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LIVING IN GERMANY

Everything that changes in Germany in November 2020

From new lockdown rules to less taxes, these are the changes you should be aware of in November.

Published: 30 October 2020 17:52 CET
Updated: 2 November 2020 12:49 CET
Everything that changes in Germany in November 2020
A clock in Kempten, Bavaria. Photo: DPA

New airport opens

After a mammoth delay of nine years, the Berlin Brandenburg airport (BER), finally open the doors of its Terminal 1 on Saturday. During the first week of November, air traffic at BER will gradually be ramped up so that the airport can be fully utilised from November 8th.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Berlin's 'cursed' new BER airport

The coronavirus pandemic does not make the airport's take-off any easier: due to the crisis, air traffic is expected to reach a maximum of a quarter of the usual figures.

With the opening of BER, Tegel airport is scheduled to close on November 8th.

The new BER airport on Friday. Photo: DPA

New quarantine rules for travellers

From November 8th, a uniform nationwide regulation will come into force for those returning from risk areas outside Germany. As the handling of travellers from risk areas is the responsibility of the respective federal state, the regulations may vary from one state to another – some states, for example, have already brought in this rule.

The new model quarantine regulation provides for a reduction of the quarantine obligation from 14 to 10 days. The quarantine obligation can be lifted at the earliest five days after entry, provided that a negative coronavirus test is available.

According to the German government, the entry registration form for travellers will be online from November 8th.

New lockdown measures

Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders have introduced a month-long lockdown starting on Monday November 2nd in a bid to get the coronavirus situation under control.

Restaurants, bars, cultural institutions, and sports facilities will all have to close their doors, and only small groups of up to 10 people from two separate households will be allowed to meet in public. Schools and Kitas, however, will remain open. 

A restaurant in Cologne open for a last few days before the lockdown in November. Photo: DPA

Businesses deemed essential such as supermarkets, home appliance and construction stores will remain open but only one customer per 10 square metres will be allowed. 

READ ALSO: Merkel announces new German shutdown for month of November

Start of the Nutri-Score

The Nutri-Score, a nutrition label for food packets, may be printed on packaging of finished products from November onwards. The logo is intended to assess the nutritional quality of the product using a five-point scale. You can read the exact composition of Nutri-Score here.

There is no obligation to label it, its use is voluntary and lies with the manufacturer, reports the trade journal Werben & Verkaufen.

Mobile laboratories for coronavirus tests go into production

The truck manufacturer “MAN” plans to begin manufacturing vans equipped with the technology to perform a reliable and quick coronavirus test in November.

As Wirtschaftswoche reports, the so-called Corona-Mobiles are to be equipped with various analysis devices that enable a test to be carried out using the so-called PCRT method, which is the most reliable corona detection method to date.

Less chemicals in textiles

From November onwards, the use of various chemicals in textile production will be restricted or even banned. A full 33 substances that are known or suspected to be carcinogenic will be subject to stricter limits on their use in textiles – including arsenic, lead, benzene, cadmium, chromium and others.

Clearly marked prescriptions

As of Sunday November 1st, doctors must provide clear information on prescriptions about the dosage of the prescribed medication. If the patient has to take one tablet each in the morning, at noon and in the evening, this will be marked “1-1-1” on the prescription in future.
 
When prescribing narcotics, the instructions for use must also be documented with individual and daily dosages.
 
Building Energy Act

The Building Energy Act comes into force on November 1st. Therefore, the following will apply from November for house renovation: in addition to landlords and sellers, from now on estate agents are also obliged to present the energy certificate and hand it over when the contract is concluded. This means that they must have all information available when they advertise the property.

In future, renovation will also require a consultation. Restrictions on oil and coal heating systems are planned from 2026.

A new building being constructed in Lychen, Brandenburg in October. Photo: DPA

New eID card for EU citizens

To ensure that online services provided by the German authorities can also be used by foreign EU citizens, those concerned will be able to apply for an eID card from November 1st. The new chip card serves as an electronic proof of identity, which was previously only available in combination with an ID card, reports DPA.

Those who did not have German citizenship were therefore excluded from so-called e-government services. This gap is now closed by the eID card, on which a person's most important identification data is stored.

Change of tax class

Married couples or registered civil partners can apply for a change of tax class for the calendar year 2020 by November 30th at the latest. The change is only possible once a year and must be submitted in paper form to the tax office or on the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

A lot of sales

No, Singles Day doesn't refer to a new dating website, but rather a day on November 11th, in which many retailers will significantly lower their prices. This is followed by Black Friday on November 27th and Cyber Monday on November 30th.

This year there will be a lot of offers, especially in online shops. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of retailers are expected to go online, several for the first time, with special offers. 

Deadline for motor vehicle insurance change

November 30th is the annual cut-off date for the change of car insurance. This is because notice of termination must be given up to one month before the end of the term, and the vast majority of contracts run until the end of December. Without notice of termination, the insurance is extended by one year.

As part of the coronavirus economic stimulus package, the German government wants to motivate citizens to buy more fuel-efficient cars: Here you can find out which vehicles will be affected by the upcoming motor vehicle tax and become more expensive.

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LIVING IN GERMANY

How to make the most of Germany’s long summer days

In Germany the sun sets late and rises early in the summer months. The Local's reporters share their favourite activities for taking advantage of the long hours of daylight.

