Water Protest - Boat Owners Demonstrate Against Anchor Ban on the Spree

Christian Klumpp

The SPREEPUBLIK collective plans to protest against the anchor ban on large parts of the Spree River this Sunday. "We do not accept such a far-reaching restriction of water use without any involvement from associations and local initiatives," says Arik Rohloff, chairman of the SPREEPUBLIK association, a group of art and culture rafts. The goal is to have the federal government revoke the regulation. A petition is being used to help with this.

What is it about exactly:

Since June 1, a federal regulation has been in place that largely bans anchoring and docking along a 35-kilometer stretch of the Spree and docking outside of approved mooring sites. In certain parts of the Spree, such as Rummelsburger See, Insel der Jugend (Island of Youth), or the Müggelspree, it is still allowed, but there is a requirement to be present on board. The regulation is in effect until at least mid-2027. For many boat owners and mooring operators, this came as a surprise. Now, the association is calling for public support and has organized a water protest on the Spree.

Water Protest with Final Rally

According to one member of the association, there is a lack of a roundtable to discuss and address problems. Many houseboat owners, who live on the water for extended periods, view this as an infringement on their daily lives.

On Sunday, people on houseboats, rafts, motorboats, electric boats, kayaks, and inflatable boats are called to come together and move from the Rummelsburger Bay towards the city center. The route will go along the Island of Youth and up to the Spree Canal near Museum Island. A final rally is planned at 2:00 p.m. at Museum Island.

Signatures for the repeal of the regulation are also possible via an "Online Petition."

Images: FREEPIK