Newcomers in Neukölln: Stories of Migration and Reinvention

As part of our Berlin by Foot series, this tour explores northern Neukölln through public art, local history and architecture.
About this Event

Berlin by Foot with Niels Boogers
Neukölln has been shaped by generations of newcomers. Each wave of migration has left its mark, creating a neighbourhood rich in stories, cultural influences and contradictions. Today, Neuköllner:innen can live side by side and have completely different ideas about what Neukölln is, and what it is becoming.

This tour explores the many layers of northern Neukölln through public art, local history, architecture and everyday life. Along the way, participants discover how former industrial sites became creative hubs, how various communities of migrants have created a home for themselves and how different generations continue to share and reshape the district. It offers a deeper understanding of the forces transforming the neighbourhood today, highlighting the voices that are often overlooked in conversations about urban change. Along the way, you will learn how some of Neukölln’s most popular gathering places came to be and see the familiar in a new light.

On the tour we will:

• Discuss the many histories of migration that shaped current Neukölln
• Visit the old village of Rixdorf and the green heart of the Kiez
• Discover the origins of some of your favourite hangout spots in northern Neukölln
• Learn why Neukölln was always a district with a reputation

We will meet at 11am on the steps in front of Rathaus Neukölln, Karl-Marx-Straße 83, 12043. The tour will begin promptly at 3.15pm. Please arrive on time. We won’t be using public transport and the tour will be fully on foot.

What are you waiting for? Don't just see Berlin—experience it. Lace up your shoes and let Niels Boogers show you the city’s best-kept secrets. It’s Berlin like you’ve never seen it, complete with a complimentary copy of The Berliner magazine!
Your guide:
Niels Boogers is a city guide and art mediator based in Neukölln. Originally from the Netherlands, he has a background in urban history, modernist socialist architecture and art in the public space. His tours in Neukölln are for and about newcomers in Neukölln. By weaving together the histories of newcomers who came before, the tour puts taboos and prejudices into perspective and hopes to forge a sense of community where, at times, people tend to live in disparate realities.
Stay in the loop! Join our WhatsApp channel for live updates, meetup info & insider tips before the tour:

photo: Imago/Schöning