Berlin Parks: “There Are No Germans in Berlin
Berlin's public parks have become flashpoints as mass grilling events dominated by migrant groups spark complaints from residents about noise, smoke, and the increasingly foreign character of green spaces.
Volkspark Friedrichshain, one of Berlin’s central public parks, has become emblematic of broader demographic shifts in the German capital, according to Nius, which conducted an investigation into conditions in the city’s parks as summer grilling season began.
The scene at Volkspark Friedrichshain reveals a dramatically transformed public space. Large groups and extended families gather weekly to grill chicken and lamb, with little German heard among the predominantly migrant crowds. Smoke fills the air while a cacophony of foreign languages creates what some describe as a parallel society within the heart of Berlin.
One park visitor from Iraq told Nius bluntly that there are no Germans left in Berlin. He explained that the capital is now primarily inhabited by foreigners, while ethnic Germans are at work as migrants relax and grill in the parks.
Multiple park visitors confirmed to Nius that they had come specifically for Muslim festival celebrations, including grilling events tied to Islamic holidays. Others stated they simply gather with their large families in the park every week.
For residents living adjacent to Volkspark Friedrichshain, the situation has become intolerable. The park operates a permit system allowing legal grilling for holders of one of 46 available grilling badges. However, neighbors report being unable to open their windows because smoke from constant grilling infiltrates their apartments.
The frustration has driven residents to action. Last year, locals launched a petition calling for respectful use and recreational access for all park users. The petition has now gathered more than 9,200 signatures.
Berlin media outlets have documented what they characterize as crisis conditions. The Berliner Morgenpost referred to the situation as “grill horror,” while the Berliner Zeitung escalated the language further, describing “grill terror” in the capital’s parks.
The controversy highlights the growing visibility of Muslim traditions and migrant cultural practices in German public spaces, raising questions about integration, cultural coexistence, and whose norms should govern shared civic areas. As temperatures rise and grilling season extends through the summer months, the tensions show no signs of abating.
The park conflicts represent a microcosm of broader demographic change in Berlin, where native residents increasingly describe feeling like strangers in their own city as migration reshapes the character of neighborhoods and public spaces across the capital.
With information from Nius
