Rhine River Bathing Prohibited in Cologne

Rhine River Swimming Prohibited in Cologne

, and Administrator

2025 September 13 . 7:40 PM

2 min read

Rhine River Swimming Prohibited in Cologne

Rhine River bathing is now forbidden in Cologne - Rhine River Bathing Prohibited in Cologne

The Rhine, a river flowing through Germany, has become the focus of water safety concerns recently. A bathing ban, initially not enforced in Duisburg, will now be implemented city-wide, starting from this Saturday.

Prior to this decision, bathing in the Rhine was not explicitly prohibited along the entire riverbank in Duisburg. However, in several other cities such as Düsseldorf, Neuss, Meerbusch, Krefeld, Dormagen, and also Duisburg, fines of up to 1,000 euros already apply for entering the Rhine deeper than ankle height.

The decision to enforce the bathing ban in Duisburg comes amidst a troubling trend. By the end of July, ten fatalities have been reported in the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), according to data from the German Life Saving Association (DLRG). The association has not provided specific data regarding fatalities in Cologne or Duisburg.

The Rhine is a dangerous river due to shipping, eddies, currents, and the high speed at which the water flows downstream. In dangerous currents, the suction can be so strong that it can pull even experienced swimmers to the bottom.

Interestingly, the bathing ban for the Rhine in Cologne is not yet in effect. It will officially come into force on October 1, 2025. However, the bathing ban in Cologne will now be punishable with a fine of up to 1,000 euros, similar to the fines already in place in other cities.

It's important to note that the bathing ban for the Rhine is not uniformly enforced throughout the entire riverbank in all mentioned cities. This inconsistency in enforcement adds another layer of complexity to the issue.

As always, the safety of the public is paramount. It's crucial for everyone to heed the warnings and adhere to the bathing bans in place to ensure their wellbeing and to respect the rules designed to protect them.