Heightened security doesn’t faze revelers at German Christmas markets, but organizers feel the pinch

BERLIN (CN) — Flanked by towering high rises and some of west Berlin’s most bustling boulevards, the rows of quaint, brightly-lit wooden stalls make the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market feel like a small holiday island. On close inspection of the market’s perimeter, with neatly lined trees buttressed by thick concrete barriers, the vibe becomes as much fortress as festive urban oasis.Security has been central, if somewhat out of sight, at Breitscheidplatz for nearly a decade following a 2016 terror attack, where an Islamist stole a truck and crashed into the market, killing 13 and injuring dozens.A number of police vehicles are parked outside of the Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Dave Braneck/Courthouse News)“I was actually at a work event nearby and saw all the police and emergency activity after the fact. It was horrible,” a man who now works as security guard at the Christmas market told Courthouse News. Speaking while on shift, he asked to remain anonymous.Though he said he’ll never forget that night, it’s not front of mind during the seven weeks he’ll be patrolling the market.“I don’t think much about it, to be honest — I’m just doing my job here, and honestly it feels safe, so it’s not really on my mind. And that’s why we security workers are here anyway,” he said.Stepping up securityBut to keep shoppers safe, organizers of public events like the traditional markets say they’ve increased security spending by an average of 44% over the last three years, according to the German Association for City and Town Marketing, or BCSD.German Chancellor Friedrich Merz lamented the difficulties planners face. “It weighs heavily on me that we can no longer hold Christmas markets, even in smaller towns, without a comprehensive security concept,” he was quoted as saying during a visit to the central city of Halle.While the 2016 attack spurred an initial push to step up security at the downtown Berlin market, along with major Christmas markets around the country, 2024’s deadly car attack at a market in the eastern city of Magdeburg led to a renewed emphasis on safety this year.“Since last year’s terror attack there’s been more attention on public gatherings, which means a heightened presence from both us and the police,” the guard said.Berlin has expanded bollards around Breitscheidplatz and increased the number of both uniformed and plainclothes police on duty. Additionally, the market’s organizers are spending nearly 200,000 euros (about $235,000) on private security staffing alone.“(After last year’s attack) we took a closer look at things. Even the smallest security gaps have to be closed,” said Andreas Tschisch, police director for the neighborhood surrounding the market, at a news conference before the kick-off of the holiday season. With 80 markets throughout the city, officials report security spending in Berlin is at a record high this winter.Retractable bollards have been fitted into the market entrances in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Dave Braneck/Courthouse News)The spending hasn’t been limited to Germany’s capital. Dresden has spent over 2 million euros on expanding security around its Christmas markets, while Magdeburg spent 250,000 euros shoring things up this season.Gerold Leppa, federal chairman of the BCSD, noted the importance of markets in public life.“Events in public spaces are much more than entertainment — they are the heart of our society, a meeting place for citizens, an expression of tradition, community, and identity. If markets and festivals are canceled, society loses its center,” he said in a statement. “Increasing regulations and costs are threatening these central places of togetherness.”The investment seems to keep customers coming.“I guess you kind of think about there being a risk, but once you’re in the market it feels the same as ever. And I’ve been going to Christmas markets my whole life, I’m not going to stop now,” Martin, a retiree who visits a handful of Berlin Christmas markets every year, told Courthouse News.Younger Berliners have a similar perspective. “Honestly, I haven’t thought much about the security side of things. You can tell there are lots of police and stuff around, so it feels safe,” said Julia, a student, before biting into a steaming waffle.Holiday cheer has its pricePiping hot baked goods and bubbling cauldrons of mulled wine lace the air with sweet traces of cinnamon and nutmeg. They’re also vital for keeping warm in the frigid weather — at least for visitors.“Of course it’s freezing, but there’s not much you can do about that. It comes with the territory,” said the security guard, for whom a warming glass of cider or mulled wine is strictly off limits.Martin, the long-time market visitor, had no such restrictions, and was sipping a cup of mulled wine with a friend to add a liquid layer against the cold.Large concrete barriers have been set up in the market’s perimeter in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 8, 2025. (Dave Braneck/Courthouse News)“I’m most concerned about paying 5 or 6 euros for a cup of mulled wine, which is crazy,” he said. “Then again, everything is expensive these days, so it’s not a huge shock. But maybe you have a glass or two less than in years past.”Scrumptious sweets and sizzling bratwurst ensure no visitor goes hungry, while traditional German Christmas ornaments and souvenirs lend the markets an old-fashioned, if a bit Disneyfied, charm.“I love these Christmas markets, it feels like you’re in a little German town even if you’re in the middle of Berlin. It’s really cute,” Suzie, a Korean student studying at a Berlin university, told Courthouse News.That small-town feeling is worth the price — for cities establishing heightened security, and for marketgoers to get their gloved hands on enough mulled wine to ward off the cold.Courthouse News reporter Dave Braneck is based in Germany.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing
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