Berlin's Volksbühne launches temporary Volksbad swimming pool

The Berlin Volksbühne theater has erected a temporary outdoor swimming pool, dubbed the "Volksbad," in front of its historic façade. The 25‑meter‑long, five‑meter‑wide basin is 1.3 m deep and was built at a cost of about €300,000, funded from the theatre’s regular budget.

The pool opened in mid‑week and offers free public access, a beginner’s crawl‑swim course, synchronized‑swim training and evening DJ sets featuring local and international artists. Intendant Matthias Lilienthal described the project as an "urban intervention" aimed at compensating for the city’s shrinking public‑pool facilities, while programme coordinator Friederike Kötter emphasized that the pool is not a costly extravagance but a reallocation of existing funds.

Public reaction has been mixed, with some locals questioning the use of theatre funds for a pool and others welcoming the new free swimming space in a city with limited pool options.