Germany

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Welcome! 

If you have just moved to Germany, it's 

likely you are feeling somewhat 

overwhelmed. Apart from a new culture 

and language to cope with, in your first 

few weeks here you will have to sort 

out a host of practical things: somewhere 

to live, your finances, permits 

and papers, and maybe a school for 

your children and a job for your partner. 

The Expat Survival Guide will give you a 

starting point: the basic information 

you need, plus plenty of phone numbers 

for companies and organisations that 

can help you out. 

This guide is published by Expatica 

— news and information for 

expatriates and the leading voice of 

expatriate Europe. Expatica's website 

(www.expatica.com) will give you access 

to a whole world of information and 

services that will make your life in 

Germany easier and more enjoyable. 

We hope you find this guide and 

Expatica's other products useful 

— and we wish you a wonderful 

stay in Germany! 

Research: James Kennaway; David Gordon 

Smith; Editor: Simon Payn; Sales: Mike 

Mazurkiewicz; David Davis, David Concheso, 

David McGowan, Mike de Haan, Stephane Caen 

To advertise in next year's Expat Survival 

Guide, email sales@expatica.com or call Mike 

Mazurkiewicz on +49 30 2787 6182. 

Published December 2005 

© Expatica Communications BV 

Kruislaan 400, 1098 SM Amsterdam, Netherlands 

feedback@expatica.com www.expatica.com 

RELOCATION PAGE 5 

Your first few days; Residence Permits; Relocation 

Service Providers; Berlin Essentials; Cologne-Bonn 

Essentials; Düsseldorf Essentials; Frankfurt 

Essentials; Hamburg Essentials; Munich Essentials; 

Stuttgart Essentials; Marriage and Divorce; Social 

Security System; Bringing your Pets 

HOUSING PAGE 29 

Renting a Home; Buying a Home; Accommodation 

Agencies 

MONEY PAGE 36 

Banking; Taxation; Insurance 

EDUCATION PAGE 44 

Education System; How to Choose a School; School 

Listings; Language Schools 

JOBS PAGE 52 

Working in Germany 

HEALTH PAGE 55 

Healthcare System; Hospitals 

SETTLING IN PAGE 59 

Utilities; Telephones and Internet; Television, Video, 

DVD; Public Transport; Driving; Cinemas; 

Bookstores; Food from Home; Bars, Pubs and Clubs 

LISTINGS AND INDEX PAGE 72 

Embassies; Groups and Clubs; Phone Book Decoder; 

Weights and Measures; Emergency Numbers; 

Advertisers Index 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be 

reproduced, or transmitted, in any form by any means, 

electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, 

recording or any information storage or retrieval system 

without prior written permission from the publisher. 

Requests for permission should be addressed to Expatica 

Communications, Kruislaan 400, 1098 SM, Amsterdam, 

Netherlands. Expatica makes great effort to ensure the 

accuracy of information contained in this guide. However, 

we will not be responsible for errors or omissions or any 

damages, howsoever caused, which result from its use, and 

make no warranty of claims as to the quality or competence 

of businesses or professionals mentioned. Company names 

highlighted in red have paid for advertising in the guide. 

Users are advised to take care when selecting professional 

services, and to use common sense in adjusting to life in 

another country. 

WWW.EXPATICA.COM GERMANY EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE 1

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2 

Introduction 

What makes Germany tick? What are the concerns of its people? Where 

is it heading? Here is a brief introduction to the country as it enters 2006. 

Neither expats already living in Germany 

nor those thinking of moving here can have 

escaped the media reports of doom and 

gloom which have been plaguing the country 

in the last couple of years. 

The charge sheet in the case against 

Germany is a long one. Record unemployment 

of the order not seen since the 1930s. 

Stifling bureaucracy. The urgent need for 

reform, but no political will to carry it out. 

A stagnated economy. A huge budget 

deficit. 

With such pessimism abounding, expats 

could be excused for reconsidering their 

decision to live in Germany. But perhaps 

things are not as bleak as they seem. In this 

overview of the state of the nation, we'll be 

looking at where Germany is, where it's 

heading, and why it's still a great place to 

live. 

POLITICAL STALEMATE 

The world's attention was focussed on 

Germany in September 2005 for the nearfiasco 

which was the German national election. 

Called after Gerhard Schroeder's SPD 

party was defeated in a key state election, it 

was widely expected to be a clear victory 

for the CDU/CSU candidate, Angela 

Merkel. Instead, it turned out to be a very 

close result, with only three seats separating 

the two main parties and no clear victor. 

Germany entered a period of political stalemate. 

Various coalition options were discussed 

and rejected as the minority Greens 

and FDP parties refused to join with anyone 

apart from their usual coalition partners. 

Eventually Schroeder gave up his insistence 

on being chancellor, clearing the way for a 

'grand coalition' of the CDU/CSU and the 

SPD under Angela Merkel, who makes history 

as Germany's first female leader. 

TOUGH CHALLENGES 

At the time of writing it is not clear if the 

grand coalition will be able to form a stable 

government in the long term, or what sort 

of chancellor Merkel will turn out to be. But 

one thing is certain: the new government 

will have some pretty tough challenges as 

far as the economy is concerned. 

Germany has a huge budget deficit, consumer 

demand is low, and economic 

growth for 2006 is forecast to be only 1.2 

percent. Unemployment at the time of writing 

is an unenviable 4.8 million (11 percent 

of the population), only slightly down from 

its record high of 5 million earlier in 2005 - 

the highest rate since the early 1930s. 

But expats worried about their employment 

prospects should bear in mind that, 

although Germany does indeed have some 

pretty nasty unemployment blackspots 

(notably in the former east), they are unlikely 

to be the places that expats will be planning 

to live. Similarly, the industry sectors 

that the average expat is likely to work in 

are not those worse affected. 

NOT ALL GLOOM 

And there are still some grounds for optimism. 

Germany has recently become the 

world's biggest exporter. Surveys show 

business confidence is beginning to 

improve. And unemployment is starting to 

come down as labour market reforms introduced 

by outgoing Chancellor Gerhard 

Schroeder begin to take effect. 

For daily news and analysis - in English - of current 

events in Germany, read www.expatica.com 

GERMANY EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE WWW.EXPATICA.COM

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4 

Introduction 

continued from page 3 

efforts to be seen to be remembering its 

inglorious past. Large-scale celebrations in 

summer 2005 marked the 60th anniversary 

of Germany's surrender on 8 May 1945, and 

a series of ceremonies commemorated the 

liberation of the Nazi death and concentration 

camps. Similarly, the Holocaust 

Memorial in Berlin has finally been 

unveiled after 17 years of debate and controversy. 

FRIENDS IN THE EAST 

The war also continues to colour Germany's 

relationship with its eastern neighbours 

such as Poland and the Czech Republic, 

with issues such as a planned museum dedicated 

to those Germans expelled from eastern 

Europe after 1945 causing strife. 

But despite the occasional spat, Germany on 

the whole seems to be getting on well with 

the new EU members, who joined the union 

in May 2004. Popular fears of a wave of illegal 

immigration and criminality from the 

east seem to have been unfounded, and 

there are signs that German attitudes to 

their eastern neighbours may be improving 

as cross-border contacts increase. 

CLAMPING DOWN 

Islamist terrorism has been a big issue in 

Germany since the 11 September 2001 

attacks, especially as it was revealed that the 

9-11 bombers had studied in Hamburg, and 

there has been a notable tightening of 

domestic security. Radical Muslim clerics 

such as Metin Kaplan, the self-styled 

'Caliph of Cologne' have been deported, 

and a series of high profile trials of Islamist 

terrorists has fuelled an ongoing debate 

about immigration and tolerance. 

These developments are unlikely to help 

improve the lot of Germany's Turkish community, 

who make up a sizeable portion of 

Germany's seven-million-plus population of 

'foreigners' (one quarter of whom were born 

GERMANY EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE 

Germany remains a safe, 

prosperous country 

in Germany) and who suffer disproportionately 

from unemployment and other social 

problems. Improving the situation of 

Germany's immigrant population will be a 

major task for the new government. 

STILL ONE OF THE BEST 

But despite the prevailing mood of pessimism, 

Germany is still one of the best 

countries in the world to live in. Many 

countries, its eastern neighbours in particular, 

would love to have Germany's problems. 

It is still a safe, prosperous country 

with a highly-educated population, good 

infrastructure, rock-solid democratic institutions, 

low levels of corruption, and a rich 

cultural life. 

So as an expat you are unlikely to regret 

choosing to live in Germany. This Survival 

Guide will give you plenty of practical tips 

on life in the country. And remember to 

check Expatica's Germany website regularly 

for news and information about living in 

Germany - we want to help make your stay 

here as easy and enjoyable as it can be. 

David Gordon Smith, Editor, Expatica Germany

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5 

Your First Few Days 

When you first arrive, it’s tempting to just go out and explore. Do that, but 

don’t forget there’s a whole pile of paperwork to do too. Here’s a guide. 

DECIDE WHERE TO LIVE 

Deciding where to live is one of your most 

important decisions, so check out our 

detailed city guides 

See Page 10 

REGISTER WITH THE POLICE 

One of your first tasks will be to register 

yourself with the police. Although engaging 

with German bureaucracy isn’t the 

most enticing of prospects, the law 

requires that you go through the process if 

you are staying in the country for more 

than three months. 

See Page 6 

CONTACT THE UTILITIES 

When you are ready to move into your 

permanent home, you will need to contact 

the relevant utility companies to either 

connect you or to change the billing to 

your name. 

See Page 59 

OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT 

One of the first things you will need to 

organise when you arrive in Germany is a 

bank account. This is a fairly straightforward 

procedure which requires your 

police registration card and passport. 

See Page 36 

FIND OUT ABOUT MEDICAL CARE 

Germany’s healthcare system has undergone 

a radical shake-up recently. It’s a 

good idea to look into what the changes 

will mean for you and your family. 

See Page 55 

FIND A SCHOOL 

It is likely you will have thought about 

schools long before arriving. If not, you 

will need to make appointments to visit 

schools to decide which is the best option. 

The same applies for nurseries and childcare 

facilities. 

See Page 44 

FIND A JOB 

If you are not here on an expat assignment, 

it’s likely you are going to need to 

find yourself a job. And if you are from 

outside the EU it is possible you will need 

a work permit. 

See Page 52 

LEARN THE LANGUAGE 

Buy yourself a good phrase book if you're 

not too confident with the language or 

enrol on one of the many courses available. 

See Page 51 

GET MOVING 

Probably sooner rather than later you will 

encounter the public transport system or 

venture onto the roads. But before you do, 

find out the rules and regulations. 

See Page 62 

MEET PEOPLE 

Discover the shops, bars and restaurants 

in your neighbourhood or join one of the 

hundreds of expatriate groups and clubs 

in all major centres. Then you can start to 

enjoy your new life in Germany. 

See Page 75 

Confused? For the latest news on permit and visa 

requirements, visit www.expatica.com/germany 

GERMANY EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE WWW.EXPATICA.COM 

RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

6 

Residence Permits 

Making sure you have the paperwork to stay in Germany will likely result in 

your first contact with the nation’s bureaucracy. Here’s how to be legal. 

REGISTERING WITH THE POLICE 

Registering with the police is one of the 

first things you have to do following your 

arrival in Germany. 

Getting a 'polizeiliche 

Anmeldebestätigung' requires a visit to 

the local registration office 

('Einwohnermeldeamt/Meldestelle'), 

which is normally part of the local police 

station or town hall ('Rathaus'). 

Registering with the police is often something 

that people from countries with 

somewhat dubious police records prefer 

not to get involved with. 

But the law says you must register if you 

intend to stay for more than three 

months. 

You should do so within seven days of 

arrival in Germany, or at least once you 

have accommodation. 

All residents, Germans and non-Germans, 

must register when they move to a new 

address - failure could mean a fine of up 

to EUR 35. 

You can normally track down your local 

Meldestelle via the internet: search for the 

name of the area you live in combined 

with the word 'Landeseinwohneramt'. 

WAITING GAME 

Depending on where you apply, you can 

face a long wait sitting in a less-thancheerful 

office until you are called forth 

to present your papers. 

If you're living in a crowded city area, 

planning ahead can help. Work out when 

you can go, and drop by the office beforehand 

to see what time it opens. It's best to 

get there early. 

Upon completion, you will be presented 

with a polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung. 

Considering the number of times the 

authorities seem (at least initially) to ask 

to see the Anmeldebestätigung, it's not a 

bad idea to carry it, or a photocopy of it, 

with you at all times. 

Additionally, citizens of the European 

Union can now apply for their 

'Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung' (freedom of 

movement permit) at the Meldestelle at 

the same time as they register their 

address. See Getting your Permit below 

for more details. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING 

Fairly obviously, you will need to bring a 

passport and a lease or rental agreement. 

A registration form 

('Anmeldungsformular') is available free 

at the Meldestelle. 

In some parts of the country you can buy 

one for about EUR 1 in stationery shops. 

WHEN TO AN-, UM- OR ABMELDEN 

Once you decide it is time to move on, 

you must go back to the Meldestelle to go 

through the job of being 'abgemeldet' (deregistered). 

You can be fined for not doing this properly 

if you ever try to register again. 

Some offices allow you to send your 

Abmeldung back through the post, so 

you don't have to endure another long 

stay in the Meldestelle waiting room. 

But should you decide to move to another 

part of the same city, you will need to 

'ummelden' (register a change of address) 

- and to bring the evidence that you have 

been umgemeldet when you register at 

your new Meldestelle. 




GETTING YOUR PERMIT 

The rules for residence permits depend 

on whether you are a citizen of the 

European Union/European Economic 

Area or not. For non-EU citizens, including 

Americans, Canadians and 

Australians, the system is rather complicated. 

EU/EEA citizens: 

For citizens of the European Union and 

European Economic Area (Norway, 

Iceland and Liechtenstein) the system has 

changed. As a consequence of the new 

law of July 2004, they can get a so-called 

Freizügigkeitbescheinigung (free movement 

permit). EU citizens no longer 

require a residence permit 

(Aufenthaltserlaubnis). In fact, residence 

permits can no longer be issued to EU citizens. 

Within three months of arriving in 

Germany you can apply (it is granted 

more or less automatically) for a 

Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung at a normal 

Meldestelle by bringing your passport 

and evidence of health insurance, 

employment (or that you receive a pension) 

or, if you are self-employed, that 

you can support yourself with at least 

EUR 600 per month. There is no charge. 

Unlike a residence permit, a 

Freizügigkeitbescheinigung does not have 

to be renewed. 

If you have been in Germany for a while 

and already have a residence permit, the 

Ausländerbehörde (authority for foreigners) 

will contact you when your residence 

permit is close to running out. You simply 

need to complete the form they send 

you and return it by post to receive your 

new Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung. You 

will not need to renew this new permit 

ever again. 

Citizens from the new members of the EU 

in Eastern Europe have some additional 

restrictions when applying for a 

Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung, particularly 

concerning employment. These new regulations 

also do not apply to family members 

from non-EU countries. They have to 

go through a procedure similar to the one 

outlined below for citizens of other states 

in order to get a residence permit. 

One minor disadvantage of the new 

Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung is that it is 

simply a printed document and not a 

form of photo ID as the old residence permit 

was. This means EU citizens who 

have a Freizügigkeitsbescheinigung now 

need to carry other kinds of photo ID 

(such as a passport or identity card) for 

all those many situations which need 

photo ID in Germany. 

Non-EU/EEA citizens: 

Expats from outside the EU and EEA still 

need to arrange an 

‘Aufenthaltsgenehmigung’ or 

'Aufenthaltserlaubnis' (residence permit) 

after registering and securing a 

polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung. 

This normally means visiting the 

'Ausländerbehörde' (authority for foreigners). 

If a relocation firm is arranging 

your entire move to Germany or you are 

coming with a company which is taking 

charge of the move for you, then you 

might be lucky enough to find that someone 

else will take care of the visit to the 

Ausländerbehörde. 

If not, you have three months after your 

continued on page 8 

Coming to Germany with a partner? Information on 

this and much more at www.expatica.com/germany 

WWW.EXPATICA.COM GERMANY EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE 7 

RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

8 



arrival in Germany to apply for a residence 

permit, so there is some scope for 

organising for the bureaucratic joys 

ahead. 

As a step towards making the process 

more user-friendly, many 

Ausländerbehörden and 

Landeseinwohnerämter are making use of 

the internet. 

In addition to setting out general information 

about their services, the offices 

offer key forms online for downloading 

and filling out in advance. 

The easiest way to find your local 

Ausländerbehörde is to look up your 

city's official website and find the 

Landeseinwohneramt. 

When you get to the building, look out 

for the 'Abteilung 

Ausländerangelegenheiten' (department 

for foreigners' matters). 

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING 

� Passport 

� Two passport photos 

� Evidence of purpose of stay - for example, 

employment contract or university 

enrolment record 

� Evidence of support - for example, 

employment contract, university enrolment 

record, evidence of earnings or 

bank statement 

� Evidence of health insurance (if not 

provided by your employer) 

� Polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung 

WHAT IT COSTS 

Before you make the journey to the local 

Ausländerbehörde, it is worth your while 

to ring up first and check on the latest 

details. 

Usually someone will ask you which 

country you come from and you will be 

switched through to the appropriate 

office. 

You should check on the current costs 

and opening times. It's also advisable to 

go through the list of things you will 

need for the Aufenthaltsgenehmigung. In 

some circumstances you can even make 

an appointment. For citizens from non- 

EU countries it will cost about EUR 50 for 

the first application and EUR 30 for each 

extension. An unlimited residence permit 

('unbefristete Aufenthaltserlaubnis') costs 

about EUR 85. 

HOW LONG IS IT VALID? 

An Aufenthaltserlaubnis is usually granted 

for two years; this can vary depending 

on nationality. 

A provisional permit, valid for up to 

three months, can be granted while you 

arrange paperwork (health insurance and 

employment documents). After five years 

you can apply for an unlimited residence 

permit. 

Note also that under the general heading 

of Aufenthaltserlaubnis or 

Aufenthaltsgenehmigung there are several 

subcategories. One is the 

Aufenthaltsbewilligung, for non-EU 

members staying in Germany for a limited 

period. 

There are also the Aufenthaltsbefugnis, 

for refugees, and the 

Aufenthaltsberechtigung, a permanent 

permit for non-EU citizens. 

Expatica: Excellent news and analysis aimed at the 

English-speaking community - The Guardian 



Relocation Agencies 

BERLIN 

#1 First Relocating 

Kissinger Strasse 67 

14199 Berlin 

030 8261451 

Arriva Relocation Services 

Leibnizstrasse 60 

10629 Berlin 

030 32774311 

At Home Relocation 

Services 

Tristanstrasse 1A 

14109 Berlin 

030 80586383 

Enter Berlin 

Hohenzollerndamm 55 

14199 Berlin 

030 88920240 

The Berlin Connection 

Brunowstrasse 52 

13507 Berlin 

030 84727392 

FRANKFURT 

Averto Relocation Service 

Westendstrasse 19 

60325 Frankfurt 

069 97546162 

Cheryl Koenig Relocation 

Services Group GmbH 

Ritterlingstrasse 1 

65719 Hofheim 

06192 990533 

Crown Worldwide Movers 

GmbH 

Dornhofstrasse 18 

63263 Neu-Isenburg 

06102 882790 

EasyMove4U 

Clemens Strasse 3 


069 40355739 

IM2S International Mobility 

Management Service GmbH 

Westerbachstrasse 47 


069 2722960 

Main Relocation 

Auf der Körnerwiese 12 


069 97203485 

RSB Deutschland GmbH 

Dreieichstrasse 59 


069 61094721 

Sachs Relocation 

Willy-Brandt-Strasse 4 

61118 Bad Vilbel 

06101 501737 

Team Relocation 

Im Weiherfeld 29 

65462 Ginsheim- 

Gustavsburg 

06134 2850 

MUNICH 

Baumgartner Professional 

Organisers 

Wallensteinstrasse 22 

80807 Munich 

089 3509560 

Easy Entry 

Gustavstrasse 46 

90762 Fürth 

0911 4808190 

Elisabeth Sommer 

Relocaton 

Widenmayerstrasse 17 

80538 Munich 

089 21578310 

RCG Relocation 

Bavariastrasse 1 

80336 Munich 

089 72017979 

Relocation One 

Sundergaustrasse 145 

81739 Munich 

089 60013883 

Start Up Services 

Stefan-George-Ring 8 

81929 Munich 

089 93945211 

BONN - COLOGNE - 

DUSSELDORF 

KEWA Relocation 

Barbarastrasse 5 

50735 Köln 

0221 976610 

www.kewa.de 

Progedo Relocation 

Holterkamp 18 

40880 Ratingen 

02102 433635 

For details of more 

companies serving the 

expat community in 

Germany, visit the 

Business Directory at 

www.expatica.com 


events in Germany see www.expatica.com/germany 


RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

10 

Berlin Essentials 

It is more than 15 years since the Berlin Wall fell, with the German 

capital emerging from the upheaval as a major new European metropolis. 

It is now over 15 years since the fall of the 

Berlin Wall and the German capital still 

appears to be gripped by a sense of 

upheaval. Indeed, the city appears to 

change almost from one week to the next 

as renovations continue, neighbourhoods 

undergo a facelift, and bars, shops and 

cafes come and go. 

WHERE TO LIVE 

Up until the mid-90s most people shifting 

to Berlin tended to head for the western 

part of the city. But all of that has now 

changed, with the process of unification 

drawing the two halves of the city together 

and opening up new parts of the capital, 

notably in the former communist east, 

which has emerged as Berlin's new happening 

hub. 

The result has been to drive up rents in 

central districts of the east such as Mitte 

(which literally means 'centre') and 

Prenzlauer Berg, both of which have been 

transformed by mass renovation. 

The higher rents have also meant that 

many people have moved further to the 

east, with Friedrichshain now a fashionable 

place to live. At the same time 

Pankow, a major diplomatic area during 

the communist era, and even Weissensee, 

have been gaining in popularity. 

Traditionally a major centre for the city's 

Turkish population, Kreuzberg, which 

neighbours Friedrichshain, has also been 

enjoying something of a residential renaissance 

in recent years. 

Indeed, despite Berlin's fast-paced change, 

the city's rents have hardly changed in 

recent years and are surprisingly low compared 

to other European capitals. Berlin 

apartments are also often surprisingly spacious 

compared to what is on offer in 

other cities. 

A good quality two-bedroom 75sq/m 

apartment on average starts at about EUR 

500 per month. This also includes the most 

sedate and established of western areas 

like Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf, and 

the villa apartments of Grunewald and 

Zehlendorf. 

The fall of the Wall has also meant that 

more people have been seeking places to 

live outside the city centre, in the so-called 

'green' areas where rents are about EUR 50 

lower - even for larger apartments. 

This includes the great Prussian city of 

Potsdam, which acts as an urban antechamber 

for Berlin, as well a raft of smaller 

villages and new residential areas dotted 

around the capital. 

