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You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
You are welcome
to Frankfurt Rhine-Main

Let me first say a few words about      make our state their center of opera-
the 20th
           anniversary of Newcomers     tions. Our state is internationally
Network:                                oriented, welcomes diversity and is
For more than 15 years, the New-        open to foreigners. We also recognize
comers Network has been an im-          the importance of helping internatio-
portant strategic partner for us in     nal companies – and their employees –
reaching our goals of integrating and   settle in quickly to their new surroun-
maintaining the mutually beneficial     dings. This helps support integration
coexistence of the multinational        and create a community of shared
community. Newcomers Network has        responsibilities for all residents, re-
been successfully providing informa-    gardless of their nationality.
tion, tips and networking for all new
residents in the region for the past    Following the British referendum on       This publication provides a wide
20 years. Together with Newcomers       European Union membership, Frank-         range of information to new citizens
                                        furt is shaping its new profile as the    in Frankfurt Rhine-Main about their
                                        leading financial center inside the EU.   surroundings, thereby facilitating the
                                        Hessen is ready to assist all partners    integration process. It is very impor-

[…] we wish                             who are building new links between        tant that expatriates who live either
                                        London and Frankfurt. The publication     temporarily or permanently in our
Newcomers                               you are holding in your hands was         state are well informed about langu-
Network all the                         specifically designed for the interna-    age programs, continuing education

best for the future,                    tional community in the region.           and training opportunities, official
                                                                                  governmental contacts, social ser-
and we particularly                     This year we are facing unprece-          vices, as well as the region’s sport
appreciate their                        dented challenges with the Covid-19       and tourism offerings.
                                        pandemic. Our hope is that people all
committed support
                                        over the world will be able to live in    I am delighted that you have chosen
for all Newcomers.“                     a safe and healthy neighborhood. We       Hessen as your new home and wish
                                        hope that our economies will over-        you all the best for the future.
                                        come the crisis, that borders will be
                                        open and free movement of people,
Network, we aim to promote interna-     goods and services will be resumed.
tionalism in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main
region, strengthen the economy and      The Newcomers Guide is a practical        Tarek Al-Wazir,
diversify growth. On their 20 anni-
                             th
                                        and essential guidebook about living      Minister for Economic Affairs,
versary, we wish Newcomers Net-         and working in Hessen and the Frank-      Energy, Transport and Housing,
work all the best for the future, and   furt Rhine-Main region. It will take      State of Hessen
we particularly appreciate their com-   you step-by-step through the pro-
mitted support for all Newcomers.       cess of adjusting to life in the region
                                        and should help you get off to a good
Hessen is proud of the many interna-    start to your stay here.
tional companies that have chosen to
You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
Newcomers Guide
                                                                                             Welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main

                                                                                                  The Region is the City                      Getting Money
                                                                                                   Where to live in                            Banking, finances, and taxes
                                                                                             12    FrankfurtRhineMain
                                                                                                                                        104

                                                                                                  Getting Settled                             Getting Acquainted
                                                                                                   Housing: How to find                        German culture, customs and clarity
                                                                                             26    the right place for you
                                                                                                                                        112

                                                                                                  Getting Connected                           Culture & More

THE BMW NEWCOMER DESK.
                                                                                                   Telecoms, Wi-Fi, TV, and utilities          Museums, music and leisure-time
                                                                                             42                                         120    marvels in and around Frankfurt

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ASSIST YOU.
                                                                                                  Getting Healthcare                          Sports & More
                                                                                                   Doctors, medicine,                          Sports, health clubs, and spectator
                                                                                             48    hospitals, and emergencies
                                                                                                                                        134    sports in FrankfurtRhineMain

FULL CONSULTATION FROM ORDER TO DELIVERY INCL.
INSURANCE ASSIST AND REGISTRATION THROUGH OUR BRANCH.                                             Getting Educated                            Religion & More
                                                                                                   Schools, colleges, and unis                 Religious services in

We provide the following services to you:                                                    56    in FrankfurtRhineMain
                                                                                                                                        152    FrankfurtRhineMain

