Berlin’s Kontaktbeschränkungen and the Night Time Culture Shift
Social culture is a key part of our lives, and night time is a particularly unique set of conditions in which we socialise: feelings of excitement, fear, romance, and fun are built into our shared and individual experiences of the night. Nightlife is a large part of Berlin’s culture, and is a critical part of what makes the city vibrant: as Monocle Magazine’s The Urbanist puts it “the night time is about keeping us alive.”
It is undeniable that the club scene, in particular the queer club scene (including the infamous sex clubs and parties) are fundamental aspects of Berlin’s culture to many people: the attitude of open-mindedness, willingness to explore, and ability to physically experiment are part of what draws many people to the city in the first place. Not only that, but the clubs are a critical part of Berlin’s economy, to the tune of €1.5 billion. As a result, the impacts of the COVID-19 shutdown on Berlin’s nightlife could be huge, both culturally and economically.
Quarantine “Kontaktbeschränkungen”
Berlin, and Germany more broadly, has tackled COVID-19 by implementing a Kontaktbeschränkungen (contact restriction) rather than a curfew. The Mayors from Berlin and Brandenburg called for “personal responsibility” in limiting social contacts, rather than imposing a limitation on…