WHERE TO FIND RENTALS 

While there is a seemingly endless supply 

of sources of information on accommodation 

(from websites through to notes 

pinned on telegraph poles), the weekend 

editions of Berlin's Morgenpost, Berliner 

Zeitung and Tagesspiegel are still good 

starting points for exploring the city's 

rental market. 

WHERE TO REGISTER 

For a list of offices for arranging a 

polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung you can 

visit: www.berlin.de/labo/einwohnerwesen/ 

dienstleistungen/index.html 

WHERE TO ARRANGE A RESIDENCE PERMIT 

For Aufenthaltsgenehmigung or 

Aufenthaltserlaubnis: 

Landeseinwohneramt Berlin 

Friedrich-Krause-Ufer 24 

13353 Berlin 

(030) 902690 

www.berlin.de/labo/auslaender/ 

dienstleistungen/index.html 



Berlin Essentials 

WHERE TO ARRANGE A DRIVING LICENCE 

Landeseinwohneramt Berlin 

Puttkamerstr.16 - 18 

0958 Berlin 

(030) 902690 

www.berlin.de/labo/fuehrerschein/ 

dienstleistungen/ 

fuehrerscheinumschrausland.html 

Motorists' services (to swap national EU 

licences for EU licences): 

ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg 

Bundesallee 29/30 

10717 Berlin 

(030) 8686 237/238 

HEALTH AND RECREATION 

Whatever the season, for anyone interested 

in sport, whether it is of the spectator or 

couch potato variety or something a little 

more active, Berlin has a vast array of 

options. 

Apart from the German capital's own local 

teams, this also includes an extensive network 

of Vereine (associations) or clubs for 

almost every imaginable sport. For starters 

you could consult the expat sports clubs 

listed under Expatica's groups and clubs. 

GOLF 

The fall of the Berlin Wall has opened up 

the new world of golf for Berlin, with the 

city now surrounded by a string of golf 

courses. 

These include Das Brandenburg at Bad 

Saarow (033631) 63300, www.a-rosa.de; 

Golfclub Gross Kienitz (033708) 537 70, 

www.grosskienitz.de, Golfclub Schloss 

Wilkendorf (03341) 330960, and Golfclub 

Berlin-Wannsee (030) 806 70 60, 

www.glcbw.de 

GYMS 

At last count there were more than 40 major 

gyms dotted across the city, which means 

competition among gym operators can be 

tough. That of course is good news for anyone 

wanting to take out a membership. The 

name of the fitness game in Berlin is negotiation, 

as many gyms will be prepared to do 

all sorts of deals, although you may find the 

more centrally located and trendy gyms 

charge more for membership. 

SWIMMING POOLS 

A couple of pools you could try are: Bad 

am Spreewaldplatz (the works: whirlpool, 

sauna etc), (030) 69 53 52 10; Stadtbad 

Charlottenburg - Alte Halle (25 metre pool 

with splendid painted ceiling), (030) 34 38 

38 60; Stadtbad Mitte (popular with inner 

city dwellers), (030) 30 88 09 10; and if 

you want to avoid chlorine then try the 

open-air Freibad Plötzensee. 

For further information consult: 

www.berlinerbaederbetriebe.de or the 

service-hotline on 01803 - 10 20 20. 

JOGGING 

Tiergarten is Berlin's big central park and 

has a seemingly endless number of jogging 

possibilities. You can extend it to take 

in a jog around the government quarter, 

crossing the Spree at the Moltke Bridge 

and the Bartingallee Bridge. 

There is also Schlosspark Charlottenburg, 

which surrounds one of Berlin's most 

stately buildings, or Volkspark 

Schöneberg. 

For something a little more organised you 

could try Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Sportpark 

in the inner east of the city. Not so far away 

are the Volkspark Friedrichshain and 

Volkspark Humboldthain. 

Joggers preferring to pad through less 

urban environments and wanting to feel a 

touch of nature in their urban lives can 

also head for the extensive network of forest 

areas around Grunewald, Krumme 

Lanke, and Teufelsberg in the western part 

of the city. 


RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

12 

Cologne-Bonn Essentials 

You can live in Cologne and work in Bonn...and vice versa. But while Cologne is 

a major centre for art and television, Bonn is now a key hub for the IT trade. 

WHERE TO LIVE 

COLOGNE: 'A River Runs Through It' could 

be Cologne's trademark claim. The city is 

cut cleanly into two halves by the Rhine 

River, with the 'left Rhine side', as locals 

call it, being Cologne's centre of gravity. It 

is home to the densely populated downtown 

district as well as numerous residential 

neighbourhoods. The right Rhine side, 

by contrast, has no centre to speak of and 

has traditionally lived a shadow existence, 

with Cologners calling it the 'Schäl Sick', 

or the 'Wrong Side'. 

Those who are new to the city usually 

move to one of half a dozen neighbourhoods 

on the left city side that hug downtown 

in a semi-circle: Ehrenfeld, 

Lindenthal, Suelz, Bayenthal, and 

Rodenkirchen. The city remains a popular 

destination, especially for bar-and restaurant-hopping 

singles who tend to live in 

the Belgian Quarter (Belgisches Viertel) 

and Old Town (Altstadt). 

BONN: Flocking to this now quieter but 

still prospering town are young professionals 

from the IT and communication 

industries, who tend to set up residence 

east of the Rhine river, in the suburbs of 

Beuel, Geislar, Vilich and Holzlar. 

However, the western side of town still 

holds most of its cultural and leisure 

attractions. Also located there are Bonn's 

shopping and Old Town districts, and the 

still popular residential neighbourhoods of 

Südstadt and Poppelsdorf. 

To the south lies the suburb of Bad 

Godesberg, formerly prime real estate, 

which for some years now has been losing 

residents. Adjacent to the Federal Quarter 

(Bundesviertel), Bad Godesberg used to be 

the neighbourhood of choice for scores of 

German politicians, their families and foreign 

diplomats. 


COLOGNE: The most efficient way to house 

hunt is to simultaneously check for ads in 

the local newspapers (Kölner Stadt- 

Anzeiger and Kölnische Rundschau) and 

through internet databases (e.g. 

www.immobilien24.de and www. 

immowelt.de ). The local papers also offer 

their ads online on a joint website 

(http://anzeigen.ksta.de/anzeigen/ 

anzeigen_suche.php?markt=20037). 

They don't show pictures but you can narrow 

down your search by choosing all relevant 

details, such as the maximum rent 

you are willing to pay, number of rooms, 

balcony, garage, and so on. 

The ads cover apartments as well as houses 

in the entire state of Northrhine- 

Westphalia. For rentals, be sure to click on 

'Mieten'. 

BONN: In Bonn also, a double-track 

approach works best. Check for rentals in 

the online or print versions of the local 

paper, the General-Anzeiger (www.general-anzeiger-bonn.de/) 

as well as the commercial 

databases www.immobilien24.de, 

www.bonner-immobilien-boerse.de and 

www.immowelt.de, or the non-commercial 

website www.anonza.de/start.php. 




COLOGNE: Zentrale Ausländerbehörde 

Blaubach 13 

50676 Cologne 

(0221) 221 25601 

BONN: Amt für Ausländerangelegenheiten 

Königswintererstr 54 

53227 Bonn 

(0228) 77 6301 



Cologne-Bonn Essentials 


COLOGNE: For a list of offices for arranging 

a polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung: 

www.stadt-koeln.de/bol/meldehalle/ 

uebersicht/index.html 

BONN: 

•Bürgeramt Bonn 

Stadthaus, Berliner Platz 2, 53111 

•Bürgeramt Bad Godesberg 

Kurfürstenallee 2-3, 53177 

•Bürgeramt Beuel 

Rathaus Beuel, Friedrich-Breuer- 

Straße 65, 53225 

•Bürgeramt Hardtberg 

Villemomblerstr. 1, 53123 


The same offices that issue a resident's 

registration (Anmeldebstätigung) also 

issue driving licenses. 

FOR CAR REGISTRATIONS 

COLOGNE: Amt für öffentliche Ordnung 

Herkulesstra. 42 

50823 Cologne (Neu-Ehrenfeld) 

(0221) 221 26692 or 26635 

BONN: Bürgeramt Bonn 

Stadthaus, Berliner Platz 2, 53111 Bonn 

OTHER USEFUL ADDRESSES 

The British Consulate in Düsseldorf provides 

on their website lists of English-speaking 

doctors, lawyers and other professionals 

in the Rhineland that might be needed at 

one time or another (www. 

britbot.de/en/consular/duesseldorf/index.htm) 


Both Cologne and Bonn have a good variety 

of public parks, where on weeknights 

and weekends the locals can be seen 

sweating it out doing their laps. 

Cologne offers, for instance, a narrow 

(and unnamed) park belt surrounding the 

city centre, from the North of Ehrenfeld to 

the southern Altstadt. There are also the 

expansive green areas around the artificial 

lake Decksteiner Weiher, as well as 

Beethovenpark and Stadtwald, all of them 

located in the neighbourhood of 

Lindenthal, west of Cologne's centre. 

Bonn is generally much greener, and parks 

as well as almost rural-looking areas with 

fields and meadows can be found in all 

directions. Among the most prominent 

are the Freizeitpark Rheinaue, stretching 

alongside the western river bank in the 

suburb of Hochkreuz, and the large nature 

reserve between Bonn-Oberkassel and 

Bonn-Holtorf. 

GYMS 

Many of the better-equipped fitness centres 

in Cologne and Bonn are part of 

national chains. In addition to machines 

for cardio-vascular training and bodybuilding, 

some of them offer swimming 

pools, hot tubs, saunas, and massages. 

You should visit the gym of your choice 

for a free test session and try to negotiate 

a reasonable admission fee, especially 

when you join with a partner. For contact 

details of local gyms go to: www. 

expatica.com 


GOLF 

The Rhineland area has one of the highest 

densities for golf courses in continental 

Europe. More than 70 courses stretch 

across the Rhineland, from Düsseldorf to 

Aachen. 

The area also hosts two important professional 

tournaments: the Kaufhof Pokal in 

Birkhof/Kaarst (near Düsseldorf), part of 

the European Challenge Tour; and the 

Linde German Masters at Gut Lärchenhof 

in Pulheim, with tens of thousands of visitors 

each year. An extensive list of golf 

courses in the area can be found at 

www.maingolf.de. 

RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

14 

Düsseldorf Essentials 

The state of North Rhine Westphalia's capital city has turned itself into one of 

the best places to live and is one of Germany’s key business locations. 

WHERE TO LIVE 

Düsseldorf's rise in quality of living rankings 

can be put down partly to its excellent 

international schools, but also to its superb 

infrastructure, beautifully remodelled city 

centre and cosmopolitan attitude. The city 

is full of banks, industrial offices, international 

headquarters and also has a thriving 

media district which is home to some of the 

world's largest advertising agencies. 

The city covers an area of 217km² and has 

a population of 573,585. Düsseldorf 

spreads over both sides of the Rhine, with 

the largest part on the right. There are 49 

‘Stadtteile’, in the north Angermund sits 

on the border with Duisburg and 

Ratingen, and in the south Hellerhof borders 

onto Kreis Mettmann. 

Stadtmitte is a melting pot of cultures, a 

mixture of rich and poor. It's where 

Düsseldorf's banking district is located 

and also its famous shopping street, the 

Kö. Apartments are pricey and houses 

hard to find, but if you want to live where 

it's happening, this is the place to be. 

Pempelfort is popular among singles. With 

the Altstadt and Stadtmitte right on the 

doorstep it has easy access to both business 

and pleasure opportunities. With a 

mixture of architectural styles, the area 

also has a diverse cultural scene, is home 

to museums and galleries and also antique 

markets, unusual shops as well as quirky 

cafes and restaurants. 

The Hafen is Düsseldorf's boomtown - no 

other part of Düsseldorf has changed so 

much over the last few years. The architecture 

is new and exciting and the area is 

full of media companies, bars, restaurant 

and clubs, so it attracts young residents - 

the average age of a Hafen dweller is 34. 

Bilk is the most populated part of 

Düsseldorf, here you'll find lots of foreigners 

and also students, as the university is 

nearby. There's a great underground 

scene, plus nightlife as well as lots of 

green. The desired location in Bilk is Die 

Karolinger, a street lined with trees with a 

small canal running down its centre. 

Oberkassel is well known for its wealth of 

art nouveau architecture and is perhaps 

the most attractive part of the city. On the 

left side of the river it has lots of green, is 

close to the river and is full of beautiful 

old buildings. It's only 2km from the city 

centre and connected by a couple of 

bridges, bars and restaurants abound and 

so prices are quite high. 

Bordering onto Oberkassel, Niederkasse is 

one of the most sought-after areas to live in. 

Over a quarter of Düsseldorf's Japanese 

population live here and have even built 

their own Japanese Temple with a tea 

house, traditional garden and school. 


There are a number of options for finding 

rented accommodation but you'll need to 

move fast as most well-located houses and 

apartments are snapped up quickly. The 

widest-read local newspaper, the 

Rheinische Post is a good place to start 

(www.rheinische-post.de), also try the 

Westdeutsche Zeitung (www. 

wz-newsline.de), peak days are 

Wednesday and Saturday. Another option 

is www.immobilien24.de. 

Remember that most prices quoted are 

‘Kalt’, which means they cover the basic 

rent, water and electricity. ‘Warm’ prices 

also include heating, but always ask to be 

sure. 

You can also use an agent, but you'll have 

to pay a fee that can be as much as three 

months rent in advance. 



Düsseldorf Essentials 


To arrange your ‘Polizeiliche 

Anmeldebestätigung’ go to www.duesseldorf.de/buergerinfo 

for a complete list of 

Bürgerbüros and information about what 

you need to bring along to register. 


Kommunale Ausländerbehörde 

Willi-Becker-Allee 7 

40227 Düsseldorf 

(0211) 89 21020 

E-mail: auslaenderamt@stadt. 

duesseldorf.de 


Fahrerlaubnisbehörde 

Höherweg 101 


fuehrerscheinstelle@stadt.duesseldorf.de 


Both Britain and the US have Consulates 

in Düsseldorf and offer a wide range of 

useful information about moving to and 

living in Düsseldorf; a list of doctors, dentists, 

lawyers and information about the 

US and British communities in the city: 

www.britischebotschaft.de, http:// 

duesseldorf.usconsulate.gov. Another useful 

source is Rhine Magazine, the only 

English-language publication for 

Düsseldorf, Cologne and Bonn: 

www.rhinemagazine.com. 


There aren't many green areas in the city 

centre, although the city has quite a green 

feeling due to the abundance of trees and 

water features. The city's main green 

spaces are the Hofgarten right in the city 

centre, the Nordpark located to the north 

of the city, and the Grafenberg Forest to 

the south-east. For joggers the best place 

to run is the Rheinufer; stretching for 10 

miles from the ‘Hafen’ to the Yacht Club 

and further, it's a beautiful place to give 

your body a good workout. On the other 

side of the river in Oberkassel you'll find 

more of an off-road track, and a great view 

of the city. 

For a list of swimming pools around the 

city go to: www.baeder-duesseldorf.de, 

here you'll find pools with sauna and massage 

facilities, outside pools (Freibäder) as 

well as pools with kids entertainment, 

such as wave machines and water slides. 

GYMS 

Holmes Place has two gyms in 

Düsseldorf, on Provinzialplatz and on 

the Königsallee. Both offer state of the 

art work-out and weight machines, classes, 

massage, sauna and much more in 

wonderful surroundings with beautifully 

designed interiors. The pool in the 

Provinzialplatz gym is situated on the 

top floor of the building with a glass 

‘window’ on the bottom. 

Other Düsseldorf gyms include The 

Fitness Centre and Future Sports both on 

the Königsallee. For a list of gyms in 

Düsseldorf visit: www.fitnesswelt.de and 

select D under "Fitness Studios". 


GOLF 

The Rhine area is particularly rich in golf 

facilities and plays host to the Linde 

German Masters in Pulheim every year. 

Some of the closest golf courses are: the 

Golf Park Meerbush - www.golfparkmeerbusch.de; 

Kosaido International Golf 

Club - www.kosaido.de and the 

Düsseldorfer Golf Club - www.duesseldorfer-golf-club.de. 

For a list of local golf 

clubs visit: www.golfportalduesseldorf.de/Golfclubs2.htm 

SOCIAL CLUBS 

There is a wide range of groups and clubs 

for expats in the region. For details, see the 

Groups and Clubs pages, starting on page 

75. 

RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

16 

Frankfurt Essentials 

With its vast, open spaces and impressive collection of cultural and lifestyle 

activities, Frankfurt consistently scores high marks as a place to live. 

WHERE TO LIVE 

Frankfurt is one of Germany's economic 

powerhouse regions and likes to call itself 

'Mainhattan', an allusion to its skyscrapers 

and its location on the river Main. About 

600,000 people work in Frankfurt but, like 

in Manhattan, most of them don't actually 

live there. Indeed, two thirds of the 

Frankfurt workforce choose to commute to 

the city, either because they prefer the suburbs 

and their higher quality of life, or 

because they can't find or afford an apartment 

in the city. The latter holds true for a 

lot of people: Frankfurt has one of the 

severest housing shortages in the country, 

especially inexpensive family housing and 

up-scale apartments in popular neighbourhoods. 

Despite the construction of some 2,500 

apartments every year, Frankfurt's 

demand for housing is not even close to 

being met. Those newly-built units, 

though, are highly sought after and can be 

found mainly in Riedberg, the West and 

East Harbour, Rebstockpark and 

Friedberger Warte. Financially out of reach 

for many are the leafy neighbourhoods of 

Westend, the Holzhausen Quarter, the 

Poets' Quarter (Dichterviertel), and the 

Diplomatenviertel, all located north of the 

city centre and home to scores of consulates 

and executives' mansions. 

A lot of people look north, to the city's 

edge or beyond, to find a better selection 

of housing. Popular here are the neighbourhoods 

of Niedereschbach, Kalbach, 

Bonames, Niedererlenbach, Riedberg, and 

Harheim, which offer more green spaces 

and less hassle than the city. 

Even higher-end housing can be found 

northeast of the centre of town, in parts of 

Seckbach and Bergen-Enkheim. Many of 

Frankfurt's innumerable business executives 

and bankers shun the city altogether, 

however. They usually set up residence in 

the Vordertaunus, a wooded area 45 minutes 

drive northwest of Frankfurt - that 

includes the towns of Königstein, 

Kronberg, Oberursel, Bad Homburg, and 

Friedrichsdorf. 


For apartment seekers, Frankfurt's three 

newspapers are the best starting point. 

The paper versions with real-estate ads hit 

the newsstands on Fridays and Sundays 

(Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 

Frankfurter Neue Presse), as well as on 

Wednesdays and Saturdays (Frankfurter 

Rundschau). 

If you want to check the ads online, go to 

their joint website at www.rheinmainmedia.de/rmc/?markt=38 

(where you have 

to pay a fee by credit card to get the contact 

information) or www.fraktuell.com/imm/suche 

(no fee). Since a 

large portion of the market is covered by 

agents anyway, you might as well save 

time and effort by looking at some commercial 

databases, www.immowelt.de, 

www.immobilienscout24.de and 

www.planethome.de. 

Alternatively, check the non-commercial 

(and therefore commission-free) 

www.wohnungsinfoboerse.de, where after 

running your search you have to register 

to get the contact information. In general, 

click 'Mieten' for rentals, 'Kaufen' for purchases. 

If you are considering a given neighbourhood 

and would like to see its surroundings 

without actually going there, you can 

get an aerial view at 

www.frankfurt.de/sis/Stadtplan.html 

(enter an address including house number, 

choose the map scale, then click on 

'Luftbild' instead of 'Karte' and confirm 

each by clicking 'OK'). 



Frankfurt Essentials 


Ausländerbehörde 

Mainzer Landstr. 323 

60326 Frankfurt am Main 

(069) 212 42485 and (069) 212 44133 


Zentrales Bürgeramt 

Zeil 3 


(069) 212 30600 


Ordnungsamt 

Führerscheinstelle (3rd floor) 



(069) 212 42334 

This office also provides car registrations. 


The British Consulate in Frankfurt provides 

lists of English-speaking doctors, 

lawyers and other professionals in the area 

that might be needed at one time or another:(www.britbot.de/en/consular/frankfurt/index.htm). 


The city centre doesn't offer many green 

spaces, but the further you go toward the 

city limits, the more you can feel that not 

too long ago Frankfurt was a collection of 

separate small towns and villages. 

Between the neighbourhoods of 

Bockenheim and Rödelheim, for example, 

flows the small creek Nidda, along which 

you can walk, run or bicycle through fields 

until you reach Brentano Park. 

Also popular with runners is the 

Grüneburg Park in Bockenheim, neighbouring 

Goethe University's main campus 

on one side and the botanical 

Palmengarten on the other. The 

Palmengarten charges an entrance fee and 

is therefore not really joggers' territory, but 

it offers exotic plants from bougainvillea 

to hibiscus, as well as concerts, book readings 

and exhibitions. A nice circular run 

around an artificial lake can also be found 

at Ostpark, in Frankfurt's East End 

(Ostende). In the south lies the expansive, 

wooded Stadtwald, which can be conveniently 

reached by tram (Lines 14 and 21). 

GYMS 

Many of the better-equipped ones are part 

of national chains, like Fitness Company 

and Kieser Training. The former has set up 

shop in eight locations in Frankfurt and 

offers not only fitness machines, but swimming 

pools, steam baths and saunas in 

some places. The other chain, Kieser, 

caters more to older customers who want 

to improve their health through muscle 

training. There are countless smaller or 

independent fitness clubs, many of which 

can be found at www.fitnesswelt.de/fitness-studios/F/ 

. See www.expatica. 

com/germany for more gym contacts 


GOLF 

The Rhein-Main region is home to dozens 

of golf clubs, where more than 25,000 

players hit the fairways on a regular basis. 

Since membership fees vary greatly, it's 

best to shop around. A list of golf courses 

can be found at www.frankfurt-rheinmain.de 

(click 'Sport' in the topic bar). 

SOCIAL CLUBS 

Since the Frankfurt area is home to many 

multi-national companies, numerous international 

clubs have sprung up. Here 

expats can get together, exchange their 

experiences of living in Germany and take 

part in activities. The list ranges from 

German-British societies to the more exotic 

'Exiles Rugby and Hockey Club' and the 

'Frankfurt Scottish Country Dance Club'. 

For contact information see Expatica's list 

of groups and clubs in Germany, under 

Directory of expat groups and clubs. 

RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

18 

Hamburg Essentials 

Port cities, with their gritty combination of the industrial and the romantic, are 

some of the most interesting places in the world and Hamburg is no exception. 

WHERE TO LIVE 

A tight real estate market means that renting 

in Hamburg can be expensive. Even 

so, there is a wide range of contrasts in 

places to live. You might, for example, be 

looking to settle down for a while in a 

villa or an apartment along the elegant 

foreshores of Hamburg's lakes around 

Harvestehude, or among the funky shops 

and inner-city avant-garde of the more 

gritty multikulti and gay St Georg. 

