The Duisburg Inner Harbour becomes an experimental water playground. The connection between the city and water is at the heart of the projects, inviting participation and lingering. A section of the thawed basin of the Inner Harbour is opened up for swimming and playing.
Photos: © Land NRW / Jutta Prechtel
Dates
21 June - 5 July 2025
Lcocation
Duisburg Innenhafen, Holzhafen, dammed harbour basin
Playground
VIVAWEST Terrasse, Philosophenweg 17c, 47051 Duisburg
Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 14:00 - 20:00
Opening
21 June 2025, from 16:00 – VIVAWEST Terrace, Philosophenweg 17c, Duisburg
To mark the opening, the City of Play invites you to enjoy games, workshops, and a music programme.
Origami boat performance with Frank Bölter
Games workshop “Off Side Traps” with Sebastian Quack
DJ sets
City Talk “Swimmable Cities”: A City Pool for Duisburg & Followed by a Public Dinner
21 June 2025, from 16:00 – VIVAWEST Terrace, Philosophenweg 17c, Duisburg
What is the significance of urban water for people and the environment? How can Duisburg and its Inner Harbour become a “Swimmable City”? Swimming activists, curators, and scientists will discuss, based on best practices, the necessity and methods of transforming standing waters into accessible public spaces. The international movement “Swimmable Cities” provides the framework and inspiration for the idea of an urban pool right in the heart of Duisburg’s Inner Harbour.
The event will be followed by a community dinner, inviting everyone to share a meal together.
More information in the Call for Action.
Midissage x Extraschicht
28 June 2025, from 14:00 – VIVAWEST Terrace, Philosophenweg 17c, Duisburg
The Midissage in Duisburg coincides with the Extraschicht event in the Duisburg Inner Harbour.
The City of Play presents a programme of workshops and invites you to swim in the new city pool within the flooded basin.
Flag-making workshop with Obisk & Bobbi-Bianchi-230
Climate game “Climate Casino” with Sebastian Quack
STROBO Radio
4 July 2025, from 18:00 – VIVAWEST Terrace, Philosophenweg 17c, Duisburg
The STROBO magazine for young culture in the Ruhr area presents a musical radio programme in collaboration with the online community radio dublab.de.
DJ sets and mini-concerts will be interwoven with interviews and discussion rounds on site. The live radio broadcast offers a panorama of the young music scene in the Ruhr region and invites its protagonists to the Duisburg Inner Harbour.
Finissage: Radio Residency & Public Dinner
5 July 2025, from 16:00 – VIVAWEST Terrace, Philosophenweg 17c, Duisburg
The new city pool will open its doors once more, at least for the time being.
Meanwhile, Bochum’s Cute Community Radio will launch as part of the ongoing programme series of the Radio Residency, providing the perfect sounds to accompany swimming and sunbathing. Live stream via Cute Community Radio.
In the evening, there will be a communal meal, and the Public Dinner invites everyone to gather on the sun deck of the VIVAWEST Terrace.
More information in the Call for Action.
