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Berlin's Kindergarten Crisis: 83 Closures Since 2023

Berlin's kindergarten crisis deepens with 83 closures in three years. Now, a Green Party MP proposes creative interim use to save spaces and engagement.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
In the picture we can see some school children are standing on the path with school uniforms and...
In the picture we can see some school children are standing on the path with school uniforms and they are holding some papers in their hands and one girl is talking something near the microphone which is to the stand and behind them we can see a fencing wall and to the top of it we can see a shed with some balloons top it.

Berlin's Kindergarten Crisis: 83 Closures Since 2023

Berlin has witnessed a significant decline in kindergarten numbers, with 83 facility closures since 2023. This trend, driven by decreasing occupancy rates and staff shortages, has left providers struggling and many kindergarten worksheets unoccupied. Green Party MP Marianne Burkert-Eulitz has proposed interim use solutions to mitigate the issue.

The Association of Small and Medium-Sized Kindergarten Providers Berlin (VKMK) has been grappling with low occupancy rates and a dwindling number of permanent staff. This has led to the closure of 83 kindergartens since 2023, with 42 closures in 2023 alone, and 30 and 25 in the following years. The financial burden is substantial, with annual costs per child in full-day care estimated at 24,000 euros in the first year, decreasing to 13,000 euros from the third year onwards, excluding material costs.

The closures have been unevenly distributed across Berlin's boroughs. Pankow and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg each saw 19 facilities close, while Spandau and Marzahn-Hellersdorf each had only one closure. Despite a 31.5 percent increase in kindergartens from 2013 to 2023, with 2,832 facilities in total, only 10.6 percent are state-owned. As of early 2025, there were 189,000 places available, with over 18,000 unoccupied, including 5,000 in state-owned kindergartens.

VKMK's managing director predicts the current situation to last for another three to five years, with the birth rate potentially rising again afterwards. Green Party MP Marianne Burkert-Eulitz has proposed 'creative and community-oriented interim use' to avoid losing kindergarten space and engagement. The state compensates kindergartens proportionally based on the number of children, leading to lower compensation for facilities with fewer children.

The closure of 83 kindergartens in Berlin since 2023, driven by low occupancy rates and staff shortages, has left providers facing economic challenges. With over 18,000 places unoccupied, Green Party MP Marianne Burkert-Eulitz's proposal for interim use solutions aims to mitigate the loss of kindergarten space and engagement. The situation is expected to persist for another three to five years, with potential relief coming from a future rise in the birth rate.

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