Cologne is planning a strict ban on swimming in the Rhine: safety comes first!

Cologne is planning a strict ban on swimming in the Rhine: safety comes first!

In Cologne, far-reaching measures are being taken to prevent swimming in the Rhine. On Thursday, September 4, 2025, the city council will discuss a strict bathing ban, which the city administration already considers to be the toughest in North Rhine-Westphalia. This general ban on entry affects the entire Rhine and is intended to help reduce dangerous situations for bathers. How WDR reported, drowning currents caused by ebb and flow, especially caused by inland shipping, can make the Rhine a real danger.

The administrations in other cities such as Düsseldorf, Neuss, Meerbusch, Krefeld and Dormagen have already issued similar bans to counteract the alarming number of drownings. This year, ten people have already drowned in the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia alone. City director Andrea Blome also makes it clear that many people do not take the serious life risks of swimming in the Rhine seriously enough. “Controls and bans cannot completely rule out accidents,” she explains, pointing out the unforeseeable dangers even in the bank area.

Focus on preventive measures

The planned changes to Cologne's city regulations aim to provide clearer rules for the floating population. Bathing in the Rhine is precisely defined as the use of air mattresses, swimming and even wading in the water. This should also help the city administration to respond better to violations. Violations of the rules can result in fines of up to 1,000 euros. The security service and the water police will work together to monitor compliance with the ban Cologne city administration communicates.

An educational approach is pursued at the beginning of the controls before fine proceedings are initiated. This is intended to help make people aware of the dangers and prevent them from bathing without permission. “The ban is intended for prevention and not to raise money,” emphasizes Mayor Stephan Keller. The situation has become particularly tragic due to tragic incidents such as the death of a six-year-old boy in Düsseldorf and highlights the dangers of swimming in a federal waterway.

Exceptions and regulations

However, there will also be exceptions. Water sports enthusiasts, such as canoeing and rowing, as well as approved events are exempt from the ban. Special regulations are also made when boarding and disembarking watercraft in order to meet the needs of users. It is hoped that a clear legal framework and increased controls will reduce the number of swimming accidents.

In other cities, similar bathing bans have so far prevented more bathers from dangerous situations, even if the combination of running water and human behavior is not always predictable. Warnings on signs and through social media have not been very successful in the past daily news explained. The Rhine is more than ever seen as a “water highway” and is a source of great danger for bathers. The people of Cologne are therefore called upon to take this new regulation seriously and stay away from the water.