Europe's news in English

COPY LINK

LIFE IN GERMANY

Living in Germany: Six essential articles to read

Here we've gathered together some of the most popular and useful articles from recent weeks, which we think will help explain aspects of day-to-day life in Germany.

Published: 26 December 2019 13:00 CET

Living in Germany: Six essential articles to read

DPA

Property

Have you ever dreamed of buying your own Hamburg flat, converted farmhouse in Bavaria or family home in Düsseldorf?

Some of our readers have taken the plunge and bought their own property. They have shared their most valuable tips.

What you should know about buying property in Germany

Money

The Bundestag has agreed to get rid of the so-called 'solidarity tax' almost completely. What does this mean for you?

Explained: What is Germany's solidarity tax and do I have to pay it?

Health in Germany

In Germany, workplaces require employees to provide a sick note from a GP when they are ill. But do you really need to visit a doctor for the certificate?

Do you really need to see a doctor to stay off work in Germany?

Photo: Depositphotos

Working in Germany

German is not always the most intuitive language in the world, and looking for a job can leave you lost in a sea of unfamiliar vocabulary. So here’s a chance to brush up on some of the words you’ll need most when you go job-hunting.

The German words you need to know when looking for a job

Living in Germany

Finding it difficult to make friends in Germany? You're not the only one. We asked readers to share their tips on forming friendships.

The best ways to make friends in Germany

Tech

If you live in Germany and have a smartphone then these are top 10 apps you need to download to make life easier, according to those in the know.

The essential smartphone apps you need for life in Germany

Our mission at The Local Germany is to bring you the relevant news but also to give you all the information and advice you need to navigate daily life here.

If you have queries or problems regarding any aspect of life in Germany, please feel to get in touch with our team at the email address below.

[email protected]

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.

Become a Member to leave a comment.

Seven must-attend online events in Germany in April

Semperoper in Dresden. Photo: DPA

Deutsches Theatre, Berlin, Interactive online event, until April 16th 2021

‘‘16-year-old Laura finds a message in her locker on the last day of school before the lockdown. A classmate is in danger and asks her for help. But Laura cannot solve the riddles she finds in her exercise book. Since she can no longer trust anyone at her school, she asks four outsiders for help’’.

This is the plot of the interactive game with live performers hosted by Deutsches Theatre. Viewers get deeper and deeper insights into the dark machinations of the school via Zoom, Telegram and websites. In the style of escape rooms and detective games, a microcosm of corrupt clique leaders, illegal events and frightened schoolchildren unfolds.

To participate, you need a PC, a smartphone with the Telegram messenger app and a stable internet connection.

Semperoper, Dresden, Virtual performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, starting April 5th

Starting on Easter Monday, the Semperoper in Dresden invited its audience members to attend a virtual performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. A recording of Dresden’s latest opera can continue to be viewed free of charge.

Volksbühne, Berlin, Digital Collection, until further notice

Photo: DPA

Volksbühne in Berlin has various online events to check out. These include a production of Oedipus, talks on the role of instruments in the pandemic (‘Piano against Corona’) pieces by the Rosa Kollektiv in collaboration with the Rosa Luxembourg Foundation and more.

Arab Film Festival, April 21st-30th

With a selection of fresh films, the festival will present the latest film making from the Arab world. Impressive film art, gripping stories and blunt statements are the focus of this year’s official selection, paired with strong protagonists. Feature films and documentaries deal with topics such as migration, gender roles and the culture of remembrance and show a contemporary and often personal image of a turbulent region.

Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, DIGGIN’ OPERA II April 25th 6 pm-7:30 pm

Festspielhaus Baden-Baden is showing an opera production produced entirely by high school children, including writing music, creating the stage sets and costumes. Under the guidance of the best specialists in their field, the young people have worked over several months to put together a music theatre production which they will now be presenting at the Festspielhaus online

Virtual Marathon, Germany, April 11th

At the Virtual Marathon Germany, you can run anywhere in the world, alone or with friends! You can choose to run a distance of 21, ten or five kilometres.

You can set a training goal for yourself for April 11th and as a reward, you will receive a marathon package in the mail – including a medal and running shirt. In the virtual marathon, each participant can choose his or her own route. There are even prizes for winners, for which more than three hundred people have already registered.

Gämeldegalerie, Berlin, Online collection, until further notice

The National Museums in Berlin have published another virtual tour of one of their museum collections: Following the Bode Museum, the Gemäldegalerie can now also be explored digitally in its entirety and in both German and English. The gallery is showcasing its 58 rooms, 112 panoramas, and 1,200 works of art.

Url copied to clipboard!