Grilling in public - South Africans in Germany

When you do not have braai facilities at home or want to have more space while meeting your friends for a braai, you can use the grills/fireplaces at a public Grillplatz/grill area.
These are usually in bigger parks or around lakes. Grilling in the forest is generally prohibited with some exceptions. Personally, I would refrain from grilling in the forest even if there is a Grillplatz.
The trees and other plants can be very dry in summer and there is always a fire hazard.

My first public grill was at the Grillplatz in Lonetal near Ulm.
It is part of a hiking trail. We walked back after dark and there was a beautiful full moon. The woods were full of glowworms, it was really magical.

Why can I not grill where I want?

Disposable grills damage the grass, and when the grass is very dry the heat will damage the lawn. This can also lead to runaway fires.

Finding a designated grilling spot

You can search the internet for “Grillplätze in öffentlichen Grünanlagen” or just “Grillplätze in YourTown”
The following websites offer a list of public grill stations per town:

Here are websites for some of the more popular towns. The town-specific rules are sometimes also listed on these websites.

You can also just look for the signposting in public areas to see if grilling is allowed.
If there are no clear indications or signs indicating that grilling is permitted, you can assume that it is forbidden.

Common rules

As with most things in Germany, grilling in a public space is regulated.
These rules are based on common decency and respect.
Rule of thumb – if it doesn’t explicitly say grilling is allowed, you can assume it is not allowed.

Each federal state (Bundesland) or town has its own rules, so please make sure you know what the rules are for the area in which you want to grill.
Violations of these rules of the “Police Ordinance on Public Security and Order” are considered an administrative offence and may result in a warning or fine (see how much here).

Here are some common rules:

You cannot reserve a grill area/braai. Most public grills are big enough to be shared by groups.
Only grill in designated areas. Do not dig your own grill pit or damage the lawn.
Make sure you know if you are allowed to bring along your own grill or whether you are only allowed to use the permanently installed fireplaces/grills. Take note you are not allowed to use disposable grills or Einweggrills.
The fire must be supervised by a suitable person at all times.
The fire must be extinguished completely after you finished grilling.
Dispose of all waste, this includes ashes. Most grill areas will have a bin designed for hot ashes.
Grilling under trees or in the immediate vicinity of woody plants and on horticultural surfaces is not permitted (in the interest of protecting trees and birds). The grass must not be damaged.
Only commercially available charcoal and lighters may be used.
Flames may not exceed a height of one meter.

Tips

You might need to register at the town hall to make use of a grill area.
Please leave the area clean and take all food scraps with you
Do not make any fire on the lawn or in the gardens
The number for the Fire brigade is 112

Music

Playing music in parks and green spaces in the city is generally permitted.
It should not disturb anyone.
Most parks have a quiet period from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am

Terminology

Wild-Grillen – meint hier das unerlaubte Grillen auf Flächen für die laut Parkverordnung oder Naturschutzgesetz ein Grillverbot gilt.
– means unauthorized grilling in areas where grilling is prohibited – according to the Park Ordinance or Nature Conservation Act.
Grillen verboten – Grilling not allowed
der Grillplatz – Grill area