–    Full vehicle consultation                            –   Full registration service
–    Test drive                                           –   Delivery assist
–    Financing consultation (lease & financing)           –   Service & maintenance assist
–    Insurance assist                                     –   Accident Assist                     Getting Around                              General Information
–    Tax assist                                                                                    Public transport, flying,                   Volunteering, international clubs and
                                                                                             76    cycling, and driving
                                                                                                                                        158    business contacts in FrankfurtRhineMain

                         Liran Partridge
                         Diplomatic Sales/
                         Sales Specialist New Vehicles
                                                                                                  Getting Down to Business                    Newcomers History
                         Tel.:   069-4036-349                                                      Cross-cultural issues, setting up          Newcomers Network
                         E-Mail: Liran.Partridge@bmw.de
                                                                                             84    a business, holding meetings,
                                                                                                   Korea Special                        166   Newcomers Festival
                                                                                                                                              International Stammtisch
                                                                                                                                              Imprint
BMW AG Niederlassung Frankfurt
www.bmw-frankfurt.de
Hanauer Landstraße 255
60314 Frankfurt
Tel.: 069-4036-0
You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
Frankfurt
The heart of the Rhine-Main region,
the very center of Germany, financial
titan, transportation hub, this modern,
multicultural metropolis can look back
on a long and eventful history.
You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
Wiesbaden
The capital of the State of
Hessen and a long-standing
spa town. Located between
the Rhine River and the
Taunus hills. Countless old
townhouses and villas, not to
mention expansive parks and
glorious boulevards.
You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
Darmstadt
Located in southern Hessen, the city
is a scientific hub with its University
of Technology, a further three higher
education establishments and over
30 scientific institutes. It is also well
known as center of Jugendstil architec-
ture (Mathildenhöhe).
You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
Taunus
The mountains offer many a
marvelous view and are sprinkled
with beautiful towns such as Bad
Homburg (old Spa), Kronberg (the
Opelzoo) and Königstein (castle).
You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
12   Newcomers Guide 2019                                                                                                                                                                                     The Region is the City   13

                                                                                       FrankfurtRheinMain is                            FrankfurtRheinMain        is   rich   in   The FrankfurtRhineMain region boasts
                                                                                       not just Frankfurt                            history. A few relics from the Romans         over 460 towns and cities, and a popu-
                                                                                       The FrankfurtRheinMain region is              can be found in Frankfurt, Mainz and          lation of 5.7 million. Each of the towns
                                                                                       one of the most powerful economic             Saalburg, and even the Celts left their       has its own history and cultural heri-
                                                                                       regions in Germany and, indeed, in            mark in Glauburg and the Taunus.              tage – together they create a vibrant
                                                                                       the whole of Europe. Located in the           Quite a few towns in the region fea-          and highly diverse region.
                                                                                       centre of Germany and in the heart of         ture half-timbered houses dating back            The FrankfurtRhineMain region is
                                                                                       Europe, FrankfurtRheinMain is not just        to the 14th century, while the centre         decidedly cosmopolitan in outlook,
                                                                                       Frankfurt, and there is much more to          of Wiesbaden has retained its charm           but also remains rooted in its heri-
                                                                                       the region than finance and trade fairs.      as an old spa town, along with various        tage and history. Frankfurt is an urban
                                                                                       The region is diverse and is made up          other spa towns dotted around the             metropolis but there are many forests
                                                                                       of numerous towns and municipalities          region. The Frankfurt skyline, “Main-         and hills in the surrounding region. The
                                                                                       which come together to form the Metro-        hattan”, can be seen from many towns          towns, cities and villages in the Frank-
                                                                                       politan Region FrankfurtRheinMain             and viewing points in the surround-           furtRhineMain region are each unique
                                                                                       with around 5.8 million inhabitants.          ing areas. In the FrankfurtRheinMain          in their cultural offerings, schools and
                                                                                          Many successful international com-         region, old and new stand side by             universities, sports, shopping and
                                                                                       panies have a base here, particularly in      side. The region has managed to               architecture. Taken as a whole, the
                                                                                       the automotive sector in Eschborn and         retain its historic character while look-     region offers a perfect balance of work
                                                                                       the pharmaceutical sector in Höchst           ing towards the future. It has many           and leisure, making it simply a great
                                                                                       and Darmstadt. There are also some            renowned universities and research            place to live.
                                                                                       very successful local companies who           institutes, and Frankfurt am Main is             Nestled between the major cities
                                                                                       are global leaders in their field, par-       home to the world’s largest internet          are hundreds of municipalities, each
                                                                                       ticularly in Hanau, the Main-Kinzig-          exchange point.                               of which is extremely proud of its own
                                                                                       Kreis and the Wetterau-Kreis. Creative           In the summer, FrankfurtRhein-             local history. Down through the cen-
                                                                                       industries are housed in Mainz and            Main is buzzing with music festivals          turies, the region has evolved into a
                                                                                       Offenbach, Darmstadt is home to the           and wine fests throughout the region,         colorful and vibrant mosaic with some-
                                                                                       European Space Operations Centre              including the Rheingauer Festspiele,          thing for everyone.
                                                                                       and Frankfurt airport is one of the           the Museumsuferfest along the Main
                                                                                       busiest hubs in the world.                    in Frankfurt, the Hochheimer Weinfest         Frankfurt
                                                                                          FrankfurtRheinMain is also very in-        and the Jazz Festival in Idstein.             For newcomers to the FrankfurtRhine-
                                                                                       ternational and offers a very high stand-        Whatever you are looking for, you          Main region it is becoming increasingly
                                                                                       ard of living. The world is at home in our    can find it in the region, and that is        popular to live in Frankfurt. If you value
                                                                                       region, and the region is very cosmopoli-     what makes FrankfurtRheinMain so              convenience, a short distance to the of-
                                                                                       tan with its many international clubs and     special. Frankfurt is enriched by the         fice, and great bistroa and restaurants
                                                                                       communities. People from 180 different        numerous opportunities that the other         around the corner, then Frankfurt is the