There is also Pöseldorf, which is where 

German fashion icons Jil Sander and 

Wolfgang Joop set up shop. But with its 

heyday back in the 1960s and 1970s, 

Pöseldorf appears to have lost some of its 

cutting edge. Blankenese is for those wanting 

to mix and mingle with Hamburg's 

rich. Perched on the Elbe, Blankenese is 

where sea captains' wives were said to 

look out across the water from their villas 

in the hope of catching sight of their husband's 

approaching ships. 

Winderhude, with its fine collection of 

19th century buildings converted into 

apartments, has been rapidly moving up 

Hamburg's social scale. Smart shops, good 

restaurants and trendy pubs means it has 

now become a favourite spot for the city's 

30-something set. 


A good starting place is the weekend editions 

of Hamburger Abendblatt 

(http://immonet.abendblatt.de) and 

Hamburger Morgenpost. 


Einwohner-Zentralamt 

Amsinckstr. 28 / 34 

20097 Hamburg 

(040) 428390 

Or for your local registration office 

(Einwohnermeldeamt) see: 

http://www.hamburg.de/Dibis/form/form_ 

einwohneraemter.htm 




Ausländerbehörde 

Amsinckstr. 34 

20097 Hamburg 

(040) 428390 

For extensions and issuing of an 

Aufenthaltsgenehmigung or 

Aufenthaltserlaubnis you can also visit a 

local office of the Ausländerbehörde. They 

are listed under: 

http://fhh.hamburg.de/stadt/Aktuell/behoerden/inneres/einwohner-zentralamt/service/bezirklicheauslaenderdienststellen/start.html 


Führerscheinstelle 

Ausschläger Weg 100 

20537 Hamburg 

(040) 428580 

MOTORIST CLUB 

ADAC 

Amsinckerstr. 39/41 

20097 Hamburg 

(040) 2391 9278 

HEALTH AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES 

There is a big selection of golf clubs located 

in and around Hamburg. Since membership 

fees vary greatly, it's best to shop 

around. 

For contact details of all the golf courses 

dotted around the Hamburg region, go to 

www.expatica.com/germany. 



Hamburg Essentials 

GYMS 

Like other big German cities, Hamburg 

has in recent years seen a veritable boom 

in fitness gyms. Many of the betterequipped 

ones are part of national 

chains, like Fitness Company, Elixia and 

Kieser Training. 

You should check out gyms you are interested 

in by arranging a free test session 

and try to negotiate a reasonable membership 

fee, especially when you join together 

with a partner. For contact details for local 

gyms go to www.expatica.com./germany 

JOGGING 

Sometimes you feel like just breaking off 

and going for a run by yourself or with 

friends. Here’s where to jog in Hamburg. 

•Alsterrunde: About 8 kilometres around 

the Alster. 

•Stadtpark: Offers a range of running 

tracks. http://www.hamburg-stadtpark.de 

•Elbuferweg: From Neumühlen to 

Blankenese along the Elbe. 

•Forst Klövensteen: An endless run 

through forested areas. 

•Öjendorfer Park: This offers a pleasant 

turn around the Öjendorfer See. 

SWIMMING POOLS 

For those looking to take a dip or to swim 

for more regular exercise, there is a network 

of public swimming pools dotted 

across Hamburg. 

Alsterschwimmhalle, which some visitors 

find to be a somewhat strange building. 

(040) 223012 

Price: Adult EUR 8 for the day (children 

EUR 4), EUR 5.60 (EUR 2.80) for three 

hours and EUR 4.80 (EUR 2.40) for one 

hour. 

Bismarck-Bad, which has two different 

halls and offers a range of water-type 

activities, including whirlpool and 

Wassergymnastik. 

(040) 392663 

Holthusenbad: 'This Eppendorf pool' 

offers a rather flash backdrop for swimmers. 

(040) 474754 

Bondenwald offers a range of aquatic 

experiences and allows you to rent lanes. 

(040) 5518629 

Volksdorf has an outdoor pool and Taka 

Tuka land 

(040) 6039349 

For further information consult: 

www.baederland.de or the service hotline 

(040) 18 88 90 

For more 

information 

on all your health 

and fitness 

options in 

Germany, go to 



RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

20 

Munich Essentials 

Munich is money, smart and upfront with a touch of neighbouring southern 

European flair. It is also firmly on the world tourist and expat map. 

WHERE TO LIVE 

Munich is one of Europe's most expensive 

cities, but a protracted period of economic 

stagnation means that the tight rental market 

appears to have eased slightly in 

recent years. 

Rents, however, have not fallen but rather 

have remained relatively stable. The average 

rent for a small, one-room unfurnished 

apartment is between EUR 400 and 

EUR 600. For a three-room unfurnished 

apartment the rent averages between EUR 

900 and EUR 1,500. 

Naturally enough rents are highest in 

Munich's inner-city, such as in the 

upwardly mobile and (these days) somewhat 

mainstream Schwabing or vibrant 

Isarvorstadt (home to a vast array of bars 

including the city's gay bars) and areas 

like Glockenbachviertel. 

There is also the rather cool Haidhausen 

neighbourhood on the right bank of the 

Isar River, with the inner-city the centre of 

Munich's shopping, nightlife and eating 

out culture. 

If you like dashing around to smart boutiques 

then you could take a look at the 

northern part of Maxvorstadt. 

Those looking for upmarket shopping 

may also like to try the area near the 

designer shops along Maximillian Straße 

and the rather posh and expensive Lehel 

neighbourhood. 

This is also home to Munich's famed 

'schicki-micki', as the city's fashionable set 

are known.' 

Anyone hoping to mix and mingle with 

the city's old money might think about 

checking out a villa in the pricey 

Bogenhausen. 


While there is a seemingly endless supply 

of sources of information on accommodation, 

the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the 

Münchner Merkur are good starting 

points for exploring the city's rental market. 

The usual avenues of inquiry apply in 

Munich, from commission-charging 

agents to flyers at the local supermarket, 

all offering a way to find your home. 


CENTRAL MUNICH: 

Landeshauptstadt München 

Kreisverwaltungsreferat 

Hauptabteilung II, Einwohnerwesen 

Ausländerangelegenheiten 

Ruppertstr. 19 

80337 München 

(089) 2332 3078 

THE SUBURBS: 

Landratsamt 

Mariahilfplatz 17 

81541 Munich 

(089) 233 96000 


Landeshauptstadt Munich 


Einwohnermeldewesen 

KVR HA II/2 

Ruppertstr. 19 


(089) 23323154 



Kraftfahrzeugzulassung und 

Fahrerlaubnisbehörde 

Eichstätterstr. 2 


(089) 233 96090 

Fuehrerscheine.kvr@muenchen.de 



Munich Essentials 


Whatever the season for anyone interested 

in sport, whether it is of the spectator variety 

or something a little more active, 

Munich has a vast array of options to turn 

to. Apart from the Bavarian capital's own 

local teams, there is also an extensive network 

of Vereine (associations) or clubs for 

almost every imaginable sport. For starters 

you could consult the expat sports clubs 

listed under Expatica's groups and clubs. 

GOLF 

Anyone interested in golf will find themselves 

well served by Munich and its surroundings 

with more than 40 clubs in and 

around the Bavarian capital. This includes 

the Munchener Golf Club (081) 70450, 

Margarethenhof Am Tegernsee Golf Club 

(080) 2275060, Munchen-Riedhof Golf 

Club (081) 717065, and Tegernseer G C 

Bad Wiessee (080) 228769. 

SWIMMING 

For those looking to take a dip or to 

swim for more regular exercise, there are 

about 17 public swimming pools dotted 

across Munich. The biggest is Olympia- 

Schwimmhalle at the Olympiapark. It 

costs EUR 3.50 and EUR 2.50 for students. 

Tickets for six visits cost EUR 

17.50. 

If you are interested in swimming against 

a dramatic backdrop then you should try 

Müllersches Volksbad (Müller's Public 

Baths), Rosenheimer Strasse 1. 

Completely renovated, the baths were 

designed at the turn of the last century. 

Admission is EUR 3.20 and EUR 2.50 for 

students. Tickets for five visits cost EUR 

16.00 and EUR 12.50 for students. You 

can get free admission on your birthday. 

For a map showing your closest pool click 

onto: www.swm.de/m-baeder. There are 

also several popular swimming areas in 

lakes and rivers in Munich, including the 

Isar River, which cuts through Munich. 

For those wanting to swim in lakes there 

are Feringasee, Fasaneriesee, 

Feldmochinger See and Lerchenauer See. 

Apart from taking a dip they also provide 

great opportunities for picnicking, sunbathing 

and just hanging about. 

GYMS 

Munich has been through something of a 

fitness club revolution in recent years 

with the mushrooming of gyms across 

the city. 

At last count there were more than 90 

major gyms spread across the city which 

means competition among gym operators 

can be tough. That of course is good news 

for anyone wanting to take out a membership. 

The name of the fitness game is 

negotiation as many gyms will be prepared 

to do all sorts of deals. 

Many of the gyms are parts of chains and 

offer different services with some of their 

premises more spacious than others and 

including extras. 

When signing up you should ask whether 

membership entitles you to entry to the 

company's other gyms which are often 

also in other cities. 

For a detailed listing of local gyms go to 

www.expatica.com/germany. 

JOGGING 

For jogging, Munich's wonderful 

Englischer Garten - with its enormous collection 

of tracks and paths, as well as its 11 

kilometre circumference - is a hard place 

to beat. 

Those living in the centre of the city also 

like to pad along the embankments of the 

Isar River, but you could also try 

Olympiapark and the Schloss 

Nymphenburg park. 


RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

22 

Stuttgart Essentials 

Home to Porsche and DaimlerChrysler, Stuttgart is the economic motor of the 

South. An aspiring metropolis, it combines Swabian thrift with international flair. 

WHERE TO LIVE 

One of the first terms you'll need to understand 

when deciding where to live in 

Stuttgart is Halbhöhenlage. This loosely 

means "half-way up the hill", and it refers 

to the hilly topography of Stuttgart, which 

is often described as a giant kettle, open 

on one side to the Neckar River Valley. 

The prime real estate of Stuttgart is along 

the steep, rising slopes of the kettle, offering 

breathtaking views over the city. 

Although the climate is good for buying 

property, don't expect to find cheap rentals 

- especially in prime locations. Rental 

prices have been steadily increasing, with 

no signs of a turnaround. 

There aren't many flats to choose from in 

the city centre. Central Stuttgart is traversed 

by its shopping-mile, Königstrasse, 

which is flanked by office buildings, the 

university, and public buildings. Housing 

opportunities generally begin at the edge 

of the city centre. 

Extremely dense, but with a delightful 

flair, Stuttgart-West is an attractive place 

to live, very close to the city centre. 

Sprinkled with markets, shops, cafes, theatres 

and small parks, almost anything 

you need is within walking distance. And 

that's a good thing because it's often hard 

to find a place to park in the west of the 

city. However, Stuttgart has a fantastic 

public transportation system, which gets 

you anywhere you need to be, without 

necessarily having to use a car. 

Stuttgart-Ost and Stuttgart-Süd are also 

quite charming and centrally located. If 

you're looking for something a little more 

exclusive, Killesberg and Degerloch won't 

disappoint you. And have a look at some 

of the outlying suburbs like Sindelfingen, 

Böblingen or Vaihingen, especially if 

you're working for DaimlerChrysler, IBM 

or Hewlett Packard. This is also where you 

will have a much better chance of finding 

a garden for kids to play in. 


Your best bet for an extensive list of 

rentals is the Saturday edition of the 

Stuttgarter Zeitung, but expect lots of 

competition to get the flat you want. 

Another option is the Stuttgarter 

Wochenblatt or one of the many online 

services such as immobilienscout24.de or 

Expatica Housing. 

If you're still stuck you can contact a local 

real estate agent (Makler), who will charge 

you, depending upon the value of the flat, 

up to three months’ rent for his services. 


Amt für öffentliche Ordnung 

Ausländerrechtliche Angelegenheiten 

Eberhardstr. 39 

70173 Stuttgart 

(0711) 216-3889 or -3589 


Municipal offices (Bürgerservice) are located 

in each district. Call (0711) 216-0 to find 

your local office or check the website 

www.stuttgart.de. In some cases, you can 

find out about Residence Permits and 

Driver's Licences as well. 

WHERE TO ARRANGE A DRIVER'S LICENCE 

Kfz-Zulassungs- und Führerscheinstelle 

Krailenshaldenstr. 32 


(0711) 216-5400 

kfz-zulassungsstelle@stuttgart.de 


Stuttgart's elaborate park system is a gem 



Stuttgart Essentials 

in the heart of the city. It stretches from the 

city centre, through Rosenstein Park, past 

the city's mineral baths and the renowned 

Wilhelma Zoo, and continues all the way 

up the hillside to Killesberg Park. You'll 

also find a lovely green belt of forests and 

vineyards surrounding the city, making it 

quite easy to slip out of town for a quick 

jog or bike ride. Max-Eyth-See, northeast 

of the city centre, and Bärenschlößle, lying 

in the West, are two of the locals’ favourite 

destinations. 

If inline skating is your thing, don't miss 

the weekly 30 kilometre tour of the 

Thursday-Night-Skaters (April-October). 

MINERAL BATHS 

With a daily yield of 22 million litres, the 

springs in the Stuttgart area support three 

mineral baths. For relaxing, working out, 

therapy or just soaking in the atmosphere, 

Stuttgart's mineral baths will have you 

understanding what Germans mean by 

“Wellness in no time”. 

Leuze Mineral Bath (Am Leuzebad 2-6, tel 

0711 2164210) boasts 1700 square metres of 

pools, ranging in temperature and water 

type. There's also a sauna and fitness complex. 

Mineralbad Berg (tel 0711 9236516), 

located next to Leuze, is a family-owned 

business with nostalgic copper basins for 

bathing. Five different springs of 'medicinal 

water' feed the Mineral Bath Bad 

Cannstatt (Sulzerrainstrasse 2, tel 0711 

2169240), which offers a wide range of 

therapeutic and traditional spa treatments. 

Check out the website: 

www.stuttgart.de/baeder. 

GOLF 

Still a growing sport in this region, you 

will find around 15 golf courses within 

reasonable driving distance of Stuttgart. 

The State of Baden-Württemberg, however, 

has more than 80 golf courses which 

you can locate on the website of the 

Baden-Württembergische Golfverband, 

www.bwgv.de. Close to Stuttgart, try the 

Stuttgarter Golf-Club Solitude, 07044 

9110410 or the Golfclub Domäne 

Niederreutin, 07457 94490. 

TENNIS 

Stuttgart is home to two world-class tennis 

events. The top names of men's tennis 

compete in the MercedesCup at the 

Weissenhof Tennis Club, while Porsche 

Grand Prix is a must for the women's circuit. 

For those wanting to have a hit themselves, 

try starting with the best of them at 

the Tennis Club Weissenhof e. V. Stuttgart, 

www.tennis-weissenhof.de. The Stuttgart 

city website (www.stuttgart.de) will help 

you find a list of all other tennis clubs in 

your area. 

MUSEUMS AND CULTURE 

Stuttgart is renowned for its world-class 

opera, ballet and orchestral music as well 

as its galleries, museums and other cultural 

institutions. And who's leading them? 

English-speaking expatriates! Reid 

Anderson, a Canadian, heads up the 

Stuttgart Ballet Company, Englishman Sir 

Roger Norrington is the conductor of the 

Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. The 

Staatsoper Stuttgart is an internationally 

mixed company regarded by many critics 

as Germany's leading opera house. 

The State Art Gallery building 

(Staatsgalerie Stuttgart) is a prime example 

of post-modern architecture. It was 

designed in 1984 by the English architect 

James Stirling. The permanent collection 

includes works by Picasso, Matisse, Beuys 

and Pollock. 

In 2005, the city of Stuttgart opened a new 

Kunstmuseum Stuttgart. It's a floating 

glass cube at the edge of the city's main 

square (Schlossplatz). It houses contemporary 

artworks and a stylish restaurant 

which has spectacular views. 


RELOCATION


RELOCATION 

24 

Marriage and Divorce 

If you and your loved one are planning to formalise your relationship the 

German way, read our guide to marriage, gay partnership...and divorce. 

Falling in love is the easy part. The paper 

war that follows as you prepare to tie the 

knot can test a relationship, however. 

How do you get married in Germany? It 

depends: marriages, like many things, are 

handled at the state level, and states have 

different rules about the papers they want 

to see. It also depends on which country 

you come from: contact your embassy or 

the local Standesamt (registrar's office), 

usually in the local Rathaus, to find out. If 

you need a certificate of non-impediment, 

the German process is fast. 

GAY MARRIAGE 

The institution of marriage has undergone 

something of a revolution recently with 

the introduction of gay ‘marriage’ — officially, 

Eingetragenelebensgemeinschaft — a 

government attempt to bring gay relationships 

into line with straight ones. 

Conservative lawmakers have refused to 

accept certain provisions of the law, so it 

falls short of equality, especially on taxation, 

but it provides key rights on things 

like hospital visits and taking over apartments 

in the event of one partner’s death. 

For gay foreigners, a paper saying you’re 

‘married’ can guarantee an unlimited residence 

permit (unbefristete 

Aufenthaltserlaubnis). But be warned: gay 

marriages are often not valid in states with 

conservative governments. 

A court in Germany has, however, ruled 

that a gay marriage licence issued under 

foreign law does not constitute matrimony 

under German law. One effect of this is 

that those from non-European Union 

nations who have entered a gay marriage 

with someone from an EU nation are not 

entitled to live in Germany under EU residency 

or immigration rules. (Under EU 

rules the foreign spouse of a citizen of an 

EU country is entitled to apply for a residency 

permit in an EU country.) 

DIVORCE 

On the subject of things going pearshaped, 

the sole ground for divorce is disruption 

of the conjugal relationship to the 

point where it is not expected to be 

restored. Parties must be separated for at 

least a year. After this, if they agree to 

divorce, the marriage is presumed irreconcilably 

broken. After three years’ separation, 

it is presumed irreconcilably broken 

even if one spouse opposes divorce. 

CHECKLIST 

Still in the mood? Here are the documents 

you’re likely to need for marriage: 

• Birth certificate, with certified translation 

if not in German 

• Parents’ marriage certificate, with certified 

translation if not in German (not 

required if the details are on your birth 

certificate) 

• Proof of residence in Germany 

(Polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung). 

• Proof of citizenship (usually passport) 

• Certificate to prove there is no hindrance 

to your marriage 

You must send your papers to the 

Oberlandesgerichts Präsident in Karlsruhe 

for processing (usually about three 

weeks). Once they’re returned and you 

have permission to marry, you can make 

an appointment to do the deed at the 

Standesamt. 

On the other hand, you can also apply for 

a German residence permit without having 

to go through the whole business of 

marriage, as long as your German/resident 

partner signs a guarantee that he or she 

will support you during any times of 

economic stress. 


housing.qxp 2005-12-15 18:15 Page 25


RELOCATION 

26 

Social Security System 

The welfare state is undergoing massive reforms. Here’s what you should know 

about what the state can do for you ... and what you must do for it. 

Germany's generous, comprehensive cradle-to-grave 

social welfare system was 

once the envy of many nations. But now 

the state has been hit by a funding crisis, 

resulting in part from the greying of the 

population, forcing the government to 

undertake major and unpopular reforms. 

People employed in Germany - including 

trainees, the military and civil servants - 

must contribute to four principal social 

insurance schemes. Half the contribution 

is paid by the employer, half by the 

employee. 

The contributions are: Rentenversicherung 

(pension insurance), 19.5 percent; 

Arbeitslosenversicherung (unemployment 

insurance), 6.5 percent; 

Krankenversicherung (health insurance), 

14.3 percent (average); and 

Pflegeversicherung (nursing care insurance), 

1.85 percent (1.7 if you have children). 

EXEMPTIONS 

If you’re working fewer than 15 hours a 

week, or in some cases on a short-term 

contract, you will not have to pay contributions. 

Some self-employed people are 

also exempt, but artists, journalists and 

workers in publishing must pay if their 

income exceeds a certain amount. This is 

handled by the Künstlersozialkasse in 

Wilhelmshaven. Since 1 January 1999, selfemployed 

people working primarily on a 

long-term basis for one major client or 

employer must also contribute. 

Those starting new businesses in Germany 

can be exempt from contributions for up 

to three years. In certain cases, evidence 

that you have made provision for retirement 

can also exempt you. 

The days of a pan-European pension 

scheme are a long way off, but if you work 

in two or more EU countries you should 

be able to combine contributions paid in 

each to qualify for a pension. 

BENEFITS 

Several countries, including the United 

States, Canada and Australia, have social 

security agreements with Germany allowing 

their citizens to claim benefits. It’s 

worth asking your embassy if this will 

help you, and which papers you’ll need. 

If you become unemployed in Germany 

you must register with the local employment 

office or Arbeitsamt. Some say they 

can be surprisingly helpful; others’ tales 

are grimmer. 

As part of Schroeder's reform agenda, the 

last government moved to cut benefits for 

the long-term unemployed, attempted to 

speed up the process for people finding 

jobs as well as offering inducements for 

those without work to set up their own 

business. 

EU citizens resident in Germany are generally 

eligible for social security and 

unemployment benefits. They can apply 

for Sozialhilfe (income support), and 

Wohngeld (housing benefit) at their local 

Sozialamt — but a wad of evidence is usually 

required before a benefit is approved. 

You can claim an old-age pension at age 

65. While this remains the main source of 

old-age income, the government has 

begun offering tax breaks to encourage 

workers to supplement it with private 

retirement schemes. This reflects a worry 

that the deficit-hit pension scheme will be 

unable to meet future demands. 

The result: a raft of new private retirement 

schemes has hit the pension market. These 

can be arranged through banks and most 

insurance firms; it is wise to shop around 

to see which policy suits you. 


housing.qxp 2005-12-14 16:22 Page 27


RELOCATION 

28 

Bringing Your Pets 

There’s no need to leave your friends behind when you move to Germany. 

But importing pets requires lots of paperwork, so start planning early. 

Pets, it would seem, have a good life in 

Germany. They regularly turn up (with 

owners) for business meetings and dishes 

of water often appear when they are taken 

to even the most expensive restaurants. 

PET PAPERS 

If you want to bring a cat or a dog into 

Germany, start organising things early; a 

lot of paperwork is required. If all documents 

are not fully completed, your pet 

could be quarantined. Animals must have 

a check-up and must get a rabies vaccination 

between 30 days and one year before 

entering Germany; proof is required at the 

border. Documentation must be approved 

by the German consulate at your home 

base; the consulate will provide you with 

a bilingual veterinary certificate. 

No more than three animals can be 

imported without a special licence. 

There have been horrific attacks in 

Germany by fighting dogs (Kampfhunde), 

resulting in a crackdown. Certain breeds - 

including bull terriers, pit bull terriers, 

Staffordshire bull terriers, American 

Staffordshire bull terriers and all crossbreeds 

of these dogs - may not be brought 

into the country. 

Hamsters, mice, guinea pigs and ornamental 

fish appear to have a relatively 

easy time moving in and out of the 

country, apart from bans on diseased or 

infected animals. 

Once you arrive in Germany, you will 

have to obtain the landlord's permission 

before keeping a pet in rented premises. 