Meat

🇿🇦 Meat the Difference: A South African’s Guide to Buying Meat in Germany 🇩🇪 Looking for proper boerewors? Wondering why German Rindfleisch doesn’t taste quite like home? Or scratching your head at all the unfamiliar beef cuts? Get to know the difference between German and South African beef cuts, learn the right words at the butcher, and discover where to find quality meat that feels like home. German beef cuts German Cut English Equivalent Notes Rinderhals / Kamm / Nacken Chuck steak / Neck Good for stews and minced beef; flavourful but needs slow cooking. Querrippe Short ribs Rich and meaty; great for slow cooking or braising. Rinderbrust Brisket Ideal for corned beef, smoked brisket, or pot roast. Hochrippe / Fehlrippe Standing rib roast Tender and marbled; excellent for roasting or steaks. Vorderrippe Front rib section Leaner part before the rib-eye; good roasting cut. Flaches Roastbeef / Rostbraten Sirloin / Striploin Classic steak cut; tender and flavourful. Filet Fillet / Tenderloin Most tender muscle; minimal fat. Dünnung / Bauchlappen Flank steak Flat, lean, and full of flavour; slice across the grain. Falsches Filet / Schulter / Bug / Schaufel Shoulder / Chuck tender Good for biltong or stews; lean but firm texture. Oberschale Topside / Inside round Excellent for biltong; lean and uniform texture. Unterschale Silverside / Outside round Ideal for biltong; dries evenly and slices beautifully. Nuss Knuckle / Sirloin tip Lean and versatile; used for roasts or schnitzel. Hüfte / Hüftsteak Rump / Top sirloin Tender and tasty; good for grilling or roasting. Schwanzstück / Tafelspitz Rump tip / Tri-tip Austrian favourite; excellent for boiling or roasting, pricier cut. Hesse / Wade Beef shank / Shin Full of collagen; great for soups and slow-cooking. Fricandeau Lean roast (upper leg) Old-fashioned French term; overlaps with Nuss or Oberschale. Schwanz / Ochsenschwanz Oxtail Used for rich stews and soups; gelatinous and flavourful. Source: Wikipedia: Cut of beef 📄 Download the German Beef Cuts poster (PDF) Pork (Schweinefleisch) German Name English Name Description Schweinenacken Pork Neck Juicy, marbled, and full of flavour — ideal for slow roasting, pulled pork, or hearty chops. Schweineschulter / Schaufel Pork Shoulder Perfect for long, slow cooking, stews, or mincing for sausages. A robust and versatile cut. Schweinerücken / Schweinelende Pork Loin Lean, tender, and similar to a South African pork chop. Available bone-in or boneless. Schweinefilet / Schweinelende Pork Tenderloin / Fillet Extremely lean and delicate. Best for medallions or quick pan-frying to keep it juicy. Bauchfleisch Pork Belly Rich and full of flavour, used for streaky bacon, crackling, or slow-roasted belly. Schweinebauch mit Schwarte Pork Belly with Skin Skin-on cut, often rolled or flat — perfect for making crispy crackling or roasting joints. Haxe Pork Knuckle / Shank Eisbein (boiled, northern style) or Schweinshaxe (crispy roasted, Bavarian style) — a true German classic. Kotelett Pork Chop Traditional bone-in cut from the loin. Often served with a rim of fat for flavour and moisture. Oberschale Topside / Inside of Leg Lean and perfect for schnitzels, thin roasts, or tender escalopes. Unterschale Silverside / Bottom Round Lean and slightly firmer — ideal for roasts or curing into ham. Schweinerippchen Pork Ribs Meaty ribs perfect for slow cooking, smoking, or glazing with sticky BBQ sauce. Nuss Eye of the Leg / Knuckle Small, round, lean muscle — great for schnitzels or thinly sliced roasts. Lende Loin or Tenderloin Depending on the butcher, can mean either loin or tenderloin — clarify before purchasing. Kassler Cured / Smoked Pork Chop Lightly smoked and salted, typically from the loin or shoulder. Delicious with sauerkraut and potatoes. Speck Bacon / Cured Fat Cured, sometimes smoked, thick-cut pork fat. Used for frying, flavouring dishes, or as lardons. Where to buy meat Most people buy lamb at their local Turkish butcher, or at Italian Food stores that have a butchery.You can try Selgros or Metro (need a customer card) or support your local butchery for lamb and other meat cuts.Shops like Rewe and Edeka have their own butchery section, and if you want a specific cut you can pre-order it from them. You can also buy meat online. I found the following online shops, but have not personally used them so I can only add them as suggestions. Most of these also sell Venison Ihr Online Metzger Tellermitte Don Carne Gourmet Fleisch Otto Gourmet MeinMetzger Mein Bauernhof – direct from farmers in your region. Beef, Lamb, Veal, Chicken and Fish. Also milk, eggs and vegetables Waldgourmet (Venison) Grüne Bauern – Bio Meat delivered to your home. They also sell Lamb Waldfleisch – App to buy Regional Venison Vocabulary Here is a list of translations, along with some additional information about meat in Germany. Product Substitute & Translation Lamb Shank Die Lammhaxe. Lamb is less common in Germany and often milder than Karoo lamb. You’ll find imported New Zealand lamb (fresh or frozen) at larger supermarkets, Italian delis, or specialty butchers. Lidl occasionally stocks frozen lamb shanks, though availability is seasonal. Mince Das Hackfleisch. Available as Rinderhack (beef), Schweinehack (pork), or Gemischtes Hack (a mix). Ground lamb is rare but can be found in Turkish or Middle Eastern stores. Ribeye Steak Entrecôte or Rib-Eye-Steak. Occasionally labelled Scotch Fillet. Usually available at butcher counters, Metro, or larger Edeka stores. Cuts of Beef German butchers use different regional terms for cuts. South African and British cuts are closely aligned — consult comparison charts to match names correctly when ordering from a German butcher. Cuts Good for Biltong Silverside (Unterschale) or Topside (Oberschale) are the best options. Tafelspitz (rump tip) also works well but is leaner and typically pricier. Offal / Afval Die Innereien. Includes liver, kidneys, heart, tripe, and tongue. Usually pre-ordered from butchers. Caul Fat / Netvet Das Fettnetz or Netz vom Schwein. Ask at the butcher; often used for pâtés or meatballs. Kidneys Die Nieren. Beef and veal kidneys are more common than lamb; soak before cooking to mellow the flavour. Liver Die Leber. Widely available from pork, beef, or veal. Best when freshly sliced — look for

