Berlin nightclubs want to be seen more like opera houses

The World

Berlin is considered the world’s clubbing capital, and for some, those clubs offer an almost religious experience. But the city is changing, and more and more nightclubs are under threat from gentrification and rising property values. Back in 2020, a group of club enthusiasts in Germany campaigned to have nightclubs given the same cultural status as opera houses — a move they hoped would afford the clubs more protections. The measure passed, but then the pandemic hit. The World’s Sarah Birnbaum reports.

This story first aired on March 3, 2020.

Will you support The World? 

The story you just read is accessible and free to all because thousands of listeners and readers contribute to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciated our coverage this year, if there was a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work through 2024 and beyond?