Location
Germany
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Mixed
Best season
June to August
About Kaulsdorfer Baggersee
The Habermannsee is one of the Kaulsdorfer Seen, a group of flooded former gravel pits in Kaulsdorf in the Berlin district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf, close to the city's eastern edge. Locals often call it the Kaulsdorfer Baggersee. Groundwater fills it, and it lies inside the catchment of the Kaulsdorf waterworks, which supplies drinking water. The shore has small sandy beaches, lawns and stretches of trees that give shade. A spit or island runs through the middle and can be reached on foot from the north shore. Nude bathing goes back to GDR-era FKK habits and still goes on today. Clothed and nude bathers share the lake, and one stretch of shore is more naturist than the rest, though no sign or fence marks it. Visitors include local families, teenagers, older FKK regulars and gay men. Many people bring dogs. There are no kiosks, toilets or lifeguards. Swimming here is officially banned but has long been tolerated, so the lake is not a monitored bathing water. Recent press reports also describe complaints about sexual meet-ups around the lakes.
Getting there
From central Berlin, take the S5 to Kaulsdorf, or the U5 to Elsterwerdaer Platz/Wuhletal and then a bus towards Kaulsdorf-Süd. From the nearest stop it is about a 10-20 minute walk through residential streets and woodland paths. Total travel time from the centre is around 30-40 minutes. Street parking in the surrounding housing area is limited. Visitors report that fines are common for illegal parking on busy weekends. Paths to the shore are unpaved, and there are no step-free facilities. Bring water and food, because there are no shops at the lake.
What visitors say
Reviewers like the clear, cool water, the shade and the relaxed, local feel. They describe clothed and nude bathers getting along without friction. Weekdays are recommended, because hot weekends, Sundays especially, get crowded. Common complaints are loose dogs (some swim in the lake), litter, the lack of toilets or any food, and parking tickets on busy days. Some note that not every part of the shore suits small children. Recent local coverage of sexual activity in the bushes sits awkwardly with the family-friendly picture some reviewers paint.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
The Berlin Senate's May 2025 answer to written question 19/22521 says that bathing in the Kaulsdorfer Seen, including the Habermannsee, is prohibited under § 3(2) no. 1 of the Berlin Badegewässerverordnung. For that reason the lakes get no official bathing-water monitoring. A June 2026 Berliner Kurier report says the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district has tolerated swimming for years, and that complaints about sexual meet-ups at the lakes are prompting calls for action. Nudity itself is not specifically banned, but there is no designated FKK zone.
Naturism at Kaulsdorfer Baggersee sits under Germany's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
Full country law: Germany public nudity guide.
Researched 24 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 52.5003, 13.6023
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Germany
Frequently asked questions
Is swimming at the Habermannsee legal?
Officially no. Berlin's bathing-water ordinance prohibits bathing in the Kaulsdorfer Seen, but the district has tolerated it for years. There is no water-quality monitoring or lifeguard.
Where is the nude area?
No part of the shore is marked as FKK. Nude and clothed bathers mix, and one stretch of shore is known to be more naturist, so look for where other nude bathers are.
Are there toilets or a kiosk?
No. There are no facilities at all, so bring water, food and a bag for your rubbish.
How do I get there without a car?
Take the S5 to Kaulsdorf, or U5 plus a bus towards Kaulsdorf-Süd, then walk 10-20 minutes. Parking nearby is limited and enforced.
When is it quietest?
On weekday mornings. Hot weekends, especially Sundays, are crowded.
Sources
- Schriftliche Anfrage 19/22521: (Bade-)Wasserqualität in Kaulsdorf und Biesdorf (Abgeordnetenhaus Berlin, May 2025) Official
- Streit im Kiez: Ärger um Erotik-Treff am Kaulsdorfer See (Berliner Kurier, 9 June 2026)
- Habermannsee (seen.de)
- Kaulsdorfer Baggersee (nudebeachmap)
- Habermannsee (nudebeachmap)
- Kaulsdorfer Baggersee (Habermannsee) (Wanderlog)
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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