Seeliebe Festival at Birkensee: Authorities finally fail

Seeliebe Festival at Birkensee: Authorities finally fail

The “Seeliebe” festival at the idyllic Birkensee in Hanau is about to come to an end. The organizers, BRA Event GmbH, have announced that the necessary permits from the authorities are missing, which makes it impossible to hold the popular event. According to op-online.de, the city of Hanau is “deeply disappointed” about the current situation. The festival, which has existed since 2015 and was founded by Bob Riemer, Aarash and Rocky Musleh, has attracted numerous visitors and enlivened life at Birkensee since swimming was closed due to blue-green algae in 2012.

Although the city has already issued permits for the festival in the past, the main challenge in obtaining approval is the location in the landscape protection area. The organizers needed individual permits, which, however, were subject to numerous conditions. A long-term public approval should finally provide planning security. Plans for this had already been communicated in August 2024. But the hope for this now seems to be in vain. A short-term move of the festival to another location is impossible, mainly due to the increased costs and lack of synergies.

Lack of events and development opportunities

The “Seeliebe” festival was not the only event that had to be canceled this year. The Homerun Open Air in Gelnhausen will no longer take place either. This suggests that the event scene in the region is currently under an unfavorable star. “Seeliebe” offered around four events a year with well-known DJs and was an integral part of cultural life in Hanau. Managing director Riemer emphasizes that BRA Event GmbH has always worked transparently with the city and met all requirements.

In addition, the revival of fish farming at Birkensee failed. The owner of the area and the city of Hanau have been in contact for several years to discuss possible subsequent uses. Ideas for developing new weekend homes were also examined, but rejected due to legal and economic conditions. What remains is one question: What should happen next at Birkensee?

Challenges in urban planning law

A decisive factor for many of the problems surrounding the Birkensee area is the complex urban development law. According to the specifications of the House of Urban Development and Housing, which is regulated by the BMWSB, planning sovereignty in Germany lies with the federal and state governments. This means that developments are often tied to legal hurdles, which can be particularly pronounced in a protected landscape area.

The principle of land use planning, which is an essential part of urban development law, is intended to ensure orderly and sustainable urban development. However, it remains unclear how these legal framework conditions can lead to a viable solution at the site of the Birkensee in Hanau. The great desire for development and revival remains in the clouds, while disappointment over the failed events remains.