Dogs (though not cats) must also be 

licensed. The cost of the licence, which 

must be renewed annually, varies between 

states and cities; expect to pay about EUR 

60. Dogs can usually be registered at the 

local Rathaus or communal office. 

DOG DOS AND DON’TS 

Dogs are not welcome in certain shops; 

this is indicated by a sign with a picture of 

a dog and the words ‘Wir müssen leider 

draussen warten’ (‘Unfortunately, we must 

wait outside’). They must be on leads in 

parks and are not allowed in playgrounds 

or cemeteries. You should probably carry 

a plastic bag when your pet is with you to 

pick up anything left behind. 

In general, owners must ensure their pets 

don’t endanger anyone or damage property. 

You’re legally responsible for your pet’s 

behaviour, so a special personal liability 

insurance policy could be a good idea. 

If you and your pet travel within Europe, 

you will probably need a valid rabies vaccination 

certificate. Your pet can take the train 

for about half the human fare. You can also 

bring pets on planes; notify the airline that 

you wish to do so when you book. 

European Union pet owners are now 

required to arrange for ‘pet passports’ when 

travelling with their animals. The passports, 

which are required before allowing an animal 

entry into an EU member state, are to 

include the pet's microchip or tattoo number 

for identification, as well as other data 

such as records of all vaccinations and clinical 

examinations. 

One aim of the new European Pet Travel 

Scheme (which is for cats, dogs and even 

ferrets, rabbits and rodents) is to provide 

proof that the animal has been vaccinated 

against rabies, with the passport also setting 

out details of the pet's tick and tapeworm 

treatment. 

Experts estimate that it could cost about 

EUR 80 to ensure a pet is fit for the new EU 

passport rules, which also apply to animals 

travelling to EU member states from other 

countries. 


housing.qxd 15/12/2005 21:26 Page 29 

Renting a Home 

Finding that little piece of heaven is never easy. Here’s a guide to take some of 

the pain out of what can quickly become a very complicated business. 

Whether you prefer to live in the innercity 

or at the edges of town, in a warehouse 

or a farmhouse, Germany offers a 

remarkable range of housing possibilities. 

But wherever your little piece of heaven is, 

the rules of the German renting game are 

essentially the same. 

A protracted period of economic stagnation 

means that rents across the country 

have remained relatively stable. But as a 

rule, you'll find that cities such as 

Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Cologne 

are more expensive than Berlin. 

Indeed, it is still possible to find an oldstyle 

apartment in Berlin (with all mod 

cons) for what you end up paying for a 

much smaller shoebox in a less cheerful, 

new building in another city. 

GETTING STARTED 

Decide early on what renting route you 

want to take. Do you want go via the 

Makler (estate agent) route and face having 

to fork out vast sums of money in 

advance? 

A Maklergebühr (agent’s fee) can mean paying 

out at least two months rent before 

you even move in — not including two, or 

in some cases three, months’ security 

USEFUL TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 

2-Zi-Whg (2 Zimmerwohnung): Two 

rooms plus kitchen and bathroom 

Einbauküche: Fitted kitchen 

Kaution: Deposit 

Nebenkosten: Extra costs (e.g. heating, 

rubbish removal) 

deposit. It’s OK if your firm is paying, but 

otherwise the fee can be quite a shock to 

the system, especially as once you have 

handed it over the Makler tends to melt 

away very quickly and take no further 

interest in your problems. 

The Hausverwaltung, normally a different 

company to the Makler bureau, is the entity 

that manages the property and the one 

you will end up dealing with. 

If you are planning a briefer time in the 

city, you could try the network of 

Mitwohnzentrale, which keep listings of 

WG (Wohngemeinschaft - shared housing) 

and apartments for sub-letting. The appeal 

of these is that they are usually fully furnished. 

The down side is that you will have to pay 

a fee, sometimes hefty, in advance. 

Otherwise, places to rent are advertised in 

newspapers and other key city publications. 

Fronting up for advertised apartments in 

popular parts of the city, though, could 

mean you’ll find yourself facing stiff competition 

from a cast of thousands who 

have also turned up. Competition is particularly 

tough for small-to-medium sized 


EFH (Einfamilienhaus): One-family 

house 

RH (Reihenhaus): Terraced house 

HH (Hochhaus): High-rise building 

DU (Dusche): Shower 


HOUSING


HOUSING 

30 

Renting a Home 


apartments. One of the best ways to find 

an apartment is to place an advertisement 

yourself in one of the main newspapers, 

setting out what you are after. 

Many Germans do this. 

Some landlords prefer to find tenants 

this way because it means they can avoid 

dealing with a deluge of inquiries; they 

can choose who they want to speak to in 

advance. 

Non-Germans can (emphasis is on ‘can’) 

be attractive to landlords, as they likely 

won’t be around forever and the property 

can be put back on the market soon at a 

higher rent. 

If you’re not planning to choose a 

Wohngemeinschaft, be aware that some 

landlords or agents will ask for your 

Polizeiliche Anmeldung (police registration). 

Once you have expressed an interest in a 

place, you will normally be asked to fill 

in a questionnaire (or Fragebogen) giving 

information about yourself 

(Selbstauskunft). 

The questions cover things like income, 

marital status and number of children, 

but they can be quite intrusive, asking 

things like whether you are pregnant, 

have a criminal record or even — believe 

it or not — belong to a political party. 

WHAT YOU’LL GET 

Rents are either Kaltmiete (cold rent), 

meaning net rent, or Warmmiete (warm 

rent), which includes utilities such as 

heating and sometimes cable TV. 

There’s more furnished accommodation 

around than there used to be, but most 

places contain nothing — no light fittings, 

curtains, refrigerators or, in 

extreme cases, floor coverings or kitchen! 

This is because Germans tend to rent and 

stay in apartments for a long time. 

THE LEASE 

It could be a good idea to have a lawyer 

or German-speaking friend take you 

through the lease before you sign it. 

German leases are not universal and can 

include all sorts of surprises. 

In particular, watch out for the dreaded 

Staffelmiete clause, which means that rent 

automatically increases each year by a 

certain percentage. 

This can be quite steep, so what seems 

like a bargain could turn expensive after 

a few years. 

All sorts of other things can be tucked 

away in a lease, such as a requirement that 

you put a metal trap in the sink to catch 

food, or disconnect the water supply to 

balcony taps in winter. 

If you don’t and the pipe bursts, you could 

owe damages. 

Leases can also require you to do things 

when you leave, like taking down the 

funky wallpaper and painting over the 

murals to return the place to how it was 

when you moved in. 

The duties can depend on just how long 

it is that you’ve had the flat. 

The lease will also set out how much 

notice you have to give before moving 

out, which also depends on how long 

you have lived there. 

For detailed information on managing your finances 

as an expat, visit www.expatica.com/germany 


elocation.qxp 2006-01-04 23:12 Page 31 

Destination Service Germany · Assignment Management Worldwide 

CONSULTATION 

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in order to commence project upon arrival 

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to ensure all legalities are met 

STRESS-FREE-STAY 

q Your needs: A home, not just a place to live 

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Tel. +49-(0)221-9 76 61-0 · Fax +49-(0)221-9 76 61-11 · www.kewa.de · info@kewa.de


HOUSING 

32 

Buying a Home 

Owning your own home in Germany has become more attractive lately. 

Arm yourself with some essential knowledge before you start shopping. 

A weak economy has made the German 

property market far from exciting in recent 

years, but the prospect of the government 

moving to wind back state pensions has 

made owning bricks and mortar a more 

interesting proposition for Germans, who 

for the most part have been renters. 

In addition to the economy's sluggish performance, 

the new CDU-SPD government 

has decided to abolish one of the few tax 

benefits for homeowners, the 

'Eigenheimzulage'. 

But the weak economy has also meant 

property prices have remained subdued 

(and may have even fallen in some places). 

This, combined with low interest rates, 

means buying could work in your favour. 

You don't have to be German - or even a 

resident - to buy what is known in the 

business as an ‘Objekt’. All you need is a 

valid passport and enough money. Realise 

at the outset that total costs, including 

agents’ fees and fees for preparing the 

contract, can add up to 10 or 12 percent of 

the purchase price. 

As you head onto the market, don't forget 

the three rules of investing in property, 

which also apply in Germany — 'Lage, 

Lage, Lage' (location, location, location). 

PICKING YOUR TEAM 

Because no home-owning culture has really 

developed in Germany, buying a property 

here can proceed at a relatively 

leisurely pace, without the tensions that 

arise in other markets through auctions or 

bidding wars. 

But for really popular properties you may 

find yourself competing in a quasi-auction, 

with your agent (Makler) handling 

rival bids from prospective buyers. Before 

you buy, it is advisable to assemble a 

small team of advisers: a lawyer, a notary 

(‘Notar’), a tax accountant and, if possible, 

an architect. 

Once you’ve found your dream home, 

you normally won't have to sign anything 

committing you to the purchase 

until you are presented with the final 

contract. 

In general, you just have to reach an 

agreement with the owner on the price. 

After that, events can move quickly. This 

is when the team of advisers comes to the 

fore, with the notary playing a key role. 

The buyer should select the notary who 

draws up the contract. You should insist 

on this from the start, no matter how 

chummily things surrounding the sale 

have gone. Never accept the Notar suggested 

by the owner. Considering the size 

of the investment, you should have as 

much control as possible, especially as the 

terms of the contract can vary. 

After the purchase has gone through, if 

the building is part of a modernisation 

project and the developer installs a firm to 

administer the property (Hausverwaltung’), 

it is probably worthwhile to link up early 

with the other new owners and seek out a 

new Hausverwaltung. 

Your tax accountant should help you 

through the purchase, as the bank or 

mortgage company will want to see 

details of your recent tax returns. 

The accountant will fill you in on exactly 

what the tax advantages are, depending 

on whether you want to live in the property 

or rent it out. For example, some areas 

are zoned to regulate the rents that can be 

charged on a property. 

The tax office could also want details of 

how you have financed the purchase. 



Buying a Home 

MORTGAGES AND CONTRACTS 

In general, mortgage financing usually can 

be arranged for about 60 or 70 percent of 

the purchase price. Anything above that 

will need to be secured, possibly through 

insurance. This is sometimes based on the 

income of the purchaser. 

In the meantime it is wise to have an 

architect look over the property, especially 

if it is part of a renovated building. 

There are all sorts of things to watch out 

for, including the age of the heating system, 

for which new standards have been 

in force since 2005. 

If everything goes to plan, you’ll be given 

the contract to read through before you 

sign. It’s a good idea to have an independent 

lawyer go through the document. 

Try and get as many of your wishes written 

into the contract as possible. This 

could include work the owner agrees to 

undertake before you move in, or fittings 

you want kept — especially if the property 

is being modernised. 

Valuable door handles, for example, have 

a way of disappearing before you move in. 

In making your list, don't forget the common 

areas, such as the stairwell (is there 

carpet?) and entrance area (does it need an 

update?). 

If the property is in a complex being renovated, 

you can pay instalments as building 

progresses. These will be set out in the 

contract. You can also draw up a 

'Mängelliste' (list of faults) before moving 

in; this is when an architect is useful. 

TAKING THE PLUNGE 

The parties will assemble in the notary's 

office on a specified date to sign the contract 

(and partake in the seemingly ancient 

ritual of the notary reading out the contract 

word for word first). You must have 

your passport with you when you sign. 

The contract will set out the date for the 

‘Übergabe’ (handover) of the property. If 

the owner or builder fails to meet this 

deadline you could be entitled to make 

certain claims. 

You should not pay the final payment 

until you are completely satisfied with any 

renovation work and have established that 

all your wishes have been fulfilled. 

Work done on modernised properties usually 

carries a five-year guarantee 

(‘Gewährleistung’). But don't be surprised if 

the building firm responsible for bearing 

costs of work under the guarantee suddenly 

declares itself bankrupt once the 

project is done. 

Either way, battles over the 

Gewährleistung will take up many long 

hours at the building's annual owners' 

meeting. 

WHAT IT ALL COSTS 

The cost of the process depends on who is 

involved. Here is a general idea of who 

gets what: 

•Notary: about 1.5 percent of the purchase 

price 

•Stamp Duty or Property Tax 

(‘Grundsteuer’): 3.5 percent 

•Makler: between 3.5 percent and about 6 

percent, including VAT (but the commission 

charged depends on the state) 

•Registration of the property: between 0.8 

and 1.2 percent 

If the Objekt is in the former east (where 

ownership claims are still being settled), 

you may find that much paperwork has not 

been completed. This could even include 

the ‘Grundbuch’ (land title register). All 

mortgages must be secured in the 

Grundbuch; this must be done by a notary. 

So you stand to be hit with a bill whenever 

a piece of paper concerning the property 

moves in the local administration. 


HOUSING


HOUSING 

34 

Accommodation Agencies 

BERLIN 

Ackselhaus 

Belforter Str. 21 

10405 Berlin 

030 4433 633 

CB Richard Ellis 

Charlottenstrasse 60 

10117 Berlin 

030 7261540 

HIC Real Estate 

Neumannstrasse 40 

13189 Berlin 

030 47305792 

Sireo Real Estate 

Dernburgstrasse 50 

14057 Berlin 

030 3434640 

FRANKFURT 

City Residence 

Hansaallee 2 


069 299050 

Noor Immobilien 

Meisengasse 11 


069 20401 

MUNICH 

Maximilian Apartments 

Hochbrueckenstraße 16 

80331 Munich 

089 242580 

Mr. Lodge 

Barerstrasse 32 

80333 Munich 

089 3408230 

Most Germans tend to rent rather than buy 

TSC Immobilien 

Münchenerstrasse 19A 

82319 Starnberg 

08151 911462 

COLOGNE/DÜSSELDORF 

E-Rent Real Estate 

Aachenerstrasse 40-42 

50674 Köln 

0221 619939 

Inn Side 

Graf-Recke-Strasse 5 


0211 6101780 

HAMBURG 

Schaper Apartment 

Rothenbaumchaussee 112 

20149 Hamburg 

040 41333900 


genesis.qxp 2005-12-14 20:03 Page 35

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MONEY 

36 

Banking 

The currency in Germany is the euro, but there are many ways of paying other 

than cash. Here’s how to open an account and pay for goods and services. 

It is normally relatively swift and easy to 

open a bank account (regular or online) 

in Germany. 

Let's start with the basics: the big four 

German-owned banks are Deutsche 

Bank, Hypovereinsbank (HVB), Dresdner 

Bank, and Commerzbank. As well there 

are the Sparkassen (savings banks) and 

the Postbank (operated by the Post 

Office). There are also a number of foreign 

banks, including Citibank, operating 

in Germany. 

Expats may also find it is convenient for 

them to open an offshore bank or investment 

account. For example, many big 

British high street banks offer offshore 

services along with banks in Switzerland. 

The conditions for opening offshore or 

non-resident accounts vary considerably; 

in particular, many institutions require a 

minimum opening balance. Charges for 

offshore or non-resident accounts can 

also be quite hefty. 

You may also find that you face additional 

charges if the account balance falls 

below a certain amount. In most cases, 

however, it is possible to use the 

accounts for making regular payments. 

The services, charges and means of 

access to the account can also vary 

depending on what currency the account 

is in. While some institutions will provide 

you with both a cash card and a 

credit card to access the account, others 

might offer you only a credit card as they 

don't see the account as being set up to 

be used on a daily basis. So it also pays 

to shop around for offshore banking 

services. 

Before moving to Germany it is advisable 

to check up whether your home bank has 

a link to Germany, which can help you to 

establish your bona fides with the 

German bank and to streamline the 

process of opening an account in 

Germany. But even if this is the case, you 

will probably need to go through certain 

steps once you arrive in Germany before 

the German bank will agree to activate 

your account. 

Once you have selected a bank in 

Germany you should also check whether 

it has cooperative arrangements with 

banks in other nations. This means that 

when you are in another country you can 

withdraw funds from your German 

account without incurring any costs. 

RESIDENCY PERMITS REQUIRED 

In most cases it is impossible to just come 

in off the street and set up an account - 

you will first have to present a batch of 

paper before they will agree to draw you 

into their fold. 

The key pieces of paper of course being 

your polizeiliche Anmeldebestätigung (see 

How to get a Residence Permit, p10) to 

prove that you reside in Germany, and 

your passport. Some banks may allow you 

to open an account without a polizeiliche 

Anmeldebestätigung, but they are unlikely 

to allow you to set up standing orders or 

to arrange credit. If you are a student you 

will need additional proof of your student 

status. As a student, many banks will not 

charge you fees, so it is wise to check 

before you sign up with them. 

You will need an ‘EC-Karte’ (cash card) 

to withdraw cash from the 

‘Geldautomaten’ (automatic teller 

machines) and to operate the bank's 

other customer service machines. Most 

German banks use the Maestro card system. 

You can also use your cash card to 

buy things from shops and other businesses. 



mandarino.qxp 2005-12-14 20:51 Page 37

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MONEY 

38 

Banking 


CREDIT CARDS 

If you apply for a credit card in 

Germany, you will probably find that the 

amount you have run-up is deducted 

from your account automatically each 

month. After all, Germany still is very 

much a cash-based society, as it has been 

since the traumas of the rampant inflation 

of the 1920s. 

But the credit card revolution has been 

slowly taking hold in the country, with a 

range of entities from the railways 

through to department stories offering 

credit cards. Don't be surprised, though, 

if small restaurants or shops refuse to 

accept credit cards. 

HOW TO OPERATE YOUR ACCOUNT 

If you are receiving a regular income in 

Germany, you will need to open a 

'Girokonto' (current account). You will 

probably have to supply your employer 

with your account number and 

'Bankleitzahl' (sort code) so that your 

salary can go directly into your account. 

You will also need to know your IBAN 

number and swift code. Every account in 

the European Union's 25 member states 

should have an IBAN number. This is 

aimed at facilitating international payments 

in Europe. Consequently, an IBAN 

and sometimes Swift code is important 

for money that is being sent from an 

employer based in another EU country. 

If you want to operate multiple accounts 

then you should ask your bank what is 

the cheapest way to do this; it might be 

as a system of sub-accounts connected to 

your main ‘Girokonto’. You may have to 

set up a 'Dauerauftrag' (standing order) 

to pay regular bills such as rent, telephone, 

electricity or to pay off a loan. 

To set up a standing order, you need to 

give your bank the account number and 

sort code of the account a payment is to 

be made to, as well the name of the 

recipient and the address of the recipient's 

bank. The payment is made via an 

'Überweisung' (transfer). This is the most 

common way of paying bills. 

Paying bills by cheque or credit card is 

very unusual, so one early banking lesson 

- whether you intend to do your 

banking over the counter or online - is to 

get up to speed with the 'Überweisung' 

form. 

There is one small point that's important 

to remember when filling in forms and 

writing numbers in Germany. Always 

reverse the usual Anglo-US conventions 

for points and commas. Thus what you 

might write as EUR 2,500.00 appears in 

German as EUR 2.500,00. The same holds 

in spoken German - for example, 'drei 

komma fünf Prozent.' 

BANKING BLUES 

The German banking system is emerging 

from an era of rigorous cost-cutting, 

which has meant, among other things, 

that many banks are scaling back the 

number of local branches they operate. 

One thing this means is that when you 

open your account, you might find that 

you are encouraged (to put it mildly) to 

set up an online banking account too, or 

to use the customer service machines or 

the bank's telephone banking services for 

all your banking business rather than 

deal with a real person at the counter. 

To use telephone banking you will also 

need a special code from the bank. You 

can set up an online account with online 

banking software or simply with the 

bank's online banking website using a 

normal browser. But several internet 

providers, including AOL and T-Online, 

also offer online banking services which 

link you to your bank. 


kiefer.qxp 2006-01-04 22:19 Page 39

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MONEY 

40 

Taxation 

Taxes are inevitable, sadly. And expats should know what kinds they might 

face. Here is an overview of the main ones and how to handle them. 

One of the first tasks involved for anyone 

moving to Germany is to assemble a small 

group of advisers to help you plot your 

way through life in the new nation. 

Along with a doctor, a dentist and a 

lawyer, a ‘Steuerberater/in’ (tax accountant) 

is one of the first people it is good to 

make contact with after arriving in 

Germany to establish your tax responsibilities 

in the nation. 

In seeking the advice of tax accountants, 

you should be aware that the German 

system of the state recognising 

Steuerberater/in means that they can be a 

little bit more strict in their dealings with 

you than their counterparts in other 

nations. It should also be noted that the 

German tax system is a state matter, with 

the tax year essentially a calendar year 

that runs to the end of December. 

INCOME TAX 

Taxable income in Germany is derived 

from the following seven basic sources: 

•Agriculture and forestry 

•Trade or business 

•Independent professions 

•Employment 

•Capital investment 

•Rents and royalties 

•Other income (as defined by tax law) 

Anyone who takes up residence in 

Germany or has his or her customary 

place of abode here is subject to an unlimited 

tax liability on his or her worldwide 

income. You can be resident in more than 

one country; for German tax purposes 

‘customary place of abode’ means an 

address you live at for more than six 

months of the year. 

The source of employment income is considered 

to be the place where employment 

is carried out (not the place where the 

salary is paid). 

The Steuerberater/in may insist on seeing 

a document (such as a work contract) setting 

out the terms and conditions of your 

employment or basis of your income, 

whatever these may be. The tax office will 

issue those working for German employers 

with a ‘Lohnsteuerkarte’ (wage tax 

card), which you hand over to the pay 

office to be used as a basis for tax withholding. 

HUSBANDS AND WIVES 

Spouses may file jointly (splitting tariff) 

or separately. In general, splitting tariff is 

more advantageous, but it’s granted only 

if both spouses are resident in Germany. 

(Exceptions are made for EU nationals 

under some conditions.) Income earned 

by dependent children is not included in 

the joint return; they must file their own 

if the income exceeds a certain amount. 

A unique feature of the German tax system 

is the Kirchensteuer (church tax). It 

dates to the early 1800s, when Prussia 

gave churches the right to levy tax to compensate 

for property taken to help pay for 

the Napoleonic wars. The churches’ right 

to tax is now in the German constitution. 

When filling in your tax form or first visiting 

an accountant, you'll be asked to 

declare a religion. Up to nine percent tax is 

levied as a payroll deduction on the 

income of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. 

If you're not religious, say so, but know that 

the tax office can ask you to prove it. This is 

relatively easy for Germans. It can be trickier 

for foreigners, and you may have to formally 

'leave' the church at the local town hall 

(Rathaus) if you do not want to pay church 

tax. 



amertax.qxp 2005-12-14 22:49 Page 41

money.qxd 04/01/2006 15:14 Page 42 

MONEY 

42 

Taxation 


Another curious quirk of the German taxation 

system is the 'Solidaritätszuschlag' (solidarity 

surcharge) levied on every citizen to 

help meet the enormous costs of rebuilding 

the former communist East. The amount to 

be paid is currently calculated as 5.5 percent 

of your total income tax or company tax 

payments. 

If you’re on a self-employed basis, you face 

a more complicated system. Your earnings 

will usually be subject to ‘Mehrwertsteuer’ 

or MwSt (value-added tax or VAT). The 

scale largely depends on your profession or 

other income-earning activities. 

