Free swimming in Duisburg's Inner Harbor: The DuisPool is now open

Duisburg, July 18, 2026. To mark the start of the North Rhine-Westphalia summer break, DuisPool opened today. Through September 6, a designated and supervised area in the Duisburg Inner Harbor basin will be available for free public swimming. The entry point is in front of the faktorei21 restaurant, near Philosophenweg 21. The swimming area measures approximately 30 by 80 meters and is marked with ropes and buoys.

Project management is handled by the City Management department of the Duisburg Business & Innovation GmbH (DBI) economic development agency. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the City of Duisburg, Wirtschaftsbetriebe Duisburg (WBD), Duisburg Kontor, and Duisburg Sport. TRANSURBAN is responsible for operations, and the Sportbildungswerk Duisburg oversees the event program. The goal is to enhance the quality of life in the neighborhood and support local restaurants.

Mayor Sören Link: “The DuisPool, in this magnificent location, is a wonderful addition that enhances the quality of life in our beautiful city.” DBI Managing Director Rasmus C. Beck: “This new attraction provides yet another reason to visit the Innenhafen neighborhood, stay longer, and stop by the area. It shows that the investment pays off economically as well.”

Hours of Operation

Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. DuisPool is closed Monday through Thursday.

Admission

It's free to use, and registration is not required.

Security

Trained lifeguards from Plan P GmbH are on site during all opening hours. Swimming in the harbor basin is prohibited outside these hours and during thunderstorms. Children must always remain close to their guardian.

Water Quality

Wirtschaftsbetriebe Duisburg will test the water throughout the entire season (July 18 through September 6) in accordance with the requirements of the EU Bathing Water Directive. All test results are available at www.wb-duisburg.de/allgemein/duispool They are published and also posted at DuisPool. If the thresholds are exceeded, the swimming area remains closed until it is reopened.

Restroom facilities

Restrooms are available as part of the “Netten Toilette” initiative at the Grafschafter Wirtshaus and the KöPi-Wirtshaus. A limited number of changing rooms and lockers are available.

 We wish all Duisburg residents and visitors a wonderful summer in the Inner Harbor.

About DBI’s City Management: The HUB for City Management and Neighborhood Development at DBI focuses primarily on supporting retail and restaurant businesses in their search for locations, as well as on marketing and leasing vacant retail spaces in the downtown area and Duisburg’s city districts. To this end, the team utilizes instruments such as funds for subsidized leases and a digital tool for active vacancy management to promote the revitalization of the downtown area and the established centers in the city districts. The primary target groups are business owners and property owners:innen. DBI’s City Management team can also be reached at its office located at Poststr. 14, right in the city center.