All About Berlin

Budget savings: Only adhesive labels instead of plastic cards at the LEA? In Berlin's migration community, there is a lively debate about the State Office for Immigration (LEA) reverting to using adhesive labels, even though plastic cards ( electronic residence permits (eAT...

The LEA is issuing residence permits as stickers instead of plastic cards, citing budget issues.

www.visaguard.berlin/en/post/budg...

Do you know any interesting places in those areas?

GitHub - All-About-Berlin/aab: All About Berlin content, templates and backend All About Berlin content, templates and backend. Contribute to All-About-Berlin/aab development by creating an account on GitHub.

All About Berlin - the whole website - is now source-available

github.com/All-About-Be...

There is a link to instructions for that in the guide. Most calendar apps already include a public holidays calendar.

I updated my public holidays guide. I automatically calculate the dates and highlight those that fall on weekends.

I also clarified how public holidays work for part-time workers. After all, this year's focus is "labour and tenant rights".

allaboutberlin.com/guides/publi...

The Berliner had a few slip-ups like this. I usually refer to RBB directly, but my audience is English-speaking.

Verdi kündigt für Montag Streiks im kommunalen Nahverkehr an Im öffentlichen Nahverkehr soll es am Montag bundesweit Streiks geben. Dazu hat Verdi aufgerufen. In Berlin soll der Straßenbahn-, Bus- und U-Bahnverkehr den ganzen Tag lahmgelegt werden. Auch in Bran...

Next Monday (February 2), the BVG is striking. Plan your travel accordingly!

www.rbb24.de/wirtschaft/b...

German court rules against profit from subletting  - The Berliner A 71-year-old patient has been arrested for causing a fire that injured 14 people last night.

Good news! German courts rule against profiting from subletting. This might stop people from holding onto apartments and charging subtenants a massive premium.

www.the-berliner.com/english-news...

I'm finishing up the February edition of the All About Berlin newsletter. If you subscribe now, you will get it in your inbox on Sunday morning.

allaboutberlin.com/newsletter

Why don't German apartments have apartment numbers? I must always explain to newcomers that "if your name is not on your mailbox, you won't get your mail". This is a problem when you are living with a friend or in an unauthorized sublet.

This would be my second task as Minister of Details. The first would be to fix the horrible Anmeldung form.

When I started making websites, I read that you have 5 seconds to confirm to the visitor that they are on the right page. Maybe documents should do the same. "You got this document when you deregistered your address. Keep it in your records. You will need it to confirm that you have left Germany."

There were no examples of an Abmeldebescheinigung on the internet until now. It's easier to say "you need this document" with a picture.

How to leave Germany Instructions for leaving Germany and moving to another country.

New guide is out! allaboutberlin.com/guides/leavi...

You can do it online, but in-person is preferable because it's the fastest way to get the Abmeldebescheinigung. They can't email it back because DaTeNsChUtZ

When you leave Germany, your Abmeldung certificate lets you cancel some contracts with a 1 month notice period.

You can only do your Abmeldung 1 week before you move out. 🤡

To those who left Germany: what happened to your German bank account? Did you have any trouble keeping it open after you left the country?

"Let's just write a quick guide about leaving Germany, it'll only take a few days"

4 weeks later:

I'm finishing up a guide about leaving Germany. There are so many little details that are easy to forget. My to-do list will help.

As soon as this is done, I will focus on a new guide: "How to lower your rent" (without paying Conny's insane fees).

A calculator is worth a thousand words. I made this tool to explain why joining the Künstlersozialkasse is worth it. It replaces a vague table with explanations.

What's new in January 2026 Berlin rent map, changes to medical cannabis law and what to expect in 2026

The latest edition of my monthly newsletter is out: allaboutberlin.com/newsletter/j...

My Berlin rent map is live!

allaboutberlin.com/tools/rent-map

It shows the median rent per m² in each neighbourhood. This will help newcomers budget their flat search. The housing data comes from Homeboy and Stekkies, who make bots to help your apartment search.

Current project: mapping median rent per m² for each neighbourhood

Combined map: Berlin tram stops and the wall surrounding West Berlin.

I started an All About Berlin newsletter with monthly updates: allaboutberlin.com/newsletter

I just found this brilliant calendar of Berlin Christmas markets: charles.pizza/berlin-xmas/

Parents of Berlin, where do you find help? Can you recommend English-speaking parenting communities and resources?

I am adding a field to my residence permit feedback form. This should give us hard data about which health insurance the LEA accepts. This is especially important for freelancers.

The Berlin Senate is trying to close the loophole that allows landlords to charge extortionate rents. Wunderflats is encouraging its users to petition against it. Their version of the facts is... creative.

I have refreshed my Anmeldung appointment finder. What do you think of this design?