Sommerbad Neukölln

“A penny for your thoughts?” The old woman sitting next to me on this bench at Sommerbad Neukölln smiled, gesturing towards the bustling pool. “I’ve seen a lot of summers here, you know.” Sommerbad Neukölln, affectionately nicknamed “Columbiabad,” has seen its share of stories unfold since its grand opening in 1951 by West Berlin’s mayor, Ernst Reuter. It was the first outdoor pool in West Berlin after World War II, built with funds from the Marshall Plan. The architect, Bruno Grimmek, designed a space for the people, a place of respite and recreation. The original sports pool, diving tower, and “Volksbecken” (people’s pool) still stand today, echoes of a bygone era. Those curved slides in the “Volksbecken” you see in old photographs have given way to a massive 83-meter water slide, the longest in Berlin. Imagine the shrieks of delight as bathers hurtle down! Sommerbad Neukölln reopened in 2015 after extensive renovations, breathing new life into this beloved community hub. Today, you can enjoy the 50-meter swimming pool, a multi-purpose pool, a diving platform (though currently closed), that thrilling water slide, a baby pool, and a sprawling lawn shaded by 60 trees of various species. There’s even a snack bar for those midday hunger pangs. Sommerbad Neukölln is more than just a pool. It’s a microcosm of Berlin, a place where cultures converge, and stories intertwine. The pool has faced challenges, incidents that have made headlines. Yet, amidst it all, it remains a vibrant testament to the resilience and spirit of the city. As the sun sets, casting a warm glow over Sommerbad Neukölln, one can almost hear the whispers of history echoing in the gentle splash of the water, a reminder of the summers past, and the promise of summers yet to come.