The self-employed must normally make 

quarterly instalments and tax declarations 

listing income and all deductions on 

which MwSt has been paid. Ask your 

accountant for a guide to how much you 

might be required to pay each month. 

As part of the government's tax reform, 

income tax for those on the lowest rung 

has fallen to 15 percent from 16 percent 

SERVICE PROVIDERS 

Americans' Income Tax 

Service 

Katharinenstrasse 12 

10711 Berlin 

030 890470 

www.americans 

incometaxservice.com 

Martin Brune 

Sudetenstrasse 125 

47249 Duisburg 

0203 9304602 

www.stb-brune.de 

First Command Financial 

Services, Inc. 

Moehringer Landstrasse 87 


0711 7823943 

www.firstcommand.com 

this year; the top rate has moved to 42 percent 

from 45 percent. There is a tax-free 

exemption of EUR 7,664. 

SOCIAL SECURITY 

Essentially, all employees working in 

Germany are subject to the social security 

system, which covers statutory pension 

funds, unemployment insurance, contributions 

to the statutory care scheme (nursing 

at home), health insurance and work accident 

insurance. Many professional groups 

are, however, able to opt out of the state 

system and join their professional organisation's 

group pension plan. At the same time, 

many public servants qualify for state pensions 

without having paid into the system. 

SPECIAL TAX RELIEF 

First Command Financial 

Services, Inc. 

Abraham Lincoln Strasse 2 

65189 Wiesbaden 

0611 977090 

www.firstcommand.com 

Independent Insurance 

Broker and Investment 

Adviser 

Hainstrasse 2 

61476 Kronberg 

06173 995020 

www.insure-invest.de 

Paul A. Kiefer, Esquire 

US Attorney and Tax 

Advisor 

Klingelhoefer Strasse 5 

10785 Berlin 

030 24085212 

Employment income connected to special 

construction, engineering or consulting 

work outside Germany lasting at least 

three months is tax-exempt provided the 

employee works abroad for a German 

employer and there is no tax treaty with 

the foreign country. 

Ocean Management 

Kölnerstrasse 31 


069 73900877 

www.oceanmanagement.com 

COMPUTER SYSTEMS 

Genesis Systems 

Tumblinger Strasse 15 


089 55269030 

www.genesis-computersupport.com 


money.qxd 04/01/2006 15:14 Page 43 

Insurance 

It is important that you take out the appropriate level of insurance cover while 

living in Germany. Here are some of the major kinds of policies available. 

A key thing to remember in taking out 

insurance in Germany is to shop around. 

The market has become intensely competitive, 

and it really pays to keep an eye on 

the news or consult consumer guides to be 

sure you get the best deal. A helpful information 

source is the German consumer 

group Stiftung Warentest, which compares 

prices and products. Its website is at 

www.warentest.de. 

Once you settle on an insurer, don't be 

surprised if an agent wants to drop by 

your house to take you through what’s on 

offer — and maybe even size you up for 

cover you hadn’t planned on. 

The list of what can be insured seems to 

be endless; the following is an outline of 

the most important kinds of insurance to 

consider. (For health insurance and car 

insurance, consult the Healthcare and 

Driving chapters, p55 and p63). 

PERSONAL LIABILITY 

Anyone renting a house or flat should 

consider ‘Haftpflichtversicherung’ (personal 

liability insurance). It covers cases of 

liability for injury or damage to other persons 

or their property. You are covered 

whether the negligence was yours, a family 

member’s, or even in some cases a pet’s. 

HOUSEHOLD CONTENTS 

‘Hausratversicherung’ (household contents 

insurance) covers your home’s contents 

against fire, theft, water damage, 

vandalism and hail. It’s not compulsory, 

though some rental contracts require it. 

In any country, it’s advisable to keep a list 

of all insured items (and receipts), and 

even photos of valuable items. In big 

cities, bicycle theft is a problem; if yours is 

valuable, ask if it can be included in the 

policy. If not, consider an extra policy. 

ACCIDENT AND DISABILITY 

‘Unfallversicherung’ (accident and disability 

insurance) policies pay out in case of 

death, or provide income support if you 

are hospitalised or unable to work. They 

may even pay damages in case of injury, 

and cosmetic surgery costs. 

Some insurers link the premiums you pay 

to later pension payments, but it’s important 

to compare plans and not take the 

first offer. Be ready to ask lots of questions 

about possible benefits before agreeing to 

a policy linked to a pension. 

LEGAL 

‘Rechtsschutzversicherung’ (legal insurance) 

covers legal costs up to a set 

amount. It can be taken out for the whole 

family. There are various kinds, including 

‘Arbeitssrechtschutz’ for work-related matters 

and ‘Verkehrsrechtsschutz ‘for traffic 

altercations. Those renting property might 

also consider Mietrechtsschutz. 

INABILITY TO WORK 

Some people, especially the self-employed, 

might want cover for 'Berufsunfähigkeit' 

(inability to work). This pays out if you 

become unable to work, for example 

because of illness or accident. Some people 

also use it to top up benefits they 

would receive from the government's 

'Erwerbsminderungsrente'. Many banks 

and insurance companies offer coverage 

for Berufsunfähigkeit. The insurer may 

also offer it to you as part of a private 

retirement scheme. 

Be aware that there are two such policies: 

‘Berufsunfähigkeitsrentenversicherung’ 

offers cover for pension payments during 

the time you are out of the work force; 

while 'Berufsunfähigkeitversicherung' 

offers an income while you're laid up. 


MONEY

education.qxd 15/12/2005 22:16 Page 44 

EDUCATION 

44 

Education System 

Sizing up the education system is one of the biggest challenges for parents 

posted abroad. Here's what you should know about school in Germany. 

Like almost every aspect of German social 

policy, the education system is facing 

major changes. This follows the publication 

of a comparative international study 

which showed German education standards 

had slipped recently, sparking a 

major debate about the need for overhaul. 

At the moment, each of the 16 states 

('Länder') operates its own school system; 

these differ to varying degrees. The 

Länder are also responsible for universities 

and post-secondary education. 

While students are held to high academic 

standards and face regular oral exams, 

education in Germany is a far cry from the 

strict Prussian system some expats expect 

and fear. 

The curriculum may often be highly academic 

in focus, however, with not too 

much attention paid to more general interests, 

such as photography or music. 

NON-GERMAN STUDENTS 

The grade foreign pupils are placed in 

when they arrive depends on how well 

they speak the language. Children who 

speak no German at home and have not 

attended a German kindergarten must 

often repeat first or second grade. 

As the number of non-German students 

has risen, some adaptations have been 

made. Children who were not born in 

Germany or whose parents do not speak 

German at home are offered preparatory 

classes, bilingual classes, intensive courses 

or remedial classes, depending on the 

state. 

Foreigners with children born and raised 

in Germany often worry that their children 

are losing their cultural roots. Some states 

help these children with tuition for classes 

in their parents' mother tongue. 

SCHOOL HOURS 

The school day starts at 8am and generally 

finishes by 1pm. There are few extracurricular 

activities, but there are school groups 

such as theatre and sport associations, and 

fee-based after-school and sometimes preschool 

facilities for children up to about 

age 12, sometimes in the school grounds. 

VACATIONS 

Children generally get six weeks of vacation 

in summer, one in autumn, two in 

winter, two in spring, and two in June. 

STARTING SCHOOL 

Most children start school at age six. Some 

states have a cut-off date, such as 30 June; 

a child born after this date is a 'kann Kind' 

('can child') as opposed to a 'muss Kind' 

('must child'). He or she can attend school 

with slightly older children if he or she 

passes a test, but is not obliged to. 

Administrators generally discourage early 

admissions on the assumption that even if 

a child is ready intellectually, he or she 

may not be ready socially or physically. 

KINDERGARTEN 

Before 'Grundschule' (primary or elementary 

school), most children attend 

'Kindergarten' (preschool.) It is not part of 

the regular public school system and is 

neither required nor free. Still, most three 

to six-year-olds attend. Tuition fees are 

usually based on income. Space is often 

limited. 

DAYCARE 

A very popular form of day-care service is 

provided, for a fee, at state-run 'Kitas', 



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EDUCATION 

46 

Education System 


which offer after-school and sometimes 

pre-school activities. The maximum age is 

about 11 or 12, and many Kitas offer facilities 

for very young children. 

Two private daycare services offer an 

alternative: 'Kinderläden' offer activities 

for pre-schoolers; 'Schülerläden' offer 

after-school activities. 

GRUNDSCHULE 

Children attend Grundschule for four 

years, or in some states six. In addition to 

the '3 Rs', the children learn science, local 

history and geography. 

They also get lessons in religion, though 

parents may choose ethics lessons as an 

alternative instead. 

On the first day of school, children bring a 

'Schultüte', a decorative parcel full of 

candy and small presents, and the older 

children perform for the new students and 

their families. 

HIGH SCHOOL 

In the last year of Grundschule, the decision 

is made as to whether pupils will 

attend the 'Hauptschule', 'Realschule' or 

'Gymnasium'. The system is quite rigid: 

pupils are placed based solely on academic 

performance. 

About a quarter of children go to 

Gymnasium. It has nothing to with sport 

or physical education; it is the literal translation 

of 'high school'. 

It lasts from about age 12 to 18 or 19 and 

is required for anyone planning on tertiary 

education. 

At least two foreign languages are 

required: one English, the other usually 

Latin or French. Students must choose a 

'Zweig' (branch) in the seventh grade - 

for example, maths and science, languages, 

or humanities - in which they 

get extra tuition. 

In the 13th grade, students prepare for the 

'Abitur' exam, which they must generally 

pass to go to the tertiary level. In most 

states, a student who fails more than two 

subjects must repeat the entire year - to 

repeat the same grade twice, he or she 

must change schools. 

About one quarter of children attend 

Realschule, where they learn basic subjects 

to prepare them for a mid-level job in 

business. 

It's possible, with high grades, to transfer 

from a Realschule to a Gymnasium. After 

six years, students graduate with a diploma, 

the 'Mittlere Reife'. 

The next step is usually vocational school, 

where they learn more business and 

industry related skills. Most salespeople, 

nurses, mid-level civil servants and secretaries 

have been to Realschule. 

Finally, the other half of the children are 

sent to Hauptschule. Its five-year programme 

teaches basic skills, including one 

foreign language, and prepares pupils for 

apprenticeship or unskilled or semi-skilled 

work. 

They also continue with basic subjects and 

English. After graduating from 

Hauptschule they can go on to a vocational 

school, which takes another two years. 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS 

Germany has about 3,000 private schools; 

many are boarding schools. Private 

schools often have a longer school day. 

Some are international and conduct classes 

in English. Often, the curriculum is 

designed to prepare students for the 

International General Certificate of 

Education (IGCSE) or the International 

Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. 


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EDUCATION 

48 

How to Choose a School 

Making the right choice of school is one of the most important decisions 

expat parents have to make. Here is a guide to help you through the process. 

There are three basic aspects that determine 

what the best choice of school will 

be for your international child: how old 

the child is; how long you will be abroad; 

and whether this is an isolated move or 

one in an expected series of moves. 

If your child is young, a local school could 

be the best and most convenient choice for 

your whole family. This is especially true 

if you plan to be abroad for only a few 

years as a one-off experience, or conversely, 

if you plan to live long-term in your 

new country. 

Your child will make friends close to 

home and learn the language and culture,, 

to the whole family’s benefit. Most 

European primary schools offer a solid 

foundation for further studies, and it 

would be unlikely for the children to find 

themselves behind in certain subjects once 

they return home. 

But if your child is at the end of primary 

school or in secondary school, or will be 

moving often during his or her educational 

career, being thrust into an ordinary 

QUESTIONS TO ASK 

Are there any other expat kids at the 

school? 

What is the social life like for the average 

child at the school? 

What is the curriculum? 

How will your child's progress be 

assessed? 

Which diplomas does the school offer? 

To what extent are parents encouraged to 

get involved with the school and decisions 

regarding its policies, etc.? 

local school will not be ideal. In these 

cases, most parents and educators would 

agree that the best option is either an 

international school or a local school with 

an international (English) stream. Most 

importantly, such children should attend a 

school whose system (curriculum, testing, 

etc.) is compatible with future needs. 

Schools offer different diplomas 

and qualifications. The most 

common and widely accepted 

are GCSE and IGCSE and the 

International Baccalaureate (IB). 

If your child plans to go on to higher education 

— either back home or at your next 

destination — it is vital that you find out 

how the school they go to now will affect 

their choices later. 

Once you narrow down your list of possibilities, 

try to visit the schools you are 

considering before you make your final 

decision. See the box at left for a list of 

important questions to ask when you 

visit. 

Most people will tell you that the headmaster's 

(principal's) attitude and management 

style will be the single most 

important factors in making a school successful. 

Steer clear of any school that does not 

encourage or accept the fact that you do 

not speak the local language at home. 

That indicates they do not have a clear 

idea of the realities and needs of the multilingual, 

multicultural child. 

Although not all children are natural-born 

relocators, it helps to know that most children 

are more adaptable than we usually 

give them credit for and, with support, 

will make a success of this new opportunity. 

GERMANY EXPAT SURVIVAL GUIDE WWW.EXPATICA.COM 

“ 

”

erlitz.qxp 2005-12-15 00:07 Page 49


EDUCATION 

50 

International Schools 

BERLIN 

The Berlin British School 

Dickensweg 17-19 

14055 Berlin 

030 35109190 

Berlin International School 

Lentzealle 12-14 

14195 Berlin 

030 82007790 

John F. Kennedy School 

Teltower Damm 87-93 

14167 Berlin 

Elementary School 

030 902995711 

High School 

030 902995758 

The State International 

School 

Pfalzburger Strasse 23 

10719 Berlin 

030 902923913 

BONN 

Bonn International School 

Europastrasse 28 

53175 Bonn 

0228 3776915 

Independent Bonn 

Interntional School 

Tulpenbaumweg 42 

53177 Bonn 

0228 323166 

COLOGNE 

St.George's School 

Anton-Antweiler-Strasse 4 

50937 Köln 

0221 2978990 

DÜSSELDORF 

The International School 

of Düsseldorf 

Niederrheinstrasse 336 


0211 94066 

www.isdedu.de 

FRANKFURT 

The Frankfurt International 

School 

An der Waldlust 15 

61440 Oberursel 

06171 2020 

Heidelberg International 

School 

Wieblinger Weg 9 

69123 Heidelberg 

06221 7590600 

Internationale Schule 

Frankfurt-Rhein-Main 

Strasse zur Internationalen 

Schule 33 


069 3482970 

European Business School 

Rheingaustrasse 1 

65375 Oestrich-Winkel 

06723 690 

HAMBURG 

International School 

Hamburg 

Holmbrook 20 

22605 Hamburg 

040 8830010 

MUNICH 

Bavarian International School 

Hauptstrasse 1 

85778 Haimhausen 

08133 9170 

European School of Munich 

Elise-Aulinger-Strasse 21 

81739 Munich 

089 628160 

Munich Business School 

Elsenheimerstr. 61 

80687 Munich 

089 54767816 

Munich International 

School 

Schloss Buchhof 

82319 Starnberg 

08151 3660 

STUTTGART 

International School of 

Stuttgart 

Sigmaringer Strasse 257 


0711 7696000 

REST OF GERMANY 

Black Forest Academy 

Postfach 1109 

79396 Kandern 

07626 91610 

Dresden International School 

Goethealle 18 

013009 Dresden 

0351 3400428 

International School of 

Bremen 

Thomas-Mann-Strasse 8 

28213 Bremen 

0421 3379272 

International School 

Hannover Region 

Bruchmeisterallee 6 

30169 Hannover 

0511 27041650 

UNIVERSITIES 

Open University 

Postfach 200365 

85511 Ottobrunn 

Munich: 089 66086583 or 

m.hawkes@open.ac.uk 

Hamburg: 040 428832478 or 

ou@aww.uni-hamburg.de 

Cologne: 0221 1626235 or 

schwerdtfeger@open.ac.uk 

www.open.ac.uk 

Vlerick Lueven Gent 

Management School 

Reep 1 

9000 Gent 

+32 (0)9 2109899 

www.vlerick.com 



Language Schools 

BERLIN 

Akademie für 

Fremdsprachen 

Nürnberger Strasse 38 

10777 Berlin 

030 8843020 

All Aboard 

Alt Moabit 105 

10559 Berlin 

030 39833993 

ih Berlin - PROLOG 

Hauptstrasse 23/24 

10827 Berlin 

030 7811076 

Berlitz 

Kurfürstendamm 201-203 

10719 Berlin 

030 3239047 

berlin1@berlitz.de 

Berlitz 

Friedrichstrasse 95 

10117 Berlin 

030 2042124 

berlin4@berlitz.de 

Die Neue Schule 

Gieselerstrasse 30A 

10713 Berlin 

030 8730373 

F+U Berlin 


10117 Berlin 

030 20617670 

Goethe-Institut Berlin 

Neue Schönhauser Strasse 20 

10178 Berlin 

030 259063 

Hartnackschule 

Motzstrasse 5 

10777 Berlin 

030 2164459 

Lichtenberg-Kolleg 

Pestalozzistrasse 96 

10625 Berlin 

030 3138121 

Linguamobil 

Warthestrasse 29 

12051 Berlin 

030 60975981 

Tandem Berlin 

Lychener Strasse 7 

10437 Berlin 

030 4413003 

COLOGNE 

Inlingua 

Grosse Sandkaul 19 

50667 Köln 

0221 9252642 

Linguarama 

Marzellenstrasse 3-5 

50667 Köln 

0211 160990 

DÜSSELDORF 

Central Sprachschule 

Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse 31- 

33 


0211 357635 

FRANKFURT 

Berlitz 

Biebergasse 6-10 


069 280875 

frankfurt1@berlitz.de 

Deutschpartner 

Kirchstrasse 1 

64462 Königstein 

06174 20990 

HAMBURG 

International House 

Poststrasse 51 

20354 Hamburg 

040 352041 

MUNICH 

Berlitz 

Leopoldstrasse 56A 

80333 Munich 

089 397020 

muenchen2@berlitz.de 

BWS Germanlingua 

Hackenstrasse 7 

80331 Munich 

089 59989200 

Desk Sprachkurse 

Blumenstrasse 1 

80331 Münich 

089 263334 

DID deutsch-institut 

Arnulfstrasse 10 

80335 Munich 

089 54285913 

Fokus 

Brienner Strasse 48 

80333 Munich 

089 52314347 

STUTTGART 

Anglo-German Institute 



0711 60187650 

REST OF GERMANY 

Berlitz 

Hauptstrasse 81-85 

65760 Eschborn 

06196 400450 

eschborn@berlitz.de 

OUTSIDE GERMANY 

Paraninfo 

Princesa 70 

2808 Madrid 

Spain 

+34 902 900594 

www.paraninfo.com 


EDUCATION

jobs.qxd 15/12/2005 21:32 Page 52 

JOBS 

52 


If you are an expat, it seems there are a handful of suitable jobs and an awful 

lot of job-seekers. But it can be done and here’s the guide to get you going. 

Citizens from the European Union and the 

European Economic Area have the good 

fortune to be able to seek work in Germany 

without a permit, but it is a far from simple 

process for everyone else. For many expats 

moving to Germany, arranging a work permit 

is what makes clear the difference in 

status between Europen citizens and those 

from non-EU nations. 

For an EU or EEA citizen, getting a work 

permit is a relatively easy procedure, in 

keeping with the process of creating a borderless 

Europe. You first have to arrange a 

residence permit and apply for an income 

tax card ('Lohnsteuerkarte') if you are going 

to be employed by a company on a contract. 

For those planning to work freelance, all 

you need is a tax number which you can get 

from your local tax office ('Finanzamt'). 

But a non-EU citizen must clear more hurdles. 

Having gone through the same steps 

as EU and EEA citizens, he or she must then 

apply for a work permit (‘Arbeitserlaubnis’) 

at the labour office (‘Arbeitsamt’) in the area 

where his or her prospective employer is 

based. It is also possible to obtain work permits 

at some German diplomatic missions 

in other nations. 

EXCEPTIONS TO THE WORK PERMIT RULE 

Spouses of EU citizens can be granted special 

work rights. Students are generally permitted 

to work up to 20 hours a week during 

semester and hold full-time jobs in the 

vacation. Members of a family who have 

moved to Germany because one partner has 

been transferred here are generally granted 

residence permits, but those seeking work 

are required to obtain permits. It might be 

best to let the authorities know you want 

one when you’re applying for the visa to 

come to Germany. 

Budding expat entrepreneurs can obtain a 

residence permit which allows them to be 

self-employed or work freelance if the 

authorities consider that the proposed business 

will have a positive effect on the 

German economy or if the business meets a 

specific local need. A business is considered 

to be economically beneficial if there is an 

investment of EUR 1 million and the creation 

of ten jobs. Entrepreneurs whose business 

plans do not meet these conditions will 

have their residence permit applications 

evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

There are certain exceptions to this rule - for 

example, it is normally straightforward for 

Americans to get a residence permit which 

allows them to work freelance as English 

teachers. See www.existenzgruender.de/ 

migranten/englisch/ for more information 

on setting up a business as a foreigner. 

A residence permit will normally be granted 

if you can demonstrate you are qualified for 

the occupation you want to take up and 

there is a reciprocity agreement with your 

home country. Senior company executives 

do not require work permits. 

PREREQUISITES 

There are several prerequisites for gaining a 

work permit in Germany. Apart from your 

residence permit, you must have a letter 

from your employer. Sometimes employers 

are required to prove to the employment 

office that they have first attempted to fill 

your position with an EU or EEA national. 

Granting a work permit to a non-EU citizen 

must not place Germans, EU or EEA citizens 

at a disadvantage on the jobs market. 

This essentially means a permit will only be 

granted if no comparable EU or EEA 

employee is available. 

‘GREEN CARDS’ 

Considering the present grim state of the 



international store.qxp 2005-12-15 00:37 Page 53

jobs.qxd 15/12/2005 21:32 Page 54 

JOBS 

54 



German labour market, a significant problem 

for anyone interested in working here 

at the moment is finding a job at all. 

However, the government has been taking 

steps to free up regulations surrounding the 

labour market. This has included the introduction 

in August 2000 of US-style ‘green 

cards’ aimed at filling the gaps in the labour 

force by drawing in IT and high-tech specialists. 

Under the green card scheme, foreigners 

and their families are permitted to 

come to Germany for a maximum of five 

years to work in the IT sector. In a bid to 

stamp out the growing practice of avoiding 

tax and social insurance payments with 

‘grey economy’ jobs, Berlin has created socalled 

‘EUR 400’ jobs. These involve all 

kinds of work, from cleaning to being an 

express courier or a gardener. 

NEW IMMIGRATION LAW 

Berlin has moved to liberalise the granting 

of German citizenship. At the same time, 

the government has introduced a land 

immigration law, which includes enticements 

to highly skilled foreigners to come 

to Germany and measures to attract those 

wanting to establish businesses in Europe's 

biggest economy. 

As part of efforts aimed at integrating foreigners 

living in Germany, the state is to 

pick up most of the tab on language courses. 