          The Region is the City
                                                                                       nations live here, either in the large cit-   cities, towns and municipalities in the       right choice. The most popular residen-
                                                                                       ies, or in towns in the countryside, and      region have to offer. However, there is       tial areas are Westend, the Diplomaten-
                                                                                       this is one of the unique features of the     one thing that they all have in common        viertel, the Holzhausenviertel, parts of
                                                                                       region. Wherever you are, you have the        – Apfelwein – the traditional regional        Sachsenhausen and the Dichterviertel.
          Where to live in FrankfurtRhineMain                                          best of both worlds and everything is         drink made from apples, which dates           There are, however, other areas that
                                                                                       within easy reach, whatever your mode         back to the Middle Ages. It is still one of   are equally worth considering, such as
                                                                                       of transport.                                 the most popular drinks in the region,        Nordend, Bornheim and Bockenheim.
          Cosmopolitan and diverse – the towns and cities in FrankfurtRhineMain           FrankfurtRheinMain is very green.          and is also one of the first specialities     These areas are less expensive but
          have masses to offer – be it arts or architecture, history or hospitality,   Surrounded by the hills of the Taunus         that newcomers to the region discover.        are just as unique in character. If you
          parks or playgrounds. Much awaits for you to discover.                       and Vogelsberg to the North, and              Whether you are in the Odenwald, in           consider moving to Frankfurt, you will
                                                                                       Odenwald and Spessart to the South,           Offenbach or Frankfurt-Sachsenhaus-           likely have to opt for an apartment
                                                                                       the region has a lot to offer with its        en, in the Taunus, the Wetterau or            rather than a house.
                                                                                       interesting hiking and bicycle trails, its    Wiesbaden, make sure you try this very           Frankfurt, the largest city in the
                                                                                       beautiful lakes and, of course, the Main      unique regional speciality!                   region, is a melting pot of cultures,
                                                                                       river which flows through some of the         Rouven Kötter (Deputy Director,               languages and lifestyles. The impos-
                                                                                       main cities and towns in the region.          FrankfurtRheinMain Regional Authority)        ing skyline strikes newcomers first.
You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
14   Newcomers Guide 2021