Published: 20 June 2024 17:02 CEST
Updated: 21 June 2024 15:29 CEST
How to make the most of Germany's long summer days

Germany doesn’t quite get to see the “midnight sun” – how’s it going up there Norway? – but it is located far enough north to enjoy rather long days during the late spring and summer seasons.

The summer solstice, called Sommersonnenwende in German, marks the longest day and also the beginning of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.

In the town of Flensburg, which is near Germany’s northern border with Denmark, the sun sets at 10:06 pm and rises at 4:41 on the summer solstice, amounting to approximately 17 hours and 24 minutes of daylight.

Central and southern German cities get a little less daylight, but still enjoy late night sunsets and early morning sun rises. Berlin, for example, gets 16 hours and 50 minutes of daylight on the solstice. Munich gets just over 16 hours of light on the longest day.

Especially for people who moved to Germany from more southerly latitudes, watching the sunset at 10 pm or noticing the sky lighten at four in the morning can be a surreal experience.

But of course the flip side of long days in the summer are long nights in the winter, giving you all the more reason to take advantage of all the light while you can.

Here’s a few things to do with your extra daylight hours during the German summer:

Add outdoor sports to your ‘Feierabend’ routine

Germans place a high value on work-life balance, and this is perhaps best seen in the importance placed on the Feierabend, or your after-work time.

READ ALSO: Why every country should get on board with the German Feierabend

During the winter having a dinner date, or more simply a Feierabendbierchen, are the main after-work activities that come to mind. But during Germany’s long summer days, you still have plenty of daylight left to go skating in the park, or enjoy a bicycle tour of the city, even if you work until 6 pm or later.

sunset jog

Jogging, biking and other sports are all possible after work during Germany’s long summer days. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Peter Kneffel

Some people really take advantage of the extended light – using that extra time for physical activities that they might not otherwise get to do during work days. It’s not uncommon to see people stand-up paddle boarding on the river, or rock climbing, late into the evening in the summer.

Go for an early morning stroll

Germany’s early morning sunrises can be a bit of a controversial topic.

For the early birds, they offer an opportunity to get ahead of the day before your work day or other obligations begin. For the night owls who currently lack shutters, they can be an unwelcome wake-up call.

But with the sky lightening as early as 4:30 am, whether you’ve freshly woken up, or are heading home after a long night out, you may want to consider taking advantage of a unique opportunity for a morning walk. 

Especially for those who tend to sleep in, an early stroll can allow you to see the world anew – complete with birdsongs in the air and the smell of freshly baked bread wafting out of local bakeries.

Enjoy some of Germany’s summer events and festivals

The summer season is a good one for outdoor events and festivals in Germany, and especially in June and July, attendees can add a catching a late evening sunset to a fest day’s itinerary.

There are a number of festivals worth checking out in June in Germany, including some events scheduled for the longest day itself, such as this solstice celebration in Conneforde or Fête de la Musique in Berlin.

A couple others worth mentioning are the Tollwood Summer Festival in Munich or the Rose and Light performance night in Frankfurt’s Palm Garden.

Stay tuned for a list of July events we’ll be sharing soon.

Catch a film at an open air cinema

Germany loves open air cinemas – it’s home to hundreds of them – and a mid-summer eve is really the best time to experience one.

To find an outdoor theatre near you, try searching for ‘Freiluftkino’ + your city name. 

But be sure to keep languages in mind while looking over screening programs. If you don’t yet have the German skills to enjoy a movie auf Deutsche, you’ll want to look out for films marked OV (original version), OmU (original version with German subtitles) or OmeU (orginal version with English subtitles). 

an open air cinema

Spectators watch a film at the open-air cinema in Oranienburg Castle Park at dusk. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jens Kalaene

Watch (or play) some football

This year, you have the added option of watching Euro 2024 football games – often late into the evening – until July 14th.

Of course watching football is something you can always enjoy in the comfort of your own home. But this year you can join in the real-world frenzy that is the UEFA Euros Championship outside at one of the official fan zones, or otherwise at your favourite beer garden, späti or sports bar with outdoor seating.

This has the added benefit of allowing you to watch the game, while also taking in a the summer breeze.

And if watching Die Mannschaft score a couple goals is particularly inspiring, you might still have enough light to head to your local park and kick a ball around after.

Take a wild dip in refreshing waters

Summer in Germany is often accompanied by at least a few heatwaves: a string of hot, sticky days when temperatures soar and it’s tempting to just stay indoors.

In warm weather, though, there’s nothing quite like venturing out to a picturesque lake or a beach along Germany’s rugged coastline and taking a wild dip.

Though you can’t expect temperatures as warm as the Mediterranean sea, that’s part of the charm: bathing in cool, refreshing waters is the ideal medicine for lethargy during those sweltering summer afternoons. 

There are a range of studies that show that outdoor swimming is good for the soul – not to mention great for your health. From releasing mood-enhancing endorphins to boosting immunity and improving cardiovascular health, it’s no wonder wild swimming is known as one of the best natural highs around. 

READ ALSO: ‘Go early and stay late’ – Your tips for making the most of Germany’s lakes

With reporting by Imogen Goodman

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