Changes in Germany August 2024. Life in Germany. The new month brings several changes, some helpful and others potentially bothersome. These changes will impact both residents and tourists. August includes an important holiday, giving a day off in several federal states. School holidays will also end in many federal states, affecting tourist traffic. Several well-known shopping malls will close due to bankruptcy.
From August, there will be changes in subsidies for heating and refunds for energy from solar panels. Train passengers should expect disruptions on some routes. Here is an overview of the changes starting in August.
Changes in Germany August 2024
August 15th is a special holiday in Germany: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mariä Himmelfahrt). This is the oldest and most important of the many Marian feasts celebrated throughout the year, with origins dating back to the 7th century. The Assumption became a significant feast day in the church year after Pope Pius XII proclaimed it as dogma in 1950. It holds great importance for Catholics and is celebrated with much devotion in regions with a predominantly Catholic tradition. However, it is a public holiday only in Bavaria and Saarland, where the majority of the population is Catholic. In other parts of the country, like Berlin and Hamburg, it is a regular working day.
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End of summer holidays in many states
Due to Germany’s federal education system, the start date of school varies from state to state. Here are the states where the summer holidays will end in August and the new school year will begin:
- Brandenburg: Children will return to school on August 31.
- Bremen and Lower Saxony: Both states will start the new school year on August 10.
- Hesse: Schools will open their doors on August 27.
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: As in Brandenburg, pupils will return to schools on August 31.
- North Rhine-Westphalia: In Germany’s most populous state, classes will start between 21 and 22 August.
- Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland: Both states will welcome the students on August 26.
- Saxony: In Saxony, students will sit in school desks on August 5, marking one of the earliest start dates for the 2024/2025 school year.
- Saxony-Anhalt: The school year will begin in Saxony-Anhalt
on August 3. - Thuringia: Thuringia will open its school doors on August 1, making it one of the first states to start the new school year.
More Bafög support for students
Starting from the new school year, low-income students will get more help from Bafög. The basic amounts of the benefit will go up by 5%, and the income supplements for parents or partners of those receiving support will increase by 5.25%. Also, the housing allowance for students who live away from home will rise to 380 euros.
Read also: Discover the benefits and allowances for families in Germany 2024
Lower Payments for Solar Energy Fed into the Grid
Starting August 1, new photovoltaic systems will earn slightly less for feeding electricity into the grid. The feed-in tariff will drop by one percent. For systems with an installed capacity of ten kilowatts, this rate is now 8.11 cents per kilowatt-hour if some electricity is used by the customer and some is fed into the grid.
Another round of applications for heating subsidies
Starting from the end of August, homeowners will have the opportunity to apply for subsidies from the KfW development bank to replace their heating systems. This applies to homeowners in eligible communities who wish to upgrade their heating systems. Subsidies can cover up to 70% of the costs for purchasing and installing eligible heating systems. Local authorities and businesses will also be able to begin submitting their applications to the KfW bank in August.
Travel disruptions between Hamburg and Berlin
From August 16 to December 14, travel on ICE trains between Hamburg and Berlin will take an extra 45 minutes due to rerouting via Stendal. Also, the frequency will decrease from two trains per hour to one. EC trains bound for Dresden and Prague will now begin and terminate their journeys in Berlin instead of Hamburg.
Read also: German government increases monthly Wohngeld subsidy by €190 on average
Gender Change at the Registry Office
Transgender people who want to change their gender and name at the registry office must register three months in advance. The earliest possible registration date is August 1. The Self-Determination Act will come into effect on November 1.
No night trains between Berlin and Paris
Starting from August 12 to October 25, night trains from Berlin to Paris and Brussels will be suspended due to rail repairs. This night connection, launched just a few months ago in December, will be affected during this period.
Closure of some department stores Galeria
Nine out of the current 92 Galeria stores are set to close on August 31. The department store group, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, will undergo new ownership starting August 1.