          Frankfurt’s high-rise buildings conjure      Frankfurt’s Districts                       central banking district. Thanks to stu-
          up images of Manhattan, leading              The affluent Sachsenhausen district,        dent protests in 1968-70, many of the
          locals to sometimes refer to the city        known in the local lingo as Dribb-          turn of the 20th century villas were
          as “Mainhattan”. The modern skyline is       debach or “the other side of the            saved from demolition so that West-
          made up of several high-rise buildings       stream”, is known for its quaint            end has become a mixture of high-rises
          that are more than 200 meters high,          cobble-stoned streets lined with chic       and mansions that now house apart-
          including one of Europe’s tallest sky-       restaurants, pubs and cider taverns, not    ments. Westend is also home to Grüne-
          scrapers, the 259-meter Commerzbank          to mention the museums on this side         burgpark, a vast stretch of parkland
          Tower. Despite the city’s impressive         of the river embankment. Alt-Sachsen-       perfect for jogging, sports and picnics,
          glass facades, the major internation-        hausen is often the first tourist stop in   as well as the Palmengarten, the mu-
          al airport and bustling main railway         Frankfurt, where rowdy and boisterous       nicipal botanical garden with an exqui-
          station, Frankfurt’s population of           behavior is not uncommon once the sun       site collection of plant specimens.
          740,000 makes it one of Europe’s most        goes down. The main shopping street,        Many foreign consulates are also
          manageable metropolitan cities.              Schweizerstrasse, offers an eclectic mix    nestled between the attractive villas.
             Frankfurt is Germany’s most cosmo-        of boutiques, cafés and eateries. Apart-       Bockenheim is a slightly lower-
          politan city, with foreigners making         ment rental prices in Sachsenhausen         market version of Nordend, and was
            up more than one-quarter of the            are high, but many are willing to pay a     once the student district in town.
          population; the city is open-minded,         premium for the stylish old flats and in    Leipzigerstrasse serves as the quar-
          tolerant and diverse. Meaning Frank-         this leafy neighborhood.                    ter’s main artery, featuring an array
          furt is somewhere where newcomers               Bornheim, northeast of the city          of shopping possibilities, interna-
          can settle in quickly and feel at home.      center, was nicknamed the “jolly            tional cuisine, ice-cream shops, and
          After all, people from around 180            village” in the 19th century because it     many other temptations. The district
          different countries live together here.      was home to many an inn and brothel.        stands out for its multicultural feel and
          It’s also flourishing as Germany’s           Today the central shopping artery           urbanity.
          number one city for international            and the district’s backbone I Berger
          professionals – with 144 foreign banks,      Strasse, a lively cosmopolitan road
          127 international airlines, 85 foreign       flanked by boutiques, bric-a-brac           The Taunus foothills
          consulates and 59 foreign chambers of        shops, cafes and department stores.         The Taunus foothills are frequently
          commerce or trade missions. More than        On Wednesdays and Saturdays there           referred to as “Frankfurt’s living room,”
          3,000 foreign companies are located in       are markets in the pedestrian zone: the     a title earned because so many people
          Frankfurt and the immediate vicinity.        Am Uhrtürmchen square. Apartment            choose to live in the green world of the
          It is headquarters for the European          rental prices tend to be more reaso-        Taunus foothills and commute in and
          Central Bank and home to Deutsche            nable than in Sachsenhausen, and            out of Frankfurt. The area is dotted
          Börse, the German Stock Exchange,            many young professionals, university        with picturesque towns, many of them
          making it one of the globally leading        students and families live in Bornheim.     with excellent restaurants, interesting
          centers of finance and commerce, a              Nordend houses a large crowd             historical exhibits, and entertaining
          status that will no doubt grow in the        of young professionals who love its         leisure activities. Over the last 50-odd
          post-Brexit world of Europe.                 diversity, its cosmopolitan flair, with     years the area has developed from a
             Frankfurt’s cultural life is known for    its arthouse cinema and plenty of bars      series of sleepy farming villages into
          its diversity. The city is home to count-    and cafes. This district is also known      prosperous centers, each with its own
          less museums of world repute, many of        for its Bohemian mix of stores and          identity. The largest community in the
          which are strung along the North and         restaurants, its Günthersburgpark,          Taunus is Bad Homburg with 53,000
          South Main River embankment like so          which caters to BBQs and concerts in        residents;   other    prime    locations
          many pearls on a strong. It also has a       the summer, not to mention the more         include Königstein, Kronberg, Hofheim
          very lively art scene. And it likewise has   stately Holzhausenpark that defines         and Oberursel.
          a great range of restaurants, wine-bars,     its border to Westend.
          bistros and beer gardens. On warm               Westend is regarded as the most
          summer evenings, people converge on          exclusive address in Frankfurt. Many
          the river banks to sip a cool beer, or a     business professionals choose to
          glass of cider, or even a spritz on board    live in the high-end apartments here
          one of the tavern-boats.                     and then walk to work in Frankfurt’s
You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
Editorial