In addition the new law reforms the 

rules on granting asylum; and makes possible 

fast-track expulsion of foreigners 

deemed a security threat. 

WHERE TO LOOK FOR WORK 

If you are seeking work in Germany, you 

should consult the Central Placement Office 

of the Federal Institute for Employment 

(ZAV). The ZAV is responsible for placing 

applicants from abroad with German firms, 

as well as placing German applicants with 

firms abroad. 

All the major temporary-employment agencies 

are represented in Germany. 

Depending on the job you are after, the best 

place to find work can often still be the classified 

sections of major newspapers and city 

magazines. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Actually applying for a job is a complicated 

business in most circumstances, with most 

applicants expected to provide detailed 

written evidence and evaluations of their 

progress through the workplace as well as 

copies of university and school certificates 

— plus sometimes two passport photos. 

In addition, because the German system 

places strong emphasis on training programmes, 

in many instances those applying 

for jobs will be expected to spell out in great 

detail the training they have undergone. 

Even those working in shops and department 

stores have to have gone through two 

years of ‘Ausbildung’ (training). 

Unless you are applying for a job for which 

language skills are not important, it is probably 

best to make sure that at least your 

covering letter and CV are in German. 

Job interviews conducted in Germany tend 

to follow a similar pattern to those in other 

nations, except that a representative of the 

so-called ‘Betriebsrat’ (the company or office 

work council) might sit in on the interview. 

The Betriebsrat is a very strong and established 

part of the German industrial relations 

system, and a representative present at 

your interview is aimed at protecting your 

rights. 

Zentralstelle für Arbeitsvermittlung 

der Bundesanstalt für Arbeit (ZAV) 

53107 Bonn 

Tel: 0228 713 0 

Fax: 0228 713 1111 

www.arbeitsamt.de 


health.qxd 15/12/2005 21:33 Page 55 

Healthcare System 

Germany’s healthcare system has undergone some major surgery to trim 

welfare costs — and the signs are that the operation has been a success. 

Gerhard Schröder faced stiff opposition to 

his tough economic reform agenda, but he 

can claim one major success from his overhaul 

of the nation's welfare system, with 

evidence that the changes to the country's 

lumbering health service are starting to 

work. 

The government is hoping that the country's 

big public health funds 

(‘Krankenkassen’) will consider lowering 

premiums following the publication of 

official data showing that the funds had 

chalked up a surplus of over EUR 1 billion 

in the first half of 2005. 

The improvement in the health funds' 

finances follows the introduction in 2004 

of the deeply unpopular health service 

reforms, which included a special quarterly 

EUR 10 charge for patients visiting doctors 

and higher fees for patients on drugs. 

Since then, the health funds report that 

costs for drugs, sick pay and patients' 

travel expenses have dropped. The fall in 

costs reflect key elements of the government's 

reform, which include restrictions 

on travel expenses, coverage of sick pay, 

and the introduction of higher deductibles 

on prescription drugs and abolition of 

coverage of over-the-counter drug sales. 

PREMIUMS 

Up until now Germany's once generous 

welfare state provided the country with 

largely comprehensive healthcare services, 

including spa treatments and taxi bills 

paid by insurers. 

But health premiums have jumped from 

11 percent of gross salary in 1977 to more 

than 14 percent, with only the Swiss and 

the Americans paying more than the 

Germans for healthcare. The aim of the 

new reformed German health service is to 

share the pain of reform, with Germans 

forced to pay more out of their own pock- 

ets for medical care and the government 

hoping that the lower premiums will help 

to spur private consumption in the nation. 

As a sign that the German health reform 

debate still has some way to go, the government 

has also been considering the 

introduction of a so-called citizen insurance 

scheme which could require every 

citizen to make contributions to the 

nation's public health insurance groups. 

This includes many public sector employees 

and the self-employed who at present 

are able to take out private health cover. 

Private health insurance is also popular 

with expats living in Germany for a specific 

period. 

EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY 

In general, those working for German 

companies will find that their employers 

arrange their health insurance cover. 

Employers and employees each pay half of 

a member's premiums. Since the start of 

2004 premiums have dropped to an average 

of 14.2 percent of employee's income. 

In 2006 this should be reduced to 13.6 percent 

and in 2007 to 12.15 percent. 

Since July 2005, members of German statutory 

health funds have also been required 

to pay extra for some dental work such as 

bridges, crowns and replacement teeth, as 

well as sick pay. This will involve a special 

contribution of 0.9 percent of their gross 

salary. From that, 0.4 percent will be for 

the extra dental work and 0.5 percent for 

sick pay. 

Since the start of 2005, contributions by 

childless people over the age of 23 to nursing-care 

insurance increased to 1.1 per 

cent. Many doctors in Germany offer both 

conventional medicine and alternative 



HEALTH


HEALTH 

56 

Healthcare System 


forms of treatment such as homeopathy, 

and you may be asked which treatment 

you prefer. If you have any major dental 

work to be done you should first ask your 

dentist for a quote and then check it out 

with your insurer. 

All surgeries will have set hours for visiting 

(Sprechstunden). For those who are 

members of public health funds you simply 

turn up during the allotted times and 

present your insurance cards. 

Privately insured patients should ring in 

advance as in most cases they will be 

given a special appointment and be able to 

jump the (often) long queue in the waiting 

room, although in some busy big city 

general practices this does not apply. 

You can go straight to a specialist in 

Germany, but sometimes it is better to first 

see your GP as they normally have a stable 

of specialists they work with. In addition, 

many health funds have rules for 

payment for specialist services. This is 

especially the case with private health 

insurance cover. 

Either way, you should always take your 

health insurance card with you, including 

if you have to go the hospital. 

In general, doctors' bills are sent to your 

home address and paid via your bank 

account. You must keep a copy of all bills 

(both visits to the doctors and prescriptions) 

for sending on to your health 

insurer. 

Pharmacies tend to follow the old-fashioned 

Germany trading hours and are 

open between about 9am and 6pm. A list 

of late-night of pharmacies in your neighbourhood 

is normally in the front window 

of your local chemist. Chemists in areas 

such as airports, busy shopping centres 

and railway or underground stations are 

often open until at least 8pm. 

MEDICAL SURCHARGE 

Patients insured with statutory funds 

will be required to make a quarterly payment 

of EUR 10 when they visit a doctor. 

Private patients are exempt. 

HOSPITAL CARE 

This costs EUR 10 a day for a maximum 

of 28 days per year. Those receiving outpatient 

care and house visits will face an 

additional charge of EUR 10 plus 10 percent 

of the overall medical bill. 

SICK PAY 

From 2006 employers will be required to 

pay all salaries for workers after the seventh 

week of sick leave without receiving 

any assistance from the insurance 

companies. Workers will be required to 

pay a supplementary premium of 0.5 

percent. Sick pay up to the sixth week of 

illness is covered by health insurance. 

CUTS IN CLAIMS 

Patients will no longer be able to make 

claims for taxi rides to out-patient treatment. 

Claims for sterilisation for nonmedical 

related reasons has also been 

removed, with financial assistance for 

spectacles and other sight aids only 

available for patients under 18 years and 

for the severely handicapped. Death benefits 

and cash payments when a new 

baby is born are to be dropped. 

PREVENTIVE ACTION 

Patients undertaking preventive care will 

be rewarded with a rebate from health 

funds. Out-patient treatment within the 

EU is covered, but for a hospital stay 

approval from the insurer is required. 

DENTAL CARE 

Since July 2005, members of German 

statutory health funds have been required 

to pay extra for some dental work such as 

bridges, crowns and replacement teeth. 

This involves a special contribution of 0.4 

percent of their gross salary. 


axa.qxp 2005-12-15 13:15 Page 57


HEALTH 

58 

Hospitals 

BERLIN 

St Joseph Krankenhaus 

Bäumerplan 24 

12101 Berlin 

(030) 788 20 

St Marien Krankenhaus 

Gallwitzallee 123-143 

12249 Berlin 

(030) 767 830 

Martin Luther Krankenhaus 

Caspar-Theyss-Strasse 

27 - 31 

14193 Berlin-Grunewald 

(030) 895 50 

Charité University Hospital 

Switch (030) 45050 

Campus Charité Mitte 

Schumannstr. 20/21 

10117 Berlin 

Campus Virchow-Klinikum 

Augustenburger Platz 1 

13353 Berlin 

FRANKFURT 

Krankenhaus Nordwest 

Steinbacher Hohl 2-26 


(069) 760 11 

Krankenhaus Maingau vom 

Roten Kreuz 

Scheffelstr. 2-16 

60318 Frankfurt a.M. 

(069) 403 30 

Universitätsklinikum 

Theodor-Stern-Kai 7 

Frankfurt 

(069) 630 11 

MUNICH 

Krankenhaus München- 

Bogenhausen 

Englschalkingerstr. 77 

81925 Munich 

(089) 927 00 

Städtisches Krankenhaus 

München-Harlaching 

Sanatoriumsplatz 2 

81545 Munich 

(089) 621 01 

Krankenhaus Barmherzige 

Brüder 

Romanstr. 93 

80639 Munich 

(089) 179 70 

COLOGNE 

Akademisches 

Lehrkrankenhaus der 

Universität zu Köln 

Ostmerheimerstr. 200 

51109 Cologne 

(0221) 890 70 

Eduardus-Krankenhaus 

Cologne 

Custodisstr. 3-17 

50679 Cologne 

(0221) 827 40 

Thinking about 

health insurance? 

More information 

on this and other 

aspects of expat 

health can be 

found at 



settlingin.qxd 15/12/2005 22:09 Page 59 

Utilities 

Connecting to utilities in Germany is a 

reasonably straightforward procedure. For 

most people, this will largely be handled 

by the 'Hausverwaltung' (building management 

company). But you'll have to 

arrange your electricity connection yourself. 

When you sign the lease for your new 

home, the Hausverwaltung representative 

should give you a form to fill in for your 

local electricity company. 

Electricity companies are local or regional 

and have different rules for signing up 

customers; some may require that you 

produce ID such as a passport. 

So-called 'warm rent' includes 

'Nebenkosten' such as heating, water, rubbish 

collection and building electricity. 

In some cities it can include telephone, 

cable TV and your contribution to the cost 

of operating the building's lift and 

'Hausmeister/in' (concierge). 'Cold rent' is 

basic rent exclusive of utilities. 

Whichever you have, any problems you 

encounter with services like water or heating 

will generally be taken care of by 

either the Hausverwaltung or the 

Hausmeister/in - even if you own the 

property. 

Since the liberalisation of the European 

energy market in 1998, private households 

in Germany have been able to check the 

rates offered by different utility companies 

and select the one which offers the best 

price. It pays to shop around; the websites 

www.verivox.de and www.warentest.de 

might be helpful. 

RUBBISH AND RECYCLING 

Nobody recycles like the Germans. Over 

UTILITY COMPANIES 

Berlin: 

Bewag 

01801 113366 

www.bewag.de 

Frankfurt: 

Mainova 

01801 188811 

www.mainova.de 

Hamburg: 

Hew 

01801 439 000 

www.hew.de 

Munich: 

Stadtwerke München 

01802 796 796 

www.swm.de 

the past decade or so, Germany has introduced 

comprehensive recycling rules that 

provide for a series of sorting bins in 

every apartment building, contributing to 

a near-daily ritual of separating items for 

recycling. 

Product packaging can be removed and 

left at retail outlets, meaning that German 

industry has to take back and dispose of 

its own packaging and used products, 

which tends to reduce excess packaging at 

the source. 

Germany also has tough rules for nonrecyclable 

drink containers. A deposit has 

always been payable on beer and milk 

sold in glass bottles, but retailers are now 

required to charge a deposit on cans and 

so-called 'one-way' bottles 

'Einwegflaschen'), such as plastic ones 

that contain mineral water and soft 

drinks. 

Got something to sell? Try placing an advertisement 

in the online Classifieds at www.expatica.com 


SETTLING IN


SETTLING IN 

60 

Telephone and Internet 

GETTING CONNECTED 

One telephone number in Germany that 

will help you to open your lines of communication 

to the outside world is 008 008 

123 7546, the English information hotline 

operated by Deutsche Telekom. (All other 

service providers usually have some 

English-speaking sales staff as well.) 

As for phone rates in Germany, they vary - 

at least for domestic calls - for different 

times of the day. You will be billed on a 

monthly basis for the telephone rental and 

the individual calls. If you don't like too 

much pesky paper around, you can 

always access your bill via Telekom's internet 

site. 

What you have to decide before you connect 

is what type of line you want: analogue 

or ISDN. You might also want to 

have a DSL broadband connection for the 

internet, which can be arranged at the 

same time. You can save several set-up 

fees (not to mention time and effort) if you 

order the whole phone and internet package 

in one go. 

Following the deregulation of the 

European phone market in the 1990s, 

Germany now has one of the world's most 

competitive telecommunications markets, 

so it pays to try to size up what services 

and products are currently available on 

the market. 

Besides Telekom, a number of other companies 

offer the complete phone and internet 

package, among them Arcor and 

Debitel; or, in the Cologne/Bonn area, 

NetCologne. The Call-by-Call companies 

are very much a moveable feast: they 

change regularly, as do the offers. You 

simply add the prefix to the number you 

want to dial. The amount charged appears 

as part of your regular monthly Telekom 

telephone bill. 

Websites such as www.teltarif.de, 

www.tariftip.de and www.billiger-tele- 

fonieren.de provide information on which 

companies offer the best deals, including 

for international calls, or keep an eye on 

the newspaper. 

In addition, the German consumer group 

Stiftung Warentest is constantly comparing 

tariffs, prices and products in the computer, 

telephone and online business. Its 

website is www.warentest.de. 

ONLINE 

The German internet world is essentially 

dominated by T-Online (an offshoot of 

Deutsche Telecom) and America Online, 

but there are a whole host of other internet 

providers (not all ISPs provide their 

services in English). 

The price tag for broadband DSL had 

come down to almost the same you used 

to pay a few years ago for slow modem 

connections (28.8 KBit/s). Now you get a 

good DSL package (at a speed of 2 Mbit/s 

and a volume of 2 gigabytes/month) for 

around EUR 25. 

If you download tons of files on a regular 

basis, you might want to go for a bigger 

package, like 5 or 10 Gbytes/month, which 

raises your DSL bill to around EUR 30 or 

35. Add to that your regular analogue 

phone line (EUR 16) and you end up with 

a monthly internet/phone bill of EUR 40 to 

EUR 50. 

GET MOBILE 

Germany uses the GSM mobile phone system, 

which is compatible with the rest of 

Europe and several other nations but not 

with the US. The list of companies operating 

a mobile phone network in Germany 

comes down basically to five: T-Mobile 

(once again an offshoot of Deutsche 

Telekom), Vodafone, E-Plus, D2 and O2. 

You can purchase your mobile at a wide 

variety of stores and sign up there with 

the above mentioned service operators 

along a variety of call plans. 



Television, Video, DVD 

The vast majority of German households 

have cable television, which, combined 

with the public and commercial stations, 

means you have a choice of about 30 channels. 

If you want more, including access to 

many national European TV stations, then 

there is also satellite. 

TV and radio owners in Germany have to 

pay a monthly fee (EUR 17) to help meet 

the cost of operating the public stations. 

Cable operators are in general regionally 

based and access is usually arranged 

through the firm managing your apartment. 

The normal practice is that the cost 

of the cable TV service will be included as 

part of your 'Nebenkosten' (additional 

costs) which are added onto the monthly 

rent for the apartment. 

TV STATIONS 

Germany has two public broadcasting corporations, 

ARD and ZDF, with ARD tending 

to provide more serious programming 

and ZDF lighter entertainment. 

The public broadcast stations are also divided 

regionally, such as WDR covering the 

western part of the country and NDR the 

north. The key commercial stations are 

SAT-1 and RTL, which offer a mixture of 

popular entertainment and news. 

The other stations include 3- SAT, a joint 

production of German, Swiss, and 

Austrian national television, and the highbrow 

ARTE, a joint French-German station. 

RTL 2, Super and Vox also offer light 

entertainment, including a big dose of 

dubbed US films and soaps mixed in with 

a little bit of erotica. 

There are also 24 hour news channels 

(N24, Euro News and N-TV) as well two 

pop videos channels, MTV and its 

German rival, Viva. Plus there is sport on 

Euro Sport and DSF. 

FOREIGN LANGUAGE TV 

If you want to hone some language 

skills there are also stations broadcasting 

in Turkish, French, Polish, Russian, Italian, 

Spanish, and Portuguese. 

However the variety and daily schedule 

times of these channels may vary significantly 

as it depends on your local or 

regional cable provider. 

What's much harder to find on cable are 

English-language channels, except for 

CNN International and BBC World, which 

are strictly news stations. 

Dubbing is fairly universal on German television, 

but sometimes the channels offer 

stereo viewers the opportunity to choose a 

language. 

VIDEO 

Germany uses the European PAL system for 

videocassettes and video player/recorders, 

which means that videos from countries 

which use different systems (such as the 

US) are not compatible. 


DVD 

If you want to watch a movie or TV show 

in the original English, it's a good idea to 

get a DVD player. Virtually all video 

stores now provide a bigger variety of 

DVDs than video tapes, and almost all 

DVDs carry the audio in several languages. 

Besides movies, many video stores now 

provide TV shows on DVD like Friends, 

The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The 

Simpsons and Will and Grace, to mention 

but a few of the titles available at 

almost any rental store you may end up 

joining. 

As with videos, DVDs are regionalised by 

the manufacturers, so check what your 

system will allow you to play. 

SETTLING IN


SETTLING IN 

62 

Public Transport 

There is a wealth of public transport options in Germany, and quality is high. 

But be good and pay for your ticket, or it could cost you...in euros and shame. 

Public transport in German cities is regular, 

efficient, comprehensive and integrated. 

And in most cities, it's topped off with 

plentiful (if expensive) taxis. It makes you 

wonder why anyone bothers with a car. 

Besides buses and sometimes trams, most 

German cities operate an S-Bahn 

('Schnellbahn', for suburban commuter 

travel) and a U-Bahn (underground rail 

system). 

TICKETS 

Transport is run on an honour system - 

there's usually no machine or guard to 

check your ticket when you get on or off. 

It's often tempting just to jump on and go 

for free. But the consequences are fairly 

major if you're nabbed by an inspector. 

The authorities have imposed big fines in 

the hope of shocking people into buying 

tickets. In Berlin, this has been increased 

by EUR 10 to a hefty EUR 40. And then 

there's the humiliation of being dragged 

off the train by the ticket inspector so so 

he or she can take down your details. 

Those who jump into carriages appearing 

to contain no inspectors might be surprised 

at who walks over to ask for a ticket: 

inspectors come from all walks of life 

and are often in plain clothes. There's really 

no excuse for not having a ticket on 

you; they've heard it all. Even 'Someone's 

stolen my bag' or 'I am visitor from another 

country' won't usually wash, though 

saying you left your monthly or annual 

ticket at home gives you a week to produce 

a valid ticket. 

Some tickets, such as monthly passes, are 

available at designated shops. Most, 

though, you buy from a machine on the 

platform or inside the carriage. 

Human ticket-sellers are largely a thing of 

the past. This can speed things up but is 

frustrating if for some maddening reason 

you don't have the right change or, worse, 

the machine rejects your coins. Buses are a 

special case, as you can pay the driver. But 

it is best to have correct change. 

Each city decides on its own fares, but a 

single ticket (Fahrkarte, Fahrschein, or 

Fahrausweis) is usually about EUR 2. A 

range of tickets are available: some cover a 

specific period, say two hours, a day, a 

week or a year; others cover journeys of a 

few stations. There are also tickets for 

groups, families, dogs and bicycles. 

Each city's various forms of transport are 

integrated, and a ticket is usually good for 

all of them - buses, S-Bahn, U-Bahn and 

trams. 

On some short-journey tickets, though, 

you may not be allowed to transfer 

between S-Bahn and trams. If you have a 

Deutsche Bahn (railway) ticket, you can 

use it to travel on the S-Bahn between 

your home and the railway station. 

Transport regions are divided into zones, 

and you pay according to the number of 

zone boundaries you cross. 

TAXIS 

You can flag taxis down in the street, but 

often the best idea is to find the closest taxi 

rank. They aren't cheap by any means: 

prices vary between cities, but for a 2km 

inner-city journey you might pay about 

EUR 7, including a Grundtarif (base price) 

of about EUR 3.00. 

URBAN TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES 

Berlin: www.bvg.de 

Frankfurt: www.rmv.de 

Hamburg: www.hvv.de 

Munich: www.mvv-muenchen.de 



Driving 

It's not just about learning different road signs - you'll also have to 

untangle the driving licence process. Let our guide steer you right. 

DRIVING LICENCES 

If you are a citizen of a European Union or 

European Economic Area member state 

your driving licence is valid in Germany. 

Others essentially have six months to get a 

German licence based on their home country 

licence. 

There are special arrangements for certain 

US states and some nations, such as 

Canada; check out the rules for your 

state or country. Americans from some 

states are exempt from both the practical 

and the written test when applying for a 

German licence. 

Others can swap their home licence for a 

German one or can get one just by passing 

a written test. 

In a bid to keep on the right side of US 

business, some German states, such as 

Hamburg, have radically simplified the 

procedure for Americans to obtain a driving 

licence. Under certain conditions, they 

can apply to automatically convert their 

US licence. 

Those from some nations, though, such as 

Australia, New Zealand and India, will 

probably have to take a driving test to get 

a German licence. 

Those forced to apply for a German driving 

licence often opt to go through a driving 

school ('Fahrschule'). Costs vary, but 

tuition is often around EUR 500. Many 

schools have simplified courses for 

experienced drivers, which cost less than 

beginning ones; shop around. A word of 

warning however - if you don't obtain a 

German licence within three years after 

gaining residency, you will then have to 

take as many behind-the-wheel and theory 

lessons as a first-time applicant is 

forced to endure. 

SHORTER STAYS 

Those staying in Germany for less than six 

months need not register to legally drive 

on their home licence in Germany. 

Those staying between six months and a 

year can drive using their home licence, 

but must go to the local driver's registration 

office ('Führerscheinstelle') within six 

months to announce that they plan to do 

so. 

You must bring an official translation of 

your licence (the ADAC automobile association 

can make you one), plus proof of 

when you are leaving (such as an airline 

ticket or a work contract). 

CHECKLIST 

When applying for a licence, you are likely 

to be asked to bring the following: 

� Your home licence with an official 

German translation 

� A statement by the applicant that the 

licence is still valid 

� An official ID such as a passport 

� Your residency registration from the 

Einwohnermeldeamt 

� A recent photograph (35x45mm) 

� Proof of how long you have been a 

resident in Germany (normally available 

from the Ausländerbehörde) 

� The results of a recent vision test 

� The name of the Fahrschule you 

intend to go to, if applicable. 

But check before you go; requirements can 

vary between states. 

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT 

German law requires that all vehicles be 

equipped with a triangular caution sign 

and a first aid kit (DIN number 13164). 

First aid kits are available at the ADAC. 