Swimming in Germany

Swimming options Private swimming pools are not so popular in Germany, but there are good public swimming options available. Public swimming pools / Öffentliche Schimmbäder / Freibad Freiseitparks like Europapark Baggersee (Man-made lakes) Lakes The ocean / Nordsee or Ostsee Rules for swimming in Lakes Never dive/jump into a lake without knowing the depth of the water first. Many lakes are quite shallow, especially near the shore. Bring a sun umbrella or some form of shelter, and of course sunscreen. Bring swimming shoes or flip-flops, to avoid stepping on broken glass or other sharp objects that may be there. Don’t stay in the water too long. Children sometimes don’t realise how cold they are and lakes may remain quite cool, even in summer. Bring plenty of towels to dry off after your swim. Bring warm clothes for after your swim Bring a picnic, some lakes have benches and tables, but not all do, so bring a big blanket to sit on. Toilets are often available near the lakes. Food stalls sometimes have ice cream or snacks. Just be careful, sweets, drinks, beer, etc. attract insects (bees and wasps) Most facilities will allow smoking and alcoholic drinks, check for signs prohibiting. Some lakes do have currents and undertows – don’t overestimate your ability, stay close to shore if you are not a strong swimmer. Careful with floating mattresses, toys, etc. Water toys do not keep children as safe as watchful eyes! Be careful with your alcohol intake. WATCH YOUR KIDS – many lakes do not have lifeguards patrolling the area. Your kids are your own responsibility! In an emergency call the national emergency number – 112 Tidbits to know Nude sunbathing is allowed in some areas around lakes Look out for FKK (Freie Körper Kultur) Zone. At public pools swimwear is obligatory Freibad does not mean for free Sommerbad means it is only open in the summer Bring coins with to public pools to make use of the lockers Some public pool facilities have hair dryers that you can use (not free) You are expected to shower before and after using a public pool Wear swimming shoes or flip flops at the pool Public pools are mostly overcrowded. Opt for indoor pools in summer if you only want to swim Some areas in pools are restricted to those who cannot swim, for example children still learning to swim No toys are allowed in public pools Food and drinks can be bought at most public pools The ground of the grass areas around lakes are usually a bit damp, so if you take a picnic blanket make sure it is lined. (Picknickdecke Wasserdicht) Related content

