Berlin: 9 reasons why the German capital city isn't very German at all | Meet the Germans

Rachel moved from the UK to Germany in 2016. As a relative newcomer she casts a fresh eye over German clichés and shares her experiences of settling into German life. Every two weeks she explores a new topic – from saunas to asparagus or the ins and outs of German small talk.

This week she's off the to the capital city, Berlin, to find out more about its unique identity and how, in so many ways, the city and its inhabitants are not at all typically German.

Do you have any more examples? Tell us in the comments!

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[dweuromaxx]

Do you have any more examples how Berlin is different from the rest of Germany? Tell us in the comments!

[Abcflc]

In a way, it's like comparing NYC to the rest of the US...

[Oliver]

Berlin is like the child who always is loud even when the teacher tells it to shut up

[BreadMPH]

As someone who moved to Berlin from a different part of Germany, I must say that this is pretty accurate.

[StefUllrichMusic]

I tied and gagged my landlord playing this video to him: "Cheap rent, she said! CHEAP RENT!!!!"

[clockworkpotato]

So viel erzählt in 3 Minuten. Toll! Weiter so!

[OrhanTanner]

cheap when did they record this video? 1990?

[roseina]

I really love the Meet the Germans videos. Because even though I'm born and raised in Germany I still learn so many new things about my own country. Thank you for making these videos:)

[ShinyGuyYT]

Most people walking around downtown don’t even speak german.

[Glickse]

I love Rachel's style better for Meet the Germans.

[anteeru]

These bits are very well produced, almost impossible to turn off. And, oh yeah: They're informative. Congrats editorial team, congrats DW.

[vanessas]

Berlin is different in many ways, and the reasons lie in history.
1) Germany is in the very heart of Europe and has been the continent´s "crossroad" for centuries. People have come from all directions, transitted through, left their marks. There has always been an above-average turnover in residents.

2) Berlin has never had lots of industry, instead it has always been a centre of culture, academia and politics. It has always attracted free thinkers and artists.
3) Germany´s history has been turbulent during the past 150 years to say the least, with Berlin often at the epicenter. This meant a rollercoaster ride for the city´s developement . The population is a melting pot of people who have come and left, either seeking their fortune or running away from turmoil.
4) The wall has meant that West Berlin practically became an island. Large companies wouldn´t choose (or keep) Berlin as their base because of difficult logistics (having to ship their raw materials in and finished products out somehow). So, for decades, Berlin didn´t see as much growth as other west german cities. The lack of an industrial base and manufacturing sector is still evident in Berlin. This is why Berlin is not really part of the German economic powerhouse.
5) The end of the city´s division required huge investments to reconnect the two parts. The building activities during the 90s were absolutely insane, the infrastructure only merely working, the whole city getting a complete make-over. Those are not the conditions that attract businesses, so again no real economic growth. Unemployment skyrocketed. You had to be creative to get by, find alternative ways of living. This brought about the shabby culture. Berliners don´t pretend, and they don´t care. They are straightforward by nature, with a cheeky tongue and a no-nonsense attitude anyway.
6) The mix of east and west German ways makes Berlin unique.
7) Now that the post-unification make-over is completed (by and large), the little-developed business sector has attracted countless start-up businesses. The city´s one strong asset - universities and higher education - make for a good supply in young, well-educated people ready to try new, innovative ideas (making use of the alternative creativity of Berliners). This in turn attracts more young people, and now the city has one of the highest rates of single households in Europe.
8) Berlin is Germany´s capital and biggest city, but is located fairly far away from other major metropolitan areas in the country, so there is still some disadvantage. Also, population density and infrastructure around Berlin is a vast contrast to the areas surrounding other major cites, which of course is explained by the wall largely sealing the city off for so many years.

[kirkjorgensen]

I watched this series, in the USA, before my study abroad in the Rhineland-Palatinate. I’ve been here for over two months and it’s all so accurate! Berlin is very different from the rest of Deutschland for sure except for the Charlottenburg area as mentioned. I can’t wait for more! 🇺🇸🇩🇪

[nataliemunoz]

Now I get why I didnt like Berlin while Im loving Hamburg, Bremen and Flensburg.

[vishusharma]

Hallo Rachel!


I study in Universität Siegen. If you guys can please make a short video series on life in German universities that would be an instant hit.

Something on German professors-student dynamics.

Something on life in rural Germany.

Something state specific like for NRW or Bavaria. What is special about these places

Also what can you do while you visit German cities apart from getting a selfie with famous monuments.

Warm Regards
Vishu Sharma

[evabuchberger]

Berlin splits the people, there are some, who love this city... and a lot of others, who think it is messy and do not like it at all...

[h.g.wellington]

I remember I drove for 5 hours and ended up at my hotel in Berlin, and everyone there was speaking English (without knowing I was an anglophone). I thought I had gotten lost at first! Also most stores and restaurants I went to in Berlin were very inclined toward English.

[geckolia]

Berlin has been liberal and a melting pot in the 1920's as it is now and is still typical Berlin. Always a bit chaotic and messy, poor, grey and half finished Baustellen everywhere. Not our problem your stereotypes of Germany don't fit here. Every region and every major city has a different mentality and history. Hamburg is nothing like Köln which is nothing like Munich which is nothing like Frankfurt M. ...

[valerianardelean]

I love this series, Rachel is so funny

[Trollportphosphat]

i think berlin still has the "live every day like it´s you´rt last" mentallity.