SETTLING IN


SETTLING IN 

64 

Driving 

EU LICENCES 

The German authorities are encouraging 

people to swap over their European Union 

national licences for EU licences. The 

licences essentially set out information 

stating name and date of birth. 

If you did decide to swap your licence for 

a EU licence you can normally do this at 

your local Führerscheinstelle or sometimes 

at the Einwohnermeldeamt/Meldestelle. 

You can also try your local ADAC office, 

where the queue might not be quite as 

long. 

Either way you need to take several documents, 

including passport/ European ID, 

passport photos, and your Polizeiliche 

Anmeldungsbestätigung. There will also 

be a charge. 

SPEED LIMITS 

Speed limits are 50km/h in cities and 

towns, and 100km/h on the highway 

unless otherwise marked. In certain areas, 

for example near schools, the limit is 

30km/h. 

And in some urban areas, marked 

'Schrittempo', you are expected to crawl 

along in first gear. 

There is no speed limit on the 'Autobahn', 

except where marked. German road 

authorities, however, recommend a top 

speed of 130km/h. 

SPEEDING FINES 

Fines for speeding in Germany start at 

EUR 15 for exceeding the speed limit by 

10km/h. At more than 70km/h, you'll be 

fined EUR 425. In addition, you'll lose 

four points and also have your licence 

taken away for three months. 

GIVING WAY 

Drivers in Germany must give way to the 

right - that is, give the right of way to 

vehicles and cyclists coming from the 

right - except on streets marked as priority 

roads. 

DRINK DRIVING 

In line with most EU states, Germany 

fines anyone caught driving with more 

than 0.5mg of alcohol per 1ml of blood. 

The fine for first offenders is EUR 250; you 

will also lose four points and your licence 

will be suspended for one month. 

PARKING 

The cost of metered parking can vary considerably 

depending on location. You 

should expect to pay EUR 1 an hour, 

though you could pay as much as EUR 1 

per half hour. 

Parking fines are between EUR 5 and EUR 

35. In areas with limited but unmetered 

parking, you sometimes need a 

Parkscheibe - a cardboard disc indicating 

what time you parked at, which you display 

under your windshield. 

LEASING 

Those backed by companies can lease a 

car during their stay in Germany. 

Procedures are fairly standard across the 

country, but as with most contracts and 

major purchase agreements in Germany, 

it's a good idea to go through the agreement 

with a lawyer glancing over your 

shoulder. 

TWO USEFUL WEBSITES 

Bussgeldkataloge (lists fines): 

www.bussgeldkataloge.de 

ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher 

Automobil-Club), Germany's main 

automobile association: www.adac.de 



Driving 

BUYING A CAR 

Let's face it: buying a car anywhere can be 

a nightmare. And things can be worse in a 

foreign country. The easiest way is to head 

to a showroom. Grim times in the global 

car business means German dealers are 

falling over themselves to sell you a car. 

European interest rates are already low; 

now many dealers are offering in-house 

financing with no interest. Some carmakers 

also offer discounts to certain professions 

- journalists, for instance. 

Different national tax rates mean new cars 

can be imported into one EU country from 

another and sold at a lower price. Look for 

a sign saying 'EU-Fahrzeuge' (EU cars). 

Don't expect a test drive, and pay close 

attention to service clauses in the contract. 

If you have a car to trade in, many dealers 

will beat the price given in the 'Schwacke 

Liste', which sets out the value of used 

cars. Car magazines publish it, dealers 

and car clubs offer it, and it's available 

online. 

USED CARS 

For used cars, try listings in newspapers, 

specialist publications and websites; or 

visit second-hand yards or a dealer selling 

used cars with reconditioned parts. The 

latter is a way to get a nice older-model 

car with a new engine. But check which 

parts are reconditioned and what the warranty 

covers. Dealers often only take cash 

and won't allow test drives. Some dealers 

sell 'Jahreswagen' - cars bought at a discount 

by carmakers' employees and sold 

after a year. 

INSURANCE AND PAPERS 

You must show proof of car insurance and 

roadworthiness inspection before registering 

a car. The insurance market is highly 

competitive; shop around. The consumer 

group Stiftung Warentest publishes comparative 

listings. 'Haftpflichtversicherung' 

(liability insurance) is necessary; 

'VollKaskoversicherung' (comprehensive 

collision insurance) can be required for 

cars being financed and is often advisable 

for new cars. 

Roadworthiness inspections, done by the 

'Technische Überwachung-Verein' (TÜV) 

and authorised mechanics, are strict. New 

cars automatically pass for three years, 

and it's usually handled by the dealer. 

With a used car, it might be, but it's really 

your responsibility. If there is a certificate, 

see how long it has to run before you pay. 

An Abgas check - 'Abgasuntersuchung' 

(AU, for cars with catalytic converters) or 

'Abgassonderuntersuchung' (ASU, for 

those without) - must also be done before 

registration. The certificate, a marker on 

the licence plate, lasts two or three years, 

depending on the car's age and whether 

you're the first owner. There are penalties 

if it's out of date, though usually you'll get 

a friendly reminder. 

Finally, get a 'Grüne Karte' (green card) 

from your insurer and carry it when driving, 

especially abroad. Also carry the 

'Fahrzeugschein' (which lists the car's 

details). You'll receive a 'Fahrzeugbrief' 

(proof of ownership) after you've paid off 

the car. 

BIKING 

One of the pleasures of living in 

Germany's cities and towns is that the 

bicycle is considered to be a real alternative 

to other forms of transport. It is not 

necessary to buy a bicycle if you plan only 

on the occasional scenic ride or are visiting 

a town. For example, in Berlin you can 

rent a bike from Fahrradstation, which has 

several branches around town, for about 

EUR 15 a day. 

Radius Bike Rental in Munich rents bikes 

for a similar price. Deutsche Bahn also 

provides the 'Call a Bike' system, where 

you can rent a bike for as long as you 

want. 


SETTLING IN


SETTLING IN 

66 

Cinemas 

BERLIN 

CineStar im Sony Center 

Potsdamer Strasse 4 

10785 Berlin 

030 26066400 

www.cinestar.de 

Babylon 

Dresdener Strasse 126 

10199 Berlin 

030 61609693 

International 

Karl-Marx-Allee 33 

10178 Berlin 

030 24756011 

Neue Kant Kinos 

Kantstrasse 54 

Charlottenburg 

Berlin 10627 

030 3199866 

fsk Kino am Oranienplatz 

Segitzdamm 2 

10969 Berlin 

030 6142464 

Die Kurbel 

Giesebrechtstrasse 4 

10629 Berlin 

030 88915998 

Arsenal 1+2 

Potsdamer Strasse 2 

10785 Berlin 

030 26955100 

Moviemento 

Kottbusser Damm 22 

10967 Berlin 

030 6924785 

Odeon 

Hauptstrasse 116 

10827 Berlin 

030 78704019 

Xenon 

Kolonnenstrasse 5 

10827 Berlin 

030 7828850 

Blow Up 

Immanuelkirchstrasse 14 

10405 Berlin 

030 4428662 

Eiszeit-Kino 

Zeughofstrasse 20 

10997 Berlin 

030 6116016 

Filmkunst 66 

Bleibtreustrasse 12 

10623 Berlin 

030 8821753 

Neue Off 

Hermannstrasse 20 

12049 Berlin 

030 62709550 

MUNICH 

Cinema 

Nymphenburger Strasse 31 

80335 Munich 

089 555255 

Arri Kino 

Türkenstrasse 91 

80799 Munich 

089 38899664 

Museum Lichtspiele 

Lilienstrasse 2 

81669 Munich 

089 482403 

Atlantis 

Schwanthalerstrasse 2 

80336 Munich 

089 555152 

Lupe 2 

Ungererstrasse 19 

80336 Munich 

089 347651 

Maxim Kino 

Landshuter Allee 33 

80637 Munich 

089 168721 

Neues Arena 

Hans-Sachs-Strasse 7 

80469 Munich 

089 2603265 

Theatiner Film 

Theatinerstrasse 32 

80469 Munich 

089 223183 

HAMBURG 

Grindel UFA-Palast 

Grindelberg 7a 

20144 Hamburg 

040 449333 

CinemaxX Cinema 

Friedrich-Ebert-Damm 111 

22047 Hamburg 

040 450680 

FRANKFURT 

CineStar Turm - Palast 

Bleichstrasse 57 


069 281787 


STUTTGART 

CinemaxX Cinema 

Robert-Bosch-Platz 1 


0711 22007979 

DÜSSELDORF 

CineStar - Der Filmpalast 

Hansaallee 245 


0211 5274701 




English Bookstores 

BERLIN 

Another Country 

Riemannstr. 7 

10961 Berlin 

030 69401160 

Books in Berlin 

Goethestrasse 69 

10625 Berlin 

030 3131233 

Buchexpress 

Unter den Eichen 97 

12203 Berlin 

030 8314004 

Dussmann 


10117 Berlin 

030 20250 

East of Eden 

Schreinerstr. 10 

10247 Berlin 

030 4239362 

Fair Exchange 

Dieffenbachstr. 58 

Berlin 

030 6944675 

Marga Schoeller 

Bücherstube 

Knesebeckstrasse 33 

10623 Berlin 

030 8811112 

Saint George 

Wörtherstrasse 27 

10405 Berlin 

030 81798333 

Storytime Books & Café 

Schmargendorfer Strasse 36/37 

12159 Berlin 

030 85967004 

Village Voice 

Ackerstrasse 1A 

10115 Berlin 

030 2824550 

FRANKFURT 

The British Bookshop 

Börsenstrasse 17 

Frankfurt 

069 280492 

EURO Information Centre 

and Bookshop 

Kaiserstrasse 29 


069 24404798 

Sussmann's Presse and 

Buch 

Zeil 127 


069 1310751 

Hugendubel 

Steinweg 12 

Frankfurt 

069 2899821 

HAMBURG 

English Books 

Stresemannstrasse 169 

22769 Hamburg 

040 8514478 

MUNICH 

Anglia English Bookshop 

Schellingstrasse 3 

80799 Munich 

089 283642 

The Bookshelf 

Blumenstrasse 36 

80331 Munich 

089 616227 

Munich First Used English 

Bookshop 

Westendstrasse 134 

80339 Munich 

089 51085780 

Word's Worth Booksellers 

Schellingstrasse 21a 

80799 Munich 

089 2809141 

Bookworms will find 

plenty of places to stock 

up on English-language 

books around Germany 

For a preview of arts and entertainment in Germany, 

read the What’s On guides at www.expatica.com 


SETTLING IN


SETTLING IN 

68 

Food from Home 

BERLIN 

Australia Shopping World 

Wallstrasse 66 

10179 Berlin 

030 97005251 

British Shop 

Sophienstrasse 10 

10178 Berlin 

030 28599307 

Broken English 

Körtestrasse 10 

10967 Berlin 

030 6911227 

English Food Shop 

Wilhelmstrasse 3-4 

13595 Berlin 

030 3329420 

The English Scent 

Niebuhrstrasse 10 

10629 Berlin 

030 3244655 

Ye Olde British Shoppe 

Lindenstr 18 

14467 Potsdam 

0331 5058792 

BONN - COLOGNE - 

DÜSSELDORF 

The English Shop 

An St. Agatha 41 

50667 Köln 

0221 2578555 

www.english-shop.com 

The International Store 

Kurfürstenstrasse 28 


0211 3677211 

www.foodfromhome.de 

Australia Shop 

Friesenwall 116-118 

50672 Köln 

0221 121617 

American & British Foods 

Corneliusstrasse 45 


0211 3858501 

The Cottage 

Annastrasse 36 

52062 Aachen 

0241 4011764 

FRANKFURT 

Australien Shop Frankfurt 

Berliner Strasse 33 


069 90028437 

www.australien-shopfrankfurt.de 

A Taste of Britain 

Oeder Weg 34 


069 95929474 


Marktplatz 13 

65183 Wiesbaden 

0611 308 2545 

Sometimes it’s 

necessary to get 

a taste of home 

Harrods Knightsbridge 

Terminal 1, Departures B 


069 69706964 

HAMBURG 

British Shopping 

Hegestrasse 30 

20251 Hamburg 

040 51326326 

MUNICH 


Dachauer Strasse 109 

80335 Munich 

089 5428391 

STUTTGART 

Piccadilly English Shop 

Schellingstrasse 11 


0711 2260902 


english shop.qxp 2005-12-15 00:49 Page 69


SETTLING IN 

70 

Bars, Pubs and Clubs 

BERLIN 

Irish Harp Berlin 

Giesebrechtstrasse 15, 10629 Berlin 

030 8827739, www.harp-pub.de 

One of Berlin's best Irish pubs, the Irish 

Harp is a favourite of expats in west 

Berlin and is a popular place to watch 

televised sports. Live music at weekends, 

tasty pub grub, and friendly staff all 

make this a great place to catch up with 

other English speakers. 

Café Rosa 

Rosa-Luxemburg Strasse 41 

A contender for Berlin's smallest bar, 

Café Rosa makes up for what it lacks in 

size with friendliness and personality. 

Very popular with Berlin expats, the 

diminutive café is a cosy place where it's 

easy to make new friends. The regular 

English-language reading nights allow 

budding writers to try out their work. 

Klub der Republik 

Pappelallee 81 

It’s easy to spot Klub der Republik. 

Located on the first floor of an angular 

1960s building, its huge windows allow 

the passing voyeur to see the action 

inside. A wall of smoke greets you as you 

enter the bar, whose interior is best 

described as GDR retro. 

FRANKFURT 

O'Reilly's 

Am Hauptbahnhof 4, 60329 Frankfurt 

(069) 26487878, www.oreillys.com 

Situated just across from the main train 

station, O'Reilly's is popular with 

Frankfurt's expat community. Homesick 

Brits can watch English Premiership 

games, while their Irish friends may be 

interested in the hurling coverage, and 

soap opera fans will flock to watch the 

EastEnders omnibus. 

Café International 

Berlinerstr. 20 

A relaxed place with retro furniture and 

a living room vibe. 

MUNICH 

Twisted Bavarian 

Tengstrasse 20 

Tel. 089 271 14 45 

This bar in Munich's hip Schwabing district 

is reknown for its first-class Tex-Mex 

bites. The owners also run an English 

book swap. 

Bar Centrale 

Ledererstr. 22 

Conveniently located in the centre of 

Munich, Bar Centrale's front room 

resembles an authentic Italian bar. 

Dukatz 

Salvatorplatz 1 

Dukatz is a stylish café and restaurant, a 

calm which is only slightly disturbed by 

the huge, flashing LED sign sending its 

beams crashing around the room. 

Hofbräuhaus 

Platzl 9 

One of the most famous pubs in the 

world, the huge Hofbräuhaus is something 

of a Dionysian Mecca for visitors to 

Munich, and is consequently full of 

American frat boys quaffing beer by the 

litre; surprisingly enough, this doesn't 

seem to bother the numerous regulars. 

Schumann's Bar am Hofgarten 

Odeonsplatz 6-7 

This Munich cocktail bar has been running 

for more than 20 years and is popular 

with Munich's rich and famous - indicated 

by the fact it has the audacity not 

to open on Saturdays. 


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LISTINGS AND INDEX 

72 

Embassies 

AFGHANISTAN 

Wilhelmstr. 65 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 2 06 73 50 

ALBANIA 

Friedrichstr. 231 

10969 Berlin 

(030) 25 93 04 0 

ALGERIA 

Görschstr. 45-46 

13187 Berlin 

(030) 43 73 70 

ANGOLA 

Wallstr. 58 

10719 Berlin 

(030) 24 08 97 10 

ARGENTINA 

Kleiststr. 23 

10787 Berlin 

(030) 2 26 68 90 

ARMENIA 

Hillmannstr. 5 

13467 Berlin 

(030) 40 50 91 0 

AUSTRALIA 

Wallstr. 76-79 

10179 Berlin 

(030) 88 00 88 0 

AUSTRIA 

Stauffenbergstr. 1 

10785 Berlin 

(030) 2 02 87 0 

BANGLADESH 

Dovestr. 1 

10587 Berlin 

(030) 3989 750 

BELARUS 

Am Treptower Park 32 

12435 Berlin 

(030) 53 63 59 33 

BELGIUM 

Jägerstr. 52-53 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 2 06 42 0 

BOSNIA & HERCEGOVINA 

Ibsenstr. 14 

10439 Berlin 

(030) 81 47 12 10 

BRAZIL 

Wallstr. 57 

10179 Berlin 

(030) 7 26 28 0 

BULGARIA 

Mauerstr. 11 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 2 01 09 22 

CANADA 

Leipziger Platz 17 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 203 120 

CHINA 

Märkisches Ufer 54 

10179 Berlin 

(030) 2 75 88 0 

CROATIA 

Ahornstr. 4 

10787 Berlin 

(030) 21 91 55 14 

CUBA 

Stavanger Str. 20 

10439 Berlin 

(030) 44717 319 

CYPRUS 

Wallstr. 27 

10179 Berlin 

(030) 308 6830 

CZECH REPUBLIC 


10117 Berlin 

(030) 2 26 38 0 

DENMARK 

Rauchstr. 1 

10787 Berlin 

(030) 50 50 20 00 

EGYPT 

Stauffenbergstr. 6-7 

10785 Berlin 

(030) 4 77 54 70 

ERITREA 

Stavangerstr. 18 

10439 Berlin 

(030) 44 67 46 0 

ESTONIA 

Hildebrandstr. 5 

10785 Berlin 

(030) 25 46 06 00 

ETHIOPIA 

Boothstr. 20 

12207 Berlin 

(030) 7 72 06 0 

FINLAND 

Rauchstr. 1 

10787 Berlin 

(030) 50 50 30 

FRANCE 

Pariser Platz 5 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 5 90 03 90 00 

GHANA 

Stavangerstr. 17 

10439 Berlin 

(030) 547 1490 

GREECE 

Jägerstr. 54-55 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 2 06 26 0 

HUNGARY 

Unter den Linden 76 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 2 03 10 0 



Embassies 

ICELAND 

Rauchstr. 1 

10787 Berlin 

(030) 50 50 40 00 

INDIA 

Tiergartenstr. 17 

10785 Berlin 

(030) 257 950 

INDONESIA 

Lehrterstr. 16-17 

10557 Berlin 

(030) 4 78 07-0 

IRAQ 

Riemeisterstr. 20 

14169 Berlin 

(030) 81 48 80 

IRAN 

Podbielskiallee 65-67 

14195 Berlin 

(030) 8 43 53 0 

IRELAND 


10117 Berlin 

(030) 22 07 20 

ISRAEL 

Auguste-Viktoria-Str. 74-76 

14193 Berlin 

(030) 89 04 55 00 

ITALY 

Hiroshimastr. 1 

10785 Berlin 

(030) 2 54 40 0 

IVORY COAST 

Uhlandstr. 181-183 

10623 Berlin 

(030) 20 26 67 61 

JAPAN 

Hiroshimastr. 6 

10785 Berlin 

(030) 2 10 94 0 

KAZAKHSTAN 

Nordendstr. 14-17 

13156 Berlin 

(030) 4 70 07 0 

KENYA 

Markgrafenstr. 63 

10969 Berlin 

(030) 25 92 66 0 

REPUBLIC OF KOREA 

Schöneberger Ufer 89-91 

10785 Berlin 

(030) 26 06 50 

LATVIA 

Reinerzstr. 40/41 

14193 Berlin 

(030) 8 26 00 2 0 

LEBANON 

Berlinerstr. 127 

13187 Berlin 

(030) 4749 860 

LITHUANIA 

Charitéstr. 9 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 89 06 81 10 

LUXEMBOURG 

Klingelhöferstr. 7 

10785 Berlin 

(030) 26 39 57 0 

MACEDONIA 

Königsallee 2 

14193 Berlin 

(030)8 90 69 50 

MALAYSIA 


10785 Berlin 

(030) 885 7490 

MEXICO 


10785 Berlin 

(030) 269 3230 

MOLDOVA 

Gotlandstr. 16 

10439 Berlin 

(030) 44 65 29 70 

MONACO 


10785 Berlin 

(030) 26 39 03 3 

MOROCCO 

Niederwallstr. 39 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 20 61 24 0 

NETHERLANDS 

Klosterstr. 50 

10179 Berlin 

(030) 2 09 56 0 

NEW ZEALAND 


10117 Berlin 

(030) 2 06 21 0 

NIGERIA 

Neue Jakobstr. 4 

10179 Berlin 

(030) 2 12 30 0 

NORWAY 

Rauchstr. 1 

10787 Berlin 

(030) 50 50 5 0 

PAKISTAN 

Schaperstr. 29 

10719 Berlin 

(030) 2 12 44 0 

POLAND 

Lassenstr. 19-21 

14193 Berlin 

(030) 2 23 13 0 

PORTUGAL 

Zimmerstr. 56 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 59 00 63 5 00 


LISTINGS AND INDEX



74 

Embassies 

ROMANIA 

Dorotheenstr. 62 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 212 390 

RUSSIAN FEDERATION 

Unter den Linden 63-65 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 2 29 11 10 

SENEGAL 

Dessauerstr. 28 

10963 Berlin 

(030) 856 2190 

SERBIA-MONTENEGRO 

Taubertstr. 18 

14193 Berlin 

(030) 895 7700 

SLOVAKIA 

Pariserstr. 44 

10707 Berlin 

(030) 88 92 6 20 

SLOVENIA 

Hausvogteiplatz 3-4 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 20 61 45 50 

SOUTH AFRICA 

Tiergartenstr. 18 

10785 Berlin 

(030) 22 07 3 0 

SPAIN 

Lichtensteinallee 1 

10787 Berlin 

(030) 25 40 07 0 

SWEDEN 

Rauchstr. 1 

10787 Berlin 

(030) 50 50 6 0 

SWITZERLAND 

O.-von-Bismarck-Allee 4A 

10557 Berlin 

(030) 3 90 40 00 

THAILAND 

Lepsiusstr. 64-66 

12163 Berlin 

(030) 7 94 81 0 

TURKEY 

Rungestr. 9 

10179 Berlin 

(030) 27 58 50 

UKRAINE 

Albrechtstr. 26 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 288 870 

Most embassies 

are located in 

Berlin, although 

there are 

consulates 

in other major 

German cities 

UNITED KINGDOM 


10117 Berlin 

(030) 20 45 70 

UNITED STATES 

Neustädtische Kirchstr. 4-5 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 83 05 0 

VIETNAM 

Elsenstr. 3 

12435 Berlin 

(030) 5 36 30 1 08 

ZIMBABWE 

Kommandantenstr. 80 

10117 Berlin 

(030) 3086 830 



Groups and Clubs 

Whatever your interest, there's sure to be a group of club that caters 

for it. Here is a list of expatriate societies in Germany's major cities. 

BERLIN 

ARTS AND THEATRE 

The Friends of Italian Opera 

- Berlin's English Language 

Theatre 

(030) 6935692 

(030) 6913937 

Box Office: (030) 6911211 

info@thefriends.de 

www.thefriends.de 

PROFESSIONAL 

American Chamber of 

Commerce, Berlin 

(030) 288789 - 21 

Fax: (030) 288789 - 29 

www.amcham.de 

berlinoffice@amcham.de 

American German Business 

Club - Berlin 

AGBC-Berlin e. V. 

