2️⃣0️⃣ "Germany's Golden Years Are Over", EU Redefines SA, Hidden Costs of Moving Here + Weekly Events, IWB Highlights & More!
Hello again, IWBies! 💖
The sun is finally showing up consistently, the parks are packed on weekends and Berlin is starting to feel like the city we all fell in love with. If you’ve been spending more time outside lately… same. ☀️
This week: the hidden costs nobody tells you about before moving here, a deeply unsettling investigation into drug rape networks in Germany, a Google Maps update that affects everyone living here, and a full lineup of events from May 11th to 17th to fill your calendar.
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.
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:
🌍 EU Parliament calls to define rape as sex without consent: a landmark resolution passed this week. Germany still does not fully comply
💰 Hidden costs of relocation: what expats moving to Germany need to know: the fees nobody warned you about before you arrived. Share this with anyone planning to move
💊 Inside Germany’s “drug rape” chat networks: DW’s investigation into organised Telegram networks sharing advice on drugging and assaulting women. Disturbing and important reading
🗺️ How a Google Maps update exposes manipulated ratings in Germany: now you can see how many reviews a business deleted. Use this before booking anything
👊 How Germany is smashing neo-Nazi youth networks: DW explains the raids on 50+ locations this week targeting far-right groups recruiting young people
😳 AfD polling at record-high 41% ahead of Saxony-Anhalt election: if they win an absolute majority, here’s what they plan to do. Worth reading if you live here
🧐 Deutschlandticket: problem or solution?: at €63/month, is it still worth it? The debate is heating up
📉 Germany’s “golden years are over”, warns billionaire industrialist Reinhold Würth: one of Germany’s richest men speaks out about the country’s economic decline. Good context for anyone planning their finances here
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👉 Week from May 11th to May 17th — Berlin is a city full of events to suit all tastes. Here are some highlights we think you and your friends would enjoy:
🎸 Desertfest Berlin 2026: May 14 to 16 | Columbiahalle & Columbia Theater. Three days of stoner rock and heavy riffs. 🤘
🧘 Sunday Yoga Coffee Club (for women): May 11 | Yoga followed by coffee. Low pressure, community vibes
🎤 Rose Gray: Louder, Please: May 11 | London singer-songwriter brings her euphoric dance-pop debut to Berlin
🕺 Saddle Up X: line dancing with a Berlin flair: May 11 | All levels welcome. Any dancing shoes will do
🎨 UX Design Hackathon with UX Woman: May 11 to 17 | Hands-on hackathon for women in design and tech
🤖 AI & The Future of Work: May 12
👩💻 Women in Tech Connect Berlin 2026: May 12 | Flagship networking event for women in tech. Pre-register required
💻 Coffee & Code: AI systems working session for engineers & founders: May 13
🪩 Gelatina Discoteca Vol. 9: May 13 | Heated reggaeton, dembow and an unhinged drag show. A Berlin classic
❤️🔥 Crush: Sparkle in Space: May 15
💃 Easy Latino Records Non-Anniversary: May 15 | Celebrating absolutely nothing in particular. Love it
🌸 Perfume and Prosecco: make your own perfume with natural ingredients: May 16 | Creative, sensory and a little glamorous
👀 Ojos Para Volar: guided tour in Spanish: May 16 | For the Spanish speakers in the community
🏳️🌈 Love at First Slide: Queer Edition Berlin: May 16 | PowerPoint dating, queer edition. Only Rausgegangen could come up with this 😂
👗 Berlin Vintage & Secondhand Kilo Sale: May 17 | 35,000+ pieces. Sustainable fashion at its most Berlin
🎵 Spring Ragas: Classical Vocal Music Concert: May 17 | Indian classical music in Berlin. Beautiful and unexpected
🎭 RuPaul’s Drag Race: Jimbo The Drag Clown: May 17 | Live drag show at a Berlin venue. Iconic casting
⚡ b:wired: Sunday full of connection, energy and house music: May 17
🙏 Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) is Thursday May 14! Public holiday across all of Germany. Shops and offices closed. Also Father’s Day here, so expect lots of men in parks drinking beer with friends. Very German.
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:
🐱 “I want to adopt a little kitten, any insurance recommendations? Also any kittens?”: two questions, one post. The community wants to help 🐾
💔 “I’ve been struggling in my relationship since my pregnancy, and now our baby is over a year old”: one of the most moving posts of the week. Go show some love 💜
👀 “Do you have any recommendations for things I should do before leaving Berlin?”: emotional and full of beautiful suggestions
🩸 “Are there good and free period apps?”: the community delivered, as always
🚀 “Female founders in Berlin: what’s your biggest challenge right now?”: powerful thread. Go read and add your voice
🔎 “1st floor flat? Yeah or Meah?”: a great Berlin debate. The comments are divided
💪 “Looking for cheap gym recommendations”: great list building up in the comments
😡 “I got scammed on Vinted and don’t know what to do”: practical advice in the comments. Worth reading if you use Vinted
🤰 “More information about Beschäftigungsverbot Schwangerschaft”: important thread for anyone pregnant or planning to be
🤔 “Women who are actually friends with men who put in the work to decentre women: how?”: this sparked a whole conversation. Go read it
😮💨 “How to find friends that also decentre men?”: you are not alone in asking this
🏡 “Has anyone moved away for 1-2 years, subletted their flat and then decided not to come back?”: existential and very Berlin. The comments will make you think
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! 💖