2SINN  GmbH
Königstein im Taunus
Yourwell-known
the  agency forhealth
               communication   and
                      spa town in   marketing
                                  the Hochtaunus spa park

Not that great a distance away, outside    the opinion that even slight stimuli to     sunny and shady sections and changes       tain-and-valley trails through different   ancient castle of the von Nürings, or     air, protect it from the harsh weather
Frankfurt’s city gates, in the wooded      the organism from the outside could         in temperature with the altitude. The      climate zones and at a varying altitude,   will enjoy the greatest view out over     of the North and thanks to the har-
foothills of the Taunus mountains,         fundamentally influence it. Since           body is forever challenged to adapt        changing from shady passages to            the expanse of the Rhine-Main plain       moniously intertwining mountains
protected against the inclement rough      Königstein offered such stimuli as a        to its surroundings and over time          sections exposed to the sun, with          from the Dettweiler Temple up on the      prompted Alexander von Humboldt
weather of the North and opening out       result of its prime location, he champi-    becomes less sensitive to outside in-      patches exposed to the wind, or deep       “Devil’s Pulpit”. After all, what you     to comment that they were the most
onto the sunny South – lies Königstein     oned it being awarded the government        fluences. It strengthens its intrinsic     in the silent forest.                      delight in seeing half the fun.           beautiful central massif in the world.
im Taunus. Here, the air is clear and      certification of excellence that it still   strengths and its endurance. It gets          Even the small nature reserve, the        Such experiences certainly kindle
fresh, the climate mild, almost Med-       holds to this day: Königstein has been      tougher.                                   Falkensteiner Hain, in the middle of       a thirst for more, for a lot more. The    Information boards at the portals tell
iterranean, and yet there’s lots of        a certified spa resort since 1935 – the        There are any number of such spe-       Königstein, straddles an altitude dif-     expansive Heilklima-Park between          you all about Heilklima hiking. Photo:
variety. Even on hot days, refreshing      only one of its kind to have been grant-    cial hiking trails in the Hochtaunus       ference of over 100 meters and with        Großer    Feldberg    and   Königstein    Christian Bandy
winds from the heights bring a breath      ed the certification twice, once for the    Heilklima-Park, the first of its kind in   its rich geology geological profile fea-   boasts many a nature reserve, relics
of fresh air. Königstein has a preferred   core town of Königstein and once again      Germany. Across an area of no less         tures clear temperature differences on     from ancient times, such as the White     Heilklima hiking is sports walking over
location. Königstein is the ideal health   for the district of Falkenstein. And the    than 20 km² of truly marvelous nature,     its varyingly steep slopes. No less than   Wall, a remnant of the last Ice Age,      differing terrain. Photo: Heiko Rhode
spa town.                                  town’s prowess as a spa was crowned         with bracing fresh air and a stimulating   three Heilklima trails pass through it.    traces of the Celts who bequeathed
                                           when it received the “Premium Class         climate, you can choose from 34 trails,    They lead past impressive rock for-        us puzzling walls of scree up on the      The Reichenbachtal nature reserve is
Delightful Königstein im                   Health Spa Resort” award bestowed by        measured in terms of their perfor-         mation, along paths close to nature,       Altkönig, and the Romans, who built       part of the Hochtaunus Heilklima Park.
Taunus                                     Verband der Heilklimatischen Kurorte        mance physiological and bioclimato-        up to the highest point, the ruins of      their border wall, the Limes, along the   Photo: Christian Bandy
Dr. Georg Pungler, known in awe as the     Deutschlands e.V.                           logical parameters – and covering a to-    Falkenstein Castle. Anyone out hikinh      mountain crests.
“doctor of the waters” recognized the                                                  tal length of over 180 km. That is about   in the Falkensteiner Hain and its rain-      The Taunus mountains are an in-
ideal climate at an early date. His suc-   Fitness Zone: the Hochtaun-                 the same distance as from Frankfurt to     forest-like vegetation will possibly       dispensable region for R&R, keep the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Contact
cesses with cold-water treatments and      us Heilkilma-Park                           Cologne. Twelve portals spread round       discover the hidden artifacts of the       Rhine-Main plain suffused with fresh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Königstein im Taunus
movement in the fresh air marked the       Everyone who moves, wanders, walks,         the edges of the park mark the starting                                                                                              Spa and town information
beginnings of spas in Königstein in the    jogs or cycles in Königstein not only       points of the trails. And five of them                                                                                               Hauptstrasse 13 a
mid-19th century. Other clinics swiftly    enjoys the activity, but stays fit and      alone are in Königstein, which the very                                                                                              61462 Königstein im Taunus

