Christmas market season Hesse is at the door. Due to terrorist attacks such as the one in Magdeburg last year, security measures will be further enhanced this year. This means high additional costs for organizers.
High costs for security measures in Marburg
So give me the city Marburg This year we spent more than 100,000 euros to secure two Christmas markets. “The concept of security is significantly broader and more detailed than before,” said Marburg city marketing managing director Jan-Bernd Röllmann. This guide consists of approximately 50 pages and explains all the necessary actions, compiled by certified security experts.
In addition to the legally prescribed ban on weapons, the concept, according to Röllmann, provides access barriers for staff to bypass rescue workers, coordination groups and, in emergencies, crisis teams with everyone involved. There are also plans to increase usage POLICE and public order police and strict inspection patrols. Crisis communications and risk assessments have been expanded and the number of access closures has been adjusted. The city government will cover additional costs.
Darmstadt has purchased new crossing barriers
Also in Darmstadt Security measures will be strengthened. “What’s new this year is that road access to the event area is sometimes completely closed,” said press spokesman Frank Horneff. In order to optimally secure the city center and especially the area around the market square, Ernst-Ludwigs-Platz and Friedensplatz, certified crossing barriers were purchased for around 500,000 euros. In the future, it could also be leased to other cities to refinance the costs.
“This new closure ensures that local public transport can operate as usual and that pedestrian zone accessibility is guaranteed for residents and businesses,” explained Horneff. Security personnel will perform access control.
“In addition, the security concept has been revised and adapted. As in previous years, there are no-weapons zones throughout the market area, marked with additional signage. Mainly due to expanded security requirements, efforts for the city increased again this year and required a greater commitment of human and financial resources.
Frankfurt: City supports organizers with investment
Hesse’s largest city, Frankfurt, also said that security costs in general have increased rapidly in recent years, for example for emergency announcement systems, certified barrier systems and security personnel. The security concept for festivals and events, including Christmas markets, is revised every year and adapted to current circumstances, said a spokesperson for Tourismus+Congress GmbH Frankfurt (TCF). “Details about individual actions and adjustments will not be made public,” he explained.
The City of Frankfurt, as a shareholder of TCF, approved an investment subsidy to enable investment in security infrastructure for public events. Mobile access barriers and certified crash protection systems were then purchased, the spokesperson explained. This means that TCF does not need to rent barriers, but only pays for installation costs and security personnel.
Close communication with security authorities in Wiesbaden and Kassel
In the state capital Wiesbaden, the cost of security measures did not increase compared to the previous year, the city’s press spokesman said. He explained that all security concepts continue to be adapted to the current risk situation and official actions and are coordinated with the police and responsible security authorities. The new access protection system purchased this year will be used at the 2025 Shooting Star Market. “This has been proven at previous events this year.”
In the kassel The requirements for the security concept correspond to those of the previous year, as announced by a city spokesperson. In principle, the requirements of security measures are constantly reviewed by the security authorities, taking into account the latest developments. Therefore, changes in action can also occur within a short period of time. According to a spokesperson, the organizers Kassel Marketing will not provide any statements regarding the costs.
Rising costs are an increasing problem
Jan-Bernd Röllmann, who is also chairman of the Federal Association for Marketing of German Cities and Towns in the state of Hessian, is concerned about the rising costs of security precautions. “Our cities will not be able to afford these financial and personnel costs in the long term,” he said. “We are already seeing big cities canceling their Christmas markets. Organizers and private clubs can no longer meet these requirements and many are giving up and withdrawing.”
One hundred percent security is impossible; the risk of a German folk festival of any kind occurring was extremely low. “We are currently hedging the risk because the chain of cause and effect is very unlikely to occur. If we continue to do this, incidents in public spaces will become increasingly rare,” he worries.
“The increase in costs is already serious and becoming a bigger problem,” said Manuela Sieden Schnur of the Association of Hessian Towns and Cities. It is important to use a sense of proportion to adapt necessary security measures individually and in proportion to the incident in question.
There is currently no indication of any particular danger
The country currently does not see any particular danger to Christmas markets. “The security authorities currently have no information or evidence that could pose a real threat in particular for events related to the Advent season, in particular the Christmas market,” explained Hesse’s Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) when asked by the German Press Agency. But it is also clear that there is no such thing as 100% security. “Our goal is to achieve the highest level of security possible,” he explained.
“We want people to be able to visit the Christmas market without worry,” stressed Poseck. “We are doing everything we can to ensure that people are safe and, most importantly, can feel safe.” Increased police presence, increased control and other measures such as restricting and enforcing gun laws contribute to better security.
The Minister of Home Affairs explained that continued close dialogue is also important on this topic. Therefore, he invited the public to meet next Monday, including representatives of the city umbrella association, city level and city marketing. “For me, it remains about reducing uncertainty and taking a pragmatic approach together.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251112-930-280553/1
