Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Location of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg in Berlin
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
Coordinates: 52°30′N 13°27′E / 52.500°N 13.450°E / 52.500; 13.450
CountryGermany
StateBerlin
CityBerlin
Subdivisions2 localities
Government
  Borough MayorClara Herrmann (Greens)
Area
  Total
20.16 km2 (7.78 sq mi)
Population
 (2023-12-31)
  Total
293,454
  Density15,000/km2 (38,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Vehicle registrationB
Websiteofficial homepage

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg (German: [ˈfʁiːdʁɪçsˌhaɪn ˈkʁɔʏtsbɛʁk] ) is the second borough of Berlin, formed in 2001 by merging the former East Berlin borough of Friedrichshain and the former West Berlin borough of Kreuzberg. The historic Oberbaum Bridge, formerly a Berlin border crossing for pedestrians, links both districts across the river Spree as the new borough's landmark (as featured in the coat of arms).

The counterculture tradition especially of Kreuzberg has led to the borough being a stronghold for the Green Party. While Kreuzberg is characterised by a high number of immigrants, the share of non-German citizens in Friedrichshain is much lower and the average age is higher. The merger between the distinct quarters is celebrated by an annual anarchic "vegetable fight" on the Oberbaumbrücke. Both parts have to deal with the consequences of gentrification.