Four summer festival Fridays in August at the historic Bürgerbad Van-Ameren with live music, barbecue, and illuminated outdoor pool
The Van-Ameren-Bad is a traditional Bürgerbad in Emden, located directly on the Kesselschleuse. It is one of the oldest still-operating outdoor pools in East Frisia and is today primarily run by volunteers from the Förderverein Van-Ameren-Bad e.V. The pool is part of the local identity and represents civic engagement in leisure and swimming sports.
Instead of a single swimming event, the Midnight Swim is organized on four consecutive Fridays in August. From 7 PM to 10 PM, the outdoor pool is open and bathed in a special atmosphere with lighting. Families, swimming groups, clubs, and individuals are invited to enjoy a relaxed summer evening by and in the water.
On each of the event days, an East Frisian band performs, providing musical accompaniment to the swimming event. A barbecue buffet with sausages, steaks, and vegetarian options, as well as cocktail stands, cater to the guests. The catering is organized by the Förderverein, and the proceeds support the maintenance of the pool.
Admission prices are moderate: 7 EUR for adults, 4 EUR for children and teenagers. This makes the event accessible to a broad audience. The Midnight Swim is one of Emden's most charming summer events, offering a relaxed, communal atmosphere far from commercial festival operations.
The specific band names for the individual dates in 2026 will be announced by the Förderverein through official channels and the website emden-touristik.de. The event is weather-dependent; in case of continuous rain or storms, the date will either be postponed or cancelled.
The proceeds from admission and catering go entirely towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Bürgerbad. The Midnight Swim is thus both a summer event and a support initiative for a leisure facility in Emden run by volunteers.
The 2026 program follows the proven structure:
Specific band names and exact weekend details will be announced by the organizer in the summer.
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