice includes refusing entry, never showing bills, and immediately using cancellation rights if a contract was signed.
🗣️ Driving school in English? | While theory exams can be in English, the practical exam is legally required to be in German. "Fahrschule Next" is recommended.
🗣️ Places like Fabrika Tbilisi in Berlin? | Responses indicate Berlin lacks this exact communal vibe, but suggest RAW for aesthetics, or St. Oberholz and Factory as imperfect alternatives.
🚴 Fun Fact: Berlin is very bike-friendly – the city has a 2,376 km cycling network, and many main streets have protected bike lanes. You can even cycle the path of the former Berlin Wall around the city.
👋 That's a wrap! Thank you for reading.
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