Cologne ordered to pay fine over Brüsseler Platz noise pollution

The Higher Administrative Court for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia has upheld a decision requiring the city of Cologne to pay a 5,000 euro fine. The penalty is due to the city's insufficient measures to combat noise pollution at Brüsseler Platz, a popular gathering spot for revelers.

While the city implemented a concept including an alcohol ban after 9:00 PM to mitigate noise, the court ruled these actions were inadequate. Residents had complained that nighttime noise levels posed health risks. Data from May 2026 indicated that noise levels remained at or near the 60-decibel threshold considered hazardous to health. The court noted that Cologne had failed to sufficiently comply with a previous legally binding ruling from September 2024.