We are right in the middle of it - in the year of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. On 9 November 1989 the Wall fell and Germany was reunited. Berlin has not been a divided city since then - and this needs to be duly celebrated. Therefore this year there is a lot going on around the anniversary. We present you 11 events and tips, with which you can already get in the right mood for the 9th of November.
Tip 1: Festival Week "30 Years Peaceful Revolution / Fall of the Wall"
Around 9 November 2019, a whole festival week will take place in Berlin celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall. This week, Berlin will become an open-air exhibition area. Therefore, open-air stages will be created at seven locations in the city - they were all original locations of the events of 1989/90. Be impressed by the productions and projections.
When: 4th until 10th November
Where: different locations
Tip 2: Concert at 9th of November
There will be a concert on the evening of 9 November at the Brandenburg Gate. Numerous artists whose stories or music are connected with the fall of the Wall are expected. They want to show us what the Peaceful Revolution has achieved and why it was so important.
When: 9th November
Where: Brandenburg Gate
Tip 3: Cycle along the Wall bike path
If you have never cycled along the Wall bike path before, then now is the time - in the year of 30 years of the fall of the Wall. The whole route is almost 160 km long - so you need time and breath. Or you only drive parts of the way, like the Wall Trail through the city or through the green Brandenburg around West Berlin.
When: best while it's still beautiful outside
Where: through the middle of Berlin or around the former West-Berlin
More information about the Berlin Wall bike path
Tip 4: nineties Berlin – Multimedia Exhibition
The wall is gone and everything is possible - this feeling in Berlin of the 90s is what the exhibition nineties Berlin wants to bring you closer to. With a 270° multimedia experience, you will immerse yourself in the Berlin 90s - including the Love Parade, subcultures and creative playgrounds.
When: daily from 10am until 8pm
Where: Alte Münze, Molkenmarkt 2, Mitte
Tip 5: Exhibition "Ost-Berlin – Die halbe Hauptstadt" (East Berlin - The half capital)
The Stadtmuseum Berlin and the Zentrum für Zeithistorische Forschung show you the history of the "GDR capital" from the 1960s to 1990, where you can learn a lot about life and everyday life in East Berlin.
When: until 9th November
Where: Ephraim-Palais, Poststraße 16, Mitte
Tip 6: Memorial Berlin Hohenschönhausen
The memorial Berlin Hohenschönhausen is located in the former Stasi prison. During the GDR era, opposition members, escape helpers and political prisoners were held here. Today you can take part in guided tours by contemporary witnesses. So you get an authentic impression of the prison - much has been preserved.
When: daily from 9am until 6pm
Where: Memorial Berlin Hohenschönhausen, Genslerstraße 66, Hohenschönhausen
More information about the momorial
Tip 7: Exhibition "Nach dem Mauerfall: Daniel Biskup" (After the fall of the Berlin Wall: Daniel Biskup)
In the museum in the Kulturbrauerei you can still see previously unpublished, private pictures of Daniel Biskup until the end of August. The photographer travelled from 1990 to 1995 through East Germany after reunification. These photos were taken during this time - they show people in a time of political upheaval.
When: until 25th August
Where: Museum in the Kulturbrauerei, Knaackstraße 97, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 8: Exhibition "Durch Mauern gehen" (Walking through walls)
The Gropius Building is located on the former Wall - in the anniversary year of 30 years of the fall of the Wall, the current exhibition offers you a national and international perspective on the consequences of divided societies. The exhibition includes works by Jose Dávila, Mona Hatoum and Nadia Kaabi-Linke.
When: from 12th September till 12th January
Where: Gropius Bau, Niederkirchnerstraße 7, Mitte
Tip 9: 100 Miles Berlin: Wall run 2019
The 100 Miles Berlin run leads around western Berlin - on the former patrol path of the GDR border troops. Each metre reminds us of the history of German division, when people were separated from each other by the Wall and barbed wire.
When: 17th and 18th August
Where: Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, Cantianstraße 24, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 10: Exhibition "1961 to 1989. The Berlin Wall" at the Berlin Wall Memorial
In the anniversary year one place should not be missing from the list: the Berlin Wall Memorial in Bernauer Strasse. The exhibition tells you everything about the Wall and the division of Germany. With numerous objects, biographical documents and audiovisual media, the exhibition combines political and everyday history.
Wann: Tuesday till Sunday from 10am until 6pm
Where: Berlin Wall memorial at Bernauer Straße, Prenzlauer Berg / Wedding
Tip 11: Exhibition André Kirschner
To mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Berlinische Galerie is showing the series "Stadtrand Berlin". In the years 1993 and 1994 - when Berlin was reunited - André Kirchner took photos at the historical city border. The photographer chose the former border checkpoint Drewitz as his starting point - his gaze was directed towards the city. Until 29 July you could still look at the photos.
When: only until 29th of July
Where: Berlinische Galerie, Alte Jakobstraße 124-128, Mitte
Of course, there are many more events in Berlin regarding the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
P.S.: Another authentic place of German division is the Marienfelde transit camp memorial - for many fugitives from the GDR the first station in the West.