opened, and in fact Klinik Dr. Amelung     strengthens their immune system.            only town to be situated inside the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            T: +49 (0)61 74 202 251
is still in operation to this day.         This effect can even be reinforced if       Heilklima-Park and thus offers access                                                                                                F: +49 (0)61 74 202 308
   International interest grew and         the prevailing climate conditions are       to all 12 Heilklima trails.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Mon. - Fri.:         9 am – 6 pm*
Königstein son emerged as a spa resort     best used, by means of so-called health        Heilklima trails are always loops
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Sat.:               10 am – 2 pm
where health was soon restored.            hikes.                                      and come in three categories to allow                                                                                                Sun. (May - Sept.): 10 am – 2 pm
                                              Health hikes entail hiking at a brisk    you to pace yourself properly: From
The town joined the ranks of the elite     pace outdoors in terrain where there        shorter paths on easily walkable ter-                                                                                                *during the COVID-19 pandemic:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9 am – 3 p.m
health spa resorts thanks to Prof. Dr.     are constantly changing climatic stim-      rain with slight inclines and low vari-
med. Walther Amelung, who was of           uli through the frequent alternation of     ation in stimuli to ambitious moun-
You are welcome to Frankfurt Rhine-Main - Newcomers Network
The Region is the City   19

                                                                                                                                Bad Homburg                                sian throne. Today, the Schlosshotel is       24,000 inhabitants located just off the
                                                                                                                                Located in at the top of the plain lead-   one of the best hotels in the region.         A3 Autobahn between Limburg and
                                                                                                                                ing to the Taunus hills, Bad Homburg       The restaurant is also a favorite not         Wiesbaden. The former residency of
                                                                                                                                is the most important town in the          only of many locals but also out-of-          the Nassau royalty, Idstein offers a
                                                                                                                                Hochtaunus district. Bad Homburg           town guests. Kronberg is considered           range of day-trip attractions such as
                                                                                                                                has a long and illustrious history that    one of the region’s most exclusive –          the medieval Hexenturm, ruins of old
                                                                                                                                stretches back to the Roman Empire.        and expensive – communities. The              Roman fortifications and the ornate
                                                                                                                                In the mid-1800s, Bad Homburg              town has an excellent public transpor-        interior of the Unionskirche. If you are
                                                                                                                                developed into an internationally-         tation connection to Frankfurt – just 25      a golfer, you should take a look at the
                                                                                                                                fashionable spa town. A stroll through     minutes by LRT to Frankfurt main train        36-hole Golfpark in Idstein which offers
                                                                                                  Editorial                     the Spa Park will remind guests of the     station. Unsurprisingly, it is one of the     one of the most inexpensive club mem-
                                                                                                                                elegance of the by-gone era. There you     locations of choice for the upper eche-       berships in the region. Idstein is also