Braai Season

Summer is finally here and it is time to invite friends to kuier around the braai. But before you light your charcoal, check out the rules and regulations that might apply to you. The following rules are relevant if you live in a rental property: Am I allowed to grill on the Balcony? As a tenant you are generally allowed to grill on the balcony, terrace or in the garden.There is no law prohibiting it. However, landlords can explicitly allow, restrict or prohibit grilling in your rental agreement.They can also specify if you are allowed to use charcoal. When am I not allowed to grill? When it is stipulated in your rental agreement that you are not allowed to grill on your balcony or in the garden. When the smoke from your fire or grill goes into the apartment or home of your neighbours. When this happens you are committing an administrative offence, and you can be fined for it. These rules are governed by the German Tenants’ Association (DMB). Anyone who disregards these rules risks being warned or even given notice.It can also result in the termination of your rental contract. What can I do? First of all, read your rental contract and make sure you know what the stipulations are. You should always be considerate towards your neighbours, Electric grills makes less smoke than a charcoal grill If possible, work with aluminium trays. Adhere to the applicable quiet periods (Ruhezeiten) A case that went to court was in 2002 in the district of Essen. The tenant disregarded the rules and ignored warnings and had to move out as a result. (LG Essen, judgment of 07.02.2002, Az .: 10 S 438/01).Another in Düsseldorf – “A barbecue party with a total of seven guests was organized in the garden of an apartment building. As a result, smoke penetrated through the windows of the neighbouring apartment. Their residents saw themselves on the one hand disturbed by the smoke, on the other hand by the additional noise level. The tenant, who was responsible for the grilling, was consequently fined (OLG Düsseldorf, judgment of 26.05.1995, ref .: 5 Ss (OWi) 149/95 – (OWi) 79/95 I).” What else do I need to know? If you are allowed to grill at your home, the smells and noise from a grill party should be tolerated by your neighbours to some extent. Take notice of the quiet periods and make sure to keep noise levels acceptable. These rules are governed by the local municipality Wood and charcoal Hardwood that produces a lot of embers with little smoke is the best to grill with. This includes: Beech (Buche) and Birch(Birke) wood are suitable for meat and fish dishes. It gives food a smoky flavour. Oakwood (Eiche) can also be used; it burns hotter and does not flavour the meat Maple wood (Ahornholz ) is suitable for vegetables and fish Wild Cherry wood (Wildkirsche) is particularly suitable for pork, veal, poultry and fish Notice!! Do not use soft wood like Spruce(Fichte), Fir (Tanne), yew (Eibe), larch (Lärchen) or pine(Kiefer) as these have a high resin content and can make the food bitter. Also, avoid using oily wood such as Cedar (Zeder), Eucalyptus, and Thuja (Arborvitae as they can cause health problems. These release compounds that can cause respiratory or digestive issues and are not safe for cooking Never use wood that has been treated, for example, telephone poles or railway sleepers. These may contain creosote, heavy metals, or other toxic substances. Vuur en Rook in the Netherlands is an online shop that sells Sekelbos and other wood Ons gaan braai, also in the Netherlands, sells Sekelbos and more Charcoal in Germany is made mostly from Beechwood (Buche). During the summer season, most grocery and hardware shops sell charcoal. Boeries, Biltong and Braai spices Looking for some tasty South African treats and drinks for your next braai? Check out these businesses selling Boerewors, Biltong, and braai spices. Some even have your favourite SA beverages available! Where to buy meat German and South African meat cuts are not similar. On our Meat and Fish page we explain the German cuts, and listed some shops that sell meat online. Where to shop for a grill and accessories Some of the most popular brands are Campingaz, Weber, Burnhard and Grill Fürst You can buy equipment and accessories at shops like OBI, Hornbach Vuur en rook in the Netherlands Ons gaan Braai in the Netherlands Potjie The following online shops sell Potjies: Die Spens Ons gaan Braai and Vuur en rook in the Netherlands Amazon.de Recipes Jan Braai References Mieterbund Rechtstipps Bussgeldkatalog Related content Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email