Lakes, rivers, and canals are part of everyday life for many Berliners – used for Lakes, rivers and canals are part of everyday life for many Berliners, whether for recreation, leisure, culture, work or neighbourhood engagement. In a city that is growing and becoming denser, water is gaining new significance as a public space: as one of the last open places where there is still room for ideas, encounters and diverse uses. However, more and more people – Berliners and visitors alike – are using the water for leisure activities. This also leads to conflicts: Commercial shipping, water sports and leisure traffic share limited space. Residents report noise, rubbish and insecurity.
On 3 August 2025, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at DOCK 10, visitBerlin invites citizens to take part in a workshop to share their perspectives and everyday experiences. The event will be facilitated and moderated by the nexus Institute.
The programme begins with a diverse panel discussion, bringing together voices from tourism, politics, administration, and civil society practice. Panelists will discuss the Berlin Water Tourism Strategy, current awareness campaigns, and key challenges. This exchange helps build a shared understanding and common ground for the participatory working phase.
The results of the workshop provide impetus – for better communication, visitor guidance, consideration and new forms of cooperation between administration, providers and residents. The workshop is part of the accompanying citizen participation programme for Berlin’s water tourism concept with the guiding principle: ‘Compatible coexistence, balance and sustainability.
Click here for the project website.
Duration: 07/25 – 09/25
Client: visitBerlin
Team: Katharina Fender (Project manager), Max Raucamp (Deputy project management), Jakob Birkenhäger (moderation)
Picture: Katja Xenikis – stock.adobe.com