PO Box 15 01 45 

10663 Berlin 

(030) 24085212admin@agbcberlin.de 

or 

membership@agbc-berlin.de 

www.agbc-berlin.de 

English Language Teachers 

Association Berlin- 

Brandenburg (ELTAB-B) 

www.eltabb.com 

EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS - US 

The American Women's 

Club of Berlin 

(030) 79706523 

(030) 79741865 

membership@awcberlin.org 

www.awcberlin.org 

HOBBIES AND SPORTS 

Berlin Crocodiles Club 

(Australian Football) 

www.berlin-crocodiles.de 

English Football Club Berlin 

www.english-football-club. 

com 

info@english-football-club. 

com 

Lacrosse Club Berlin 

(030) 3041280 

www.blax.de 

Berlin Hash House Harriers 

www.berlin-h3.de 

MEDICAL SERVICES 

'Call a doc' supplies information 

about medical services 

especially for foreigners 

residing in Berlin 

(01804) 22 55 23 62 

www.calladoc.com 

info@calladoc.com 

RELIGIOUS 

American Catholic 

Community 

(030) 8916019 

Gateway International 

Church 

(030) 85077820 

frank@gicb.org 

St. George's Anglican 

Church 

Sundays 10am at 

Preußenallee 17-19 

(Westend) 

www.stgeorges.de 

SOCIAL 

Berlin International 

Women's Club (BIWC) 

info@biwc.de 

Connect Berlin e.V. (English 

Speakers' Cultural Club) 

committee@connectberlin.de 

www.connectberlin.de 

Deutsch-Britische 

Gesellschaft 

(030) 2039850 

(030) 20398516 

www.debrige.de 

Embassy Singers 

(030) 40913267 

(030) 2014 6172 

info@embassysingers.de 

www.embassysingers.de 

Translators Stammtisch 

ward@berlin.mail.fco. 

gov.uk 

DÜSSELDORF 

British Women's Club of 

Düsseldorf 

www.bwcduesseldorf.org 


Club - Düsseldorf 

Am Latumer See 34 

D-40668 Meerbusch 

www.agbc.de 

duesseldorf@agbc.de 

American Women's Club 

Düsseldorf 

(0211) 40 80 644 

(0211) 91 29 733 

www.awcduesseldorf.org 

Anglo-German Club 

Düsseldorf 

(02131) 603809 

Cosmopolitan Club 

Düsseldorf 

(02150) 3745 

Deutsch-Amerikanische 

Gesellschaft BergischesLand 

(0700) 43787200 

info@deutsch-amerikanische-gesellschaft.de 


LISTINGS AND INDEX



76 


International Club of 

Düsseldorf 

(0211) 679 8108 

COLOGNE/ BONN 

EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS - UK 

Deutsch-Britische 

Gesellschaft 

info@deutsch-britisch.de 

Angloclub 

www.angloclub.de 



Cologne 

info@awccologne.org 

www.awccologne.org 


Club - Bonn 

Beethovenallee 85 

53173 Bonn 

(0228) 354845 

bonn@agbc.de 

EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS - OTHER 

German-Canadian Society 

Deutsch-Kanadische 

Gesellschaft 

(0221) 2576793 

(0221) 2577236 

info@dkg-online.de 

Oxford Club Bonn 

(0228) 224583 

www.oxford-club-bonn.de 

SOCIAL 

The Anglo Club 

www.angloclub.de 

Hash House Harriers 

www.bonnhashhouseharriers.de 

SCK-Sprachclub 

sck-koeln@netcologne.de 

Internationaler Stammtisch 

www.multikulti.istcool.de 

neuekontakte@web.de 

English Club International 

William-Austin.Pratt@ 

stadt-koeln.de 

International English Club 

of Cologne 

wsaabel@gmx.de 

Bonn's English Network 

Caroline Becker 

(0228) 3868881 

www.english-network.de 

Overseas Club (Cologne) 

(0221) 9990056 

www.overseasclub.de 

FRANKFURT 



Taunus 

(06171) 580835 

www.awctaunus.org 


Club - Frankfurt 



(069) 97358275 

frankfurt@agbc.de 

PROFESSIONAL 

American Chamber of 

Commerce, Frankfurt 

(069) 9291040 

info@amcham.de 


Club - Frankfurt 



(069) 9735 8275 

frankfurt@agbc.de 

SOCIAL 

ELTAF-English Language 

Teacher's Association 

Frankfurt 

ELTAF@gmx.de 

www.eltaf.de 

The Frankfurt International 

Ski Club (FISC) 

info@fiscweb.org 

www.fiscweb.org 

English Round Table 

www.ert.from.de 


www.frankfurt-hash.de 

Pickwicks English Club 

www.pickwicks.de 

Women of the World 

www.wow-net.org 

Multi-lingual families in 

Germany: Information, 

assistance andcontact 

groups for families speaking 

more than one language 

(06105) 25284 

www.mehrsprachigefamilien.de 

HAMBURG 


American Club of Hamburg 

club@americanclub.de 

www.americanclub.de 

Amerika Gesellschaft 

www.amerika-gesellschaft.de 

info@amerika-gesellschaft.de 

Amerikazentrum Hamburg 

(040) 45 01 04 22 

hwww.amerikazentrum.de 

Amerikazentrum- 

Hamburg@t-online.de 

The American Women's 

Club of Hamburg 

(0176) 2218 0791 

www.AWCHamburg.org 

webwoman1@awchamburg. 

org 


exberliner.qxp 2005-12-15 09:41 Page 77 

Essential for 

Baden-Württemberg 

www.accentsmagazine.de 

accents 

magazine



78 



Anglo-German Club 

(040) 45 01 55-12/13 

anglo-german@t-online.de 

www.anglo-german-club.de 

Anglo-German International 

Women's Association 

(040) 8 70 51 52 

(040) 82 45 63 

agiwainternational@hamburg.de 

British and Commonwealth 

Ladies' Luncheon Club 

(04102) 56 463 

bclic@hotmail.com 

British Club of Hamburg 

mail@british-club-hamburg. 

de 

www.british-clubhamburg.de 

Norddeutscher Cricket 

Verband 

(040) 478 233 

EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS - 

OTHER 

Caledonian Society 

(040) 32915 

341gwen.cochrane@fco.gov.uk 

www.caledonian-society.de 

The Hamburg English- 

Language Teaching 

Association (HELTA) 

(040) 6565 654 

Fax: (040) 6563 980 

kilshaw@t-online.de 

www.helta.de 

SOCIAL 


www.hamburghash.de 

The English-Speaking 

Union 

(040) 220 0396 

RELIGIOUS 

The Anglican Church of St. 

Thomas à Becket 

St. Thomas a Becket 

Zeughausmarkt 22 

20459 Hamburg 

(040) 439 2334 

www.anglican-churchhamburg.de 

HANOVER 

Australian Social Evening 

www.gas-h.de 

Contact: Lee Traynor 

traynor@skeptic.de 

English Conversation 

Evening 

www.go-cbt.de 

Contact: Lee Traynor 

traynor@skeptic.de 

MUNICH 

ARTS AND THEATRE 

Entity Theatre Workshop 

(089) 637 11 31 

PROFESSIONAL 


Club - Munich 

c/o Bavarian American 

Center 

Karolinenplatz 3 

80333 Munich 

(089) 55 02 81 29 

munich@agbc.de 

www.agbc.de 

Cambridge Alumni 

Antje Clasen 

(08122) 96 14 08 

clasen@post.harvard.edu 

Cornell University Alumni 

and Friends Stammtisch 

(08152) 79674 

MELTA Munich English 

Language Teacher's Assoc. 

(08082) 94 65 09 or 

(089) 56 82 21 80 

114077.42@compuserve.com 

www.melta.de 

Munich Writers 

(08095) 18 80 

www.munichwriters.de 

Oxford Society 

(089) 24 21 11-0 

mj@blueribbon.de 


American Association of 

University and Professional 

Women 

(089) 5009 4433 

www.aauw.org 

German-American Choral 

Society 

(089) 2194 9871 

Californian Association 

(089) 5108 5780 

German-American Men's 

Club Stammtisch 

Contact Sam Magill 

(089) 91 14 63 


Anglo-German Stammtisch 

(089) 689 1601 

netswolf@email.com 

Meet other expats in Germany through the 

lively Discussion Forums at www.expatica.com 




English-German 

Stammtisch 

(0179) 274 83 69 

p_mcveigh@hotmail.com 

German-English 

Association Munich (GEA) 

www.gea-muc.de 

EXPAT ASSOCIATIONS - 

OTHER 

Canadian Club 

(089) 791 53 40 

norma_welch@yahoo.co.uk 

GORDONSL@gmx.net 

Deutsch-Irischer 

Freundeskreis 

Frank McLynn 

(089) 679 24 81 

Down Under group 

Munich Stammtisch 

(089) 542 83 91 

Expats in Bavaria 

Expats-in-Bavaria@ 

expat-media.com 

Malaysia Club Bayern e.V. 

(089) 838 844 

mcb_Germany@yahoo.com 

Munich Caledonians 

(08071) 35 63 

or (0170) 1492 2517 

Munich Scottish 

Association 

(089) 307 626 47 

HOBBIES AND SPORTS 

ACC SSG München 

New soccer club. Active, 

passive, all ages (8-80). 

(089) 311 19 38 

Colmcilles GAA Club 

Gaelic football 

www.munichgaa.tripod.com 

Dip-N-Divers Square Dance 

Club 

(089) 57 46 88 

hannsdieter.keh@muenchen. 

org 

English Golfing Society 

Contact R. Parry 

(089) 53 42 75 

Lacrosse Club München 

Jan Mueller 

(0170) 321 25 47 

jan-philipp-mueller@web.de 

Munich Cricket Club 

Association 

(089) 977 3940 

Munich Irish Rovers 

Football Club 

(089) 69 25 921 

www.munichirishrovers.de 

GEA Bridge Club 

(08141) 343 13 

Munich Rugby Football 

Club 

(089) 5150 4680 

Munich Wanderers 

(08193) 700 

180mike@munichwanderers. 

de 

www.munichwanderers.de 

Oberbayern Ski Patrol 

Bavarian chapter, US 

National Ski Patrol 

(08065) 872 

Royal Aeronautical Society 

(089) 291 5981 

SOCIAL 

The English-Speaking Union 

(089) 345 532 

www.esu-bavaria.de 


http://munich-h3.com 

(089) 1200 7991 

International 

Ladies Association 

(089) 8576 180 

RELIGIOUS 

Peace Church United 

Methodist 

Frauenlobstr. 5 


(089) 260 263 77 

POLITICAL 

Democrats Abroad 

http://de.democratsabroad. 

org 

chair-de@democratsabroad. 

org 

Republicans Abroad 

www.gopgermany.com 

info@gopgermany.com 

See www.expatica.com for a 

complete listing of expat 

groups and clubs in 

Germany. 

If you would like to add 

your group or club to this 

list, please email 

feedback@expatica.com 

with the details. 

Find love and romance at Expatica DATE! Sign up 

for a free trial at www.expatica.com/date 


LISTINGS AND INDEX



80 

Phone Book Decoder 

Looking for a product or service? Here are German translations of some 

common Yellow Pages subject headings expats are likely to look for. 

ACCOUNTANT 

Buchhalter 

AIRLINE 

Flugverkehr 

(Fluggesellschaft) 

ART GALLERY 

Kunsthandlung 

Galerie 

BABY GOODS 

Babyausstattung 

BAKERY 

Bäckerei 

BARBER 

Friseur 

BATHROOM 

Badezimmer 

BEAUTICIAN 

Kosmetikerin/ 

Kosmetikstudio 

BICYCLE 

Fahrrad 

BUTCHER 

Fleischer 

CARPENTER 

Tischler 

CARPET 

Teppich 

CAR DEALER 

Autohändler 

CAR RENTAL 

Mietwagen 

CENTRAL HEATING 

Zentraleheizung 

CHILDREN'S CLOTHES 

Kinderausstattung 

CINEMA 

Kino 

CLOTHING ALTERATIONS 

Änderungsschneiderei 

CONFECTIONERS 

Konditor 

DENTIST 

Zahnarzt/Zahnärztin 

DEPARTMENT STORE 

Kaufhaus 

DOCTOR 

Arzt/Ärztin 

DOG KENNEL 

Hundebedarf/Hundehütte 

DRIVING SCHOOL 

Fahrschule 

DRUG STORE 

Drogerie 

DRY CLEANER 

Reinigung 

ELECTRICAL 

APPLIANCES 

Elektrogeräte/bedarf 

EMPLOYMENT OFFICE 

Arbeitsamt 

EYE DOCTOR 

Augenfacharzt/Augenfachä 

rztin 

FIRE BRIGADE 

Feuerwehr 

FISHMONGER 

Fischhändler/in 

FLOWER SHOP 

Blumenladen 

FURNITURE 

Möbel 

GARDEN CENTRE 

Garten-Center 

GREENGROCER 

Obst und Gemüse 

GROCERIES 

Lebensmittel 

HAIRDRESSER 

Friseur 

HARDWARE 

Baumarkt 

HEALTH CLUB 

Fitness Center 

HOSPITAL 

Krankenhaus 

HOUSEWARES 

Haushaltswaren 

INSURANCE 

Versicherung 

JEWELLER 

Juwelier/in 

KEY SERVICE 

Schlüsseldienste 

KITCHEN 

Küche 

LANGUAGE SCHOOL 

Sprachschule 



Phone Book Decoder 

LAWYER 

Anwalt 

LIBRARY 

Bibliothek/Bücherei 

MEN’S CLOTHING 

Herrenartikel 

MOVING 

COMPANIES 

Umzuege 

OPTICIAN 

Optiker/in 

PAINTERS 

Maler 

PEST CONTROL 

Schädlingsbekämpfung 

OPENING HOURS 

PHARMACY 

Apotheke 

PLUMBER 

Gas- und Wasserinstallateur 

POLICE 

Polizei 

POST OFFICE 

Postamt 

REAL ESTATE 

Immobilien/Makler 

RESTAURANT 

Gaststätte/Restaurant 

SHOES 

Schuhe 

SUPERMARKET 

Supermarkt 

The number of hours per week stores 

may be open is regulated by the government’s 

shop trading law 

(Ladenschlussgesetz), which has been liberalised 

several times in recent years. The 

result is that most big stores and supermarkets 

in major cities are open from 

about 8am to 8pm weekdays and 8am to 

6pm Saturdays. 

In smaller towns, most shops and supermarkets 

close around 6pm during the 

week and 2pm on Saturday.s Shops are 

mostly closed on Sundays. Those near 

major transport zones like railway stations 

and airports can stay open until 

10pm and are often open on Sundays and 

public holidays. 

Under certain circumstances, shops may 

trade on Sundays or after 8pm on 

Saturdays. In some cities certain 

Saturdays are designated for late-night 

shopping. But usually, when a shop is 

SWIMMING POOL 

Schwimmbad 

TAILOR 

Schneiderei 

TAX CONSULTANT 

Steuerberater/in 

THEATRE 

Theater 

TRAVEL AGENT 

Reisebuero 

VETERINARIAN 

Tierarzt/Tierärztin 

WINDOW CLEANING 

Fensterputzen 

WOMEN’S 

CLOTHING 

Frauenartikel 

open on a particular Sunday, it will close 

at 2pm on the Saturday. In the run-up to 

Christmas, big department stores often 

open until 8pm on Saturday. 

Banks’ opening hours vary but are usually 

9am to 6pm Monday to Friday. 

Smaller branches are less predictable 

and sometimes close early on 

Wednesdays and Fridays. Pharmacies 

tend to follow the same hours as banks; 

they usually display a chart in the front 

window showing which local pharmacy 

is open after hours (weekends and 

evenings). Pharmacies near major transport 

zones often open until 10pm and on 

Sundays and holidays. 

Post offices’ opening hours vary. In smaller 

towns, they tend to follow traditional 

hours and close at 6pm. But in big-city 

transport zones, they, like the shops, are 

often open until 10pm Monday to Friday 

and on Saturdays and Sundays. 


LISTINGS AND INDEX



82 

Weights and Measures 

WOMEN’S CLOTHING 

US UK DE 

6 8 36 

8 10 38 

10 12 40 

12 14 42 

14 16 44 

16 18 46 

18 20 48 

20 22 50 

WOMEN’S SHOES 

US UK DE 

5½ 3½ 36.5 

6 4 37 

6½ 4½ 37.5 

7 5 38 

7½ 5½ 38.5 

8 6 39 

MEN’S CLOTHING 

US UK DE 

36 36 46 

38 38 48 

40 40 50 

42 42 52 

44 44 54 

LINEAR MEASURES 

MEN’S SHIRTS 

US UK DE 

14½ 14½ 37 

15 15 38 

15½ 15½ 39 

16 16 41 

16½ 16½ 42 

17 17 43 

17½ 17½ 44 

MEN’S SHOES 

US UK DE 

8 7½ 40 

8½ 8 42 

9 8½ 43 

9½ 9 44 

10 9½ 45 

MEN’S SWEATERS 

US UK DE 

small 34 44 

medium 36-38 46-48 

large 40 50 

x-large 42-44 52-54 

1 centimetre 0.39 inch 

2.54 centimetres 1 inch 

30.05 centimetres 1 foot 

91.4 centimetres 1 yard 

1 meter 39.37 inches 

1 kilometer (1000 m) 0.62137 miles 

1.609344 kilometers 1 mile 

DRY MEASURES 

g oz 

30 1 

115 4 

170 6 

225 8 

450 16 (1lb) 

OVEN TEMPERATURES 

OVEN C F GAS MARK 

very cool 130 260 0.5-1 

cool 150 300 2 

warm 170 325 3 

moderate 180 350 5 

fairly hot 200 380 5-6 

hot 220+ 460 7-8 

THERMOMETER 

C F 

25 77 

23 73 

20 68 

18 64 

15 59 

13 55 

10 50 

8 46 

5 41 

3 37 

0 32 

-5 23 

-10 14 

-15 5 

LIQUID MEASURES 

ml fl oz 

30 1 

60 2 

150 5 

240 8 

300 10 

450 15 

900 32 

1000 34 

BODY TEMPERATURE 

C F 

36.0 96.8 

36.5 97.7 

37.0 98.6 

37.5 99.5 

38.0 100.4 

38.5 101.3 

39.0 102.2 

39.5 103.1 

40.0 104.0 

40.5 104.9 

41.0 105.8 


events in Germany, read www.expatica.com 



Emergency Numbers 

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS 

Fire, rescue or emergency doctor (ambulance) 

112 

Police 110 

Border police (at railway stations, airports 

and borders) 01805 234566 

MEDICAL SERVICES 

Anti-poison centres 

Berlin 030 19240 

Frankfurt 06131 19240 

Hamburg 0551 19240 

Munich 089 19240 

Doctors on call 

Berlin 030 310031 


Hamburg 040 228022 

Munich/Bavaria 01805 191212 

Emergency dentists 

Berlin 030 8900 4333 


Hamburg 01805 050518 

Munich 089 7233093 

Veterinarian on call 

Berlin www.veteribaer.de 

Frankfurt 069 421214/069 97074955 

Hamburg 040 434379/222277 

Munich 089 294528 or 089 2 18 00 

UTILITIES 

Berlin 

Power Failure 

01802 112525 

Frankfurt 

Power Failure 

069 213 88110 

Hamburg 

Power Failure 

01801 439439 

Munich 

Power Failure 

089 381 01 01 

HELPLINES 

Crisis Line for Women, Berlin 

030 6154243 

Child Crisis Line (all of Germany) 

0800 1516001 

Child Crisis Line (Berlin) 

030 61 00 61 

Child and Youth Helpline 

0800 111 03 33 

Parents’ Information Line 

0800 1110550 

Gas Leaks 

030 787272 

Gas Leaks 

069 21388110 

Gas Leaks 

0180 1 40 44 44 

Gas Leaks 

089 1530-16/-17 

Telekom fault 0800 3302000 

Gay and Lesbian Hotline 

Berlin 030 19446/216 3336 

Frankfurt 069 2562 6470/19446 

Hamburg 040 2790069 

Munich 089 260 3056 

Looking for a business in Germany? Consult the 

Business Directory at www.expatica.com/germany 


LISTINGS AND INDEX



84 

Advertisers Index 

A 

Accents Magazine 77 

Americans' Income Tax Service 41 

Australien Shop Frankfurt 53 

B 

Berlitz GmbH 49 

C 

CineStar Cinema (back cover) 

D 

Dig-it-all-cable 25 

E 

The English Shop 69 

Exberliner 77 

F 

First Command Financial Planning 37 

First Command 

Financial Services (inside back cover) 

Frankfurt International Ski Club 49 

G 

Genesis Systems 35 

I 

Independent Insurance Broker and 

Investment Advisor 41 

International School of Dusseldorf 45 

Need more guides? 

The Expat Survival Guide will be distributed 

this year to over 20,000 expats in 

Germany through embassies, international 

companies and organisations, expat 

clubs and expat housing and relocation 

companies. 

If you are involved in managing expats 

(maybe you are an international HR 

Manager) or through your company or 

organisation come in to frequent contact 

with expats who would find this guide 

useful, please contact Mike Mazurkiewicz 

at mike.mazurkiewicz@expatica.com to 

order the guides. 

You can order as many guides you feel 

The International Store 53 

The Irish Harp Pub 71 

K 

Kabel Deutschland (inside front cover) 

KEWA Relocations 31 

M 

Martin Brune 39 

Munich Found 53 

O 

Open University Bachelor 

and Masters Degree 45 

Open University MBA Degree 47 

Ocean Management 35 

O'Reilly's Irish Pub 71 

P 

Paraninfo 49 

Paul Kiefer Esquire 39 

PPP Healthcare 57 

R 

Rhine Magazine 27 

V 

Vlerick Management School 47 

necessary, for free, and delivery is also 

free within Berlin (otherwise we ask that 

you simply cover the postage costs). 

Details of where you can pick up individual 

copies of the Survival Guide can 

be found at www.expatica.com. Venues 

include international bookstores, expat 

food stores, and bars and restaurants. 

If you run a bookshop, cafe, bar or restaurant 

popular with expats and would like 

to distribute the free Expat Survival Guide 

to your customers, please email 

mike.mazurkiewicz@expatica.com for 

details. 


covers5.qxp 2006-01-10 14:40 Page 3

covers1.qxp 2005-12-15 15:56 Page 2 

Lost in 

Translation? 

Welcome to Germany, its medieval towns, fairytale sceneries, hearty 

food ... and notorious movie dubbing. Enjoy the whole variety of international cinema 

in the original language version in Berlin, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf – special events 

throughout the country. For listings and tickets visit www.cinestar.de 

Berlin: CineStar Original at Sony Center · Potsdamer Platz 

Frankfurt/Main: TurmPalast · Große Eschenheimer Straße 20 

Düsseldorf: CineStar Forum Oberkassel · Hansaallee 245 

Hollywood-in-D-AZ-A5-4c.indd 1 30.11.2005 12:21:53

Germany

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