1️⃣9️⃣ German Police Chief Says "Don't Date Men" & Germany's Birth Rate Hits 80-Year Low + Weekly Events, IWB Highlights & More!
Hello again, IWBies! 💖
May is finally here. There’s something about this time of year in Berlin, the days are getting longer, the parks are filling up and we are feeling a little bit happier.
This week’s edition has a lot going on: changes affecting expats in Germany, big moves on transport pricing, a word that might describe your life a little too well (Torschlusspanik, anyone? 👀), and a packed events calendar for May 4th to 10th.
Just a little reminder: we’re a small group of immigrant women doing this voluntarily, balancing work, life, and everything in between, while trying to keep this space informative, supportive and real for all of us navigating Germany together.
Take a deep breath, grab your coffee ☕, and enjoy your weekly dose of Berlin.
With love, Sabrina & your IWB team 💖
As immigrants, it’s important to stay informed about what’s happening in Germany. Here are the most important news updates you should be aware of:
😳 German police chief tells women: “Better not get into a relationship with a man”: Dirk Peglow, head of Germany’s Federal Association of Detectives, made the comment live on ZDF while discussing the 8.5% rise in sexual crimes. The clip went viral. He later backtracked. But then men sent him and the journalist death threats. So he had a point, didn’t he? 👀
👶 Germany’s birth rate hits its lowest level since 1946: 655,000 live births in 2025, the fourth consecutive year of decline. The country recorded over a million deaths last year. Does this affect how you think about your future here?
🚆 Deutsche Bahn freezes long-distance ticket prices until May 2027: ICE, IC and EC fares stay stable for 12 months from May 1. Good news for anyone travelling around Germany this year
⚠️ May 2026: 7 changes affecting expats in Germany: fuel tax cuts, public holidays, EV subsidies and more. Worth a full read
💰 Germany pushed out of top ten wealthiest countries in the world: a new prosperity index ranks Germany 12th, behind Norway, Ireland and Switzerland. Interesting timing
🤔 Torschlusspanik: the German word that perfectly describes your fear of running out of time: literally “gate-closing panic”. Biological clocks, career timelines, life milestones. This one’s for you
🚗 Should Europe bring back car-free Sundays amid the energy crisis?: the EU is considering it. What would it mean for Berlin?
🏥 Germany halves its 2026 economic growth forecast due to the Iran war energy shock: the impact will be felt for “months or possibly years.” Good to know when planning your finances here
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👉 Week from May 4th to May 10th — Berlin is a city full of events to suit all tastes. Here are some highlights we think you and your friends would enjoy:
💐 Mother’s Day is Sunday May 10! Don’t forget to call your mum wherever she is in the world 🌍
🚢 Traditional Barco del Día de la Madre: May 9 | A boat party for Mother’s Day. Only in Berlin
🧠 When Users Try to “Hack” Your Flow: Psychology Meets UX: May 6
👩💻 Women in AI: Femella x Needle: May 6
🥞 Crêpes & Open Decks: May 6
🔇 Silent Hour: Saâdane Afif: May 6 | A quiet, contemplative gallery experience
🖼️ Curator’s Tour: May 7
🚀 Architecture in Space: May 7
📷 Photography meets Creative Writing: May 9
☕ Coffee & Lift #3: May 9
🏳️🌈 VRAU: Queer Baile Funk: May 9
❤️🔥 SAFADA: May 9
🪩 Discoteca Botánica: May 9
💦 CASA SOLEANA: Pilates & Yap: May 10
🫨 tracey zero: a sober experience: May 10 | Dancing without drinking. Berlin doing Berlin things
🎨 Artspring Art Festival 2026: ongoing until May 31 | Studios open across the city. Free to explore
🚲 Berlin Bicycle Market: ongoing until November 15 | The best place to buy, sell and fix bikes in the city
IWB, with +40k members, is a very active community. Given that you might not have time to catch up on everything and some good posts may get overlooked, here are a few highlights from our group, from the last week:
🎤 “Are there any BTS fans here? Claudia would love to meet you”: k-pop community building at its best 💜
😮💨 “How do people manage to make friends if they work 10 hours a day with 0 social setup?”: the post that hit everyone this week. Go read the comments
🤰 “I’m 40 years old and trying to get pregnant for the past 6 months”: vulnerable and brave. Go show some love
👀 “For the ones in NK/Xberg, where can we drink cappuccino under 3 EUR?”: the most Berlin post of the week. Great list in the comments
😡 “Could you please share how you deal with anger?”: real, honest and full of unexpected wisdom
❤️🩹 “Professional training related to therapy or arts that kids in grief can be supported?”: if you know something, please help
☕ “Is there a café or community in Berlin where we read together in a room with tea, cake or coffee?”: someone find this woman her reading club
🔎 “Does anyone know who I can ask for funding for my integration/language course?”: practical and important. Great advice building up in comments
🐜 “Any advice for ants in the apartment?”: it’s that time of year again 😂
We’re a small team of immigrant women (mostly women of color) doing this voluntarily, every week, to support this amazing community. As we grow, so do our invisible tasks to keep IWB running. As a community member, your help means everything. 💖 We aim to keep IWB free, independent, helpful and inclusive, while paying immigrant women fairly for their work. Help us in this mission, starting with ✨ONLY✨ 1€:
You’ll also get access to cool perks like anonymous posting, Telegram groups, discounts, and even free entry to IWB events (depending on your tier)!
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Wishing you a fantastic week ahead! 💖
Warm regards from the IWB Team