According to NRW municipalities, the ban on swimming in the Rhine has a deterrent effect

According to the municipalities, the bathing ban in the Rhine, which is now in force in many places, is having the desired deterrent effect. “The combination of controls, punishment of violations and public relations work is effective and people can be stopped from swimming in the Rhine,” said a spokesman for the city of Cologne when asked by the dpa. Neuss, Düsseldorf, Leverkusen, Krefeld and Duisburg draw a similar conclusion. Fines were imposed in numerous cases.

In Cologne, the public order office has identified 106 violations of the bathing ban so far this year. In 69 cases there were fines of up to 250 euros. “It remains important to continue the existing measures and strengthen them in certain areas in order to further increase acceptance of the ban and to protect the safety of citizens in the long term,” emphasized the city spokesman.

Most violations are committed by young men

In Düsseldorf, which was the first municipality in North Rhine-Westphalia to introduce a bathing ban last year, numerous checks “requiring a high level of personnel expenditure” were carried out this summer, according to a spokesman. Result: Around 4,100 preventive discussions and 125 administrative offense proceedings. The highest fine was 800 euros. Most of the violations were committed by men between 20 and 25 years old.

“In addition to punishing violations, the controls also have an educational and preventative purpose: the emergency services explain the dangers of the Rhine and the current bathing ban and point out the considerable risks of swimming in the federal waterway,” said the state capital. Despite all the controls and bans: people's personal responsibility remains crucial.

Ankle-deep water is permitted

In Leverkusen, six fines totaling around 2,000 euros were issued. The number is estimated to be low, so the bathing ban can be assumed to have a deterrent effect, explained a spokeswoman.

According to the city, no violations were identified in Krefeld. In Neuss, the law enforcement officers have so far only issued verbal warnings - people encountered only had their feet in the water, it was said. According to city regulations, you are allowed to be in water up to ankle deep.

Cities had gradually introduced bathing bans since August 2025 to curb the number of fatal accidents. Violations can result in fines of up to 1,000 euros. Nevertheless, people drowned in the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia this year too - in June alone, the DLRG counted ten swimming deaths there.