2SINN
New    GmbH New work
     business.
                                                                                                                                can see the famous spring waters, the      lons of the international community.          host to an annual jazz festival, which
                                                                                                                                Russian Chapel, the Thai Temple and                                                      attracts thousands of visitors.
                                                                                                                                the famed Bad Homburg Casino. Bad          Hofheim

environment. New location
  Your agency for communication and marketing                                                                                   Homburg’s surrounding woods offer a        Hofheim is increasingly becoming one
                                                                                                                                wide range of recreational activities,     of the leading communities in the Main        Other Major Cities
                                                                                                                                such as hiking, tennis, golf, horseback    Taunus region. Located halfway bet-
                                                                                                                                riding or simply relaxing at one of the    ween Frankfurt and Wiesbaden, Hof-            Wiesbaden
#GoToRaunheim – adaptive,                 transforming into an outstanding lo-        In modern buildings and rooms adapt-      many spas. Two bilingual schools are       heim‘s population of 40,000 is rising         Elegant and beautiful, Wiesbaden
flexible and space saving                 cation for future oriented companies.       ed to the current pandemic require-       located nearby: accadis International      steadily. While it doesn’t have a castle      is without a doubt one of the most
workplace solutions.                      The number of employees increased           ments in the industrial area everyone     School directly in Bad Homburg and         like Königstein, Hofheim can boast a          attractive cities in Germany. Wies-
                                          significantly.                              feels comfortable with adaptive, flex-    the new King’s College Frankfurt in        picturesque old town with half-tim-           baden is sometimes referred to as the
Future working concepts &                    Many projects and actions especial-      ible and space saving workplace solu-     nearby Friedrichsdorf.                     bered houses, numerous street cafés           “Nice of the North” and rightfully so –
environments using tomor-                 ly in the international area bring Raun-    tions. If it comes to new work, new                                                  and quaint shops. There is a frequent         considering the many mansions, the
row’s technology.                         heim special attention. There are many      location and new work environment         Königstein                                 LRT link to Frankfurt, and many more          historic Kurhaus, the famous Casino
Experience future working environ-        companies from Asian countries that         Raunheim is the place to realize ideas.   Königstein is located at the foot of       international families now live here          and the magnificent State Theater.
ments in Raunheim already today. Of-      are gaining a foothold here. This brings      Raunheim welcomes its guests as         the Feldberg – the highest peak in the     because of the proximity to the Inter-        Wiesbaden has been well known as a
fer your employees a pleasant, future     know-how and cultural enrichment,           a strong, reliable and future oriented    Taunus range. Depending on where           national School Frankfurt ISF in nearby       great spa city since ancient times. But
oriented workplace environment.           which makes this place particularly at-     business partner.                         you live, the altitude in Königstein is    Sindlingen. Hofheim also offers nice          it was during the mid-1800s that the
  Raunheim is situated in the heart of    tractive for foreign professionals.                                                   between 200 meters and 700 meters          leisure activities, such as the thermal       city developed a reputation as an inter-
Europe. This centrally located place in      For modern work conditions there                                                   above sea level. Considered one of         spa park and the Hof Hausen Golf Club.        national and cosmopolitan spa city. At
the middle of the Rhine-Main area next    are many benefits given by the city of      Opening times                             the most exclusive communities in                                                        the time, J. W. von Goethe, Johannes
to the airport is easy to reach through   Raunheim. There is a powerful high          Monday:       07:00 am – 04:00 pm         the Taunus area, Königstein is home to     Oberursel                                     Brahms and Fyodor Dostoyevsky,
a direct connection of public transpor-   speed internet connection, an ecolog-       Tuesday:      08:00 am – 04:00 pm         many of Frankfurt’s bankers. Looming       Oberursel is the second largest town in       as well as various royal families fre-
tation, different highways and railway    ical CO2-neutral and cost-effective dis-    Wednesday: 08:00 am – 05:30 pm            over the old core village is Königstein    the Hochtaunus district, with 47,000 res-     quented Wiesbaden. Wiesbaden is
lines. For the last few years Raunheim    trict heating and leisure activities such   Thursday:     08:00 am – 04:00 pm         Castle, which was first built in 1215      idents. Not quite as exclusive as some of     known for