The German system of gun control is among the most stringent in Europe. It restricts the acquisition, possession, and carrying of firearms to those with a creditable need for a weapon. It bans fully automatic weapons and severely restricts the acquisition of other types of weapons. Compulsory liability insurance is required for anyone who is … [Read more...]

Germans are said to be rather serious, dour, and even humorless. While this is not entirely true, German people do indeed need some time to warm up and keep a polite distance when dealing with strangers. While it might be customary in some countries to address people by their first name, Germans like to stick to formalities. At the same time, their … [Read more...]

Bread (Brot) is a significant part of German cuisine, with the largest bread diversity in the world. Around 300 kinds of breads and 1,200 different kinds of pastries and rolls are produced in about 17,000 bakeries and another 10,000 in-shop bakeries. The multitudinous variety of bread and rolls in Germany is legendary! It is based on different … [Read more...]

It's true: there are no speed limits on many sections of German autobahns. But there are plenty of other regulations you should be aware of. While most traffic rules are the same in Germany as they are in other countries, traffic signs and street markings can be very different as well as confusing. The following is some basic traffic information … [Read more...]

Sometimes, when coming to Germany, visitors have the stereotype of dour, rigid, and humorless Germans firmly lodged in their mind. Fortunately, this cliché regarding German customs and behavior is exactly that – just a cliché. Germans tend to be rather reserved with strangers, business partners and casual acquaintances. Meet and Greet In order to … [Read more...]

For most people, buying property in Germany is not only a solid investment but also a place where they and their family spend the rest of their lives. Unless they are required to move, most people in Germany will not abandon the house they bought or even built themselves. So when they decide on buying property in Germany, most people take their … [Read more...]

Here are some things about Germany and its inhabitants you will notice during your time spent in Germany, living in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria and Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein. A hilarious (and true!) list by Liv Hambrett. Germans are tall. They enjoy dairy products. The refrigerated section of their … [Read more...]

Surnames play a huge role in our life and you can expect any surname you can think of already exists. But it gets really bizarre when you start to browse through the German telephone book. Here are 9 of some of the weirdest German surnames and they are all real! First names have been altered though, to spare real people the ridicule. 1. Jens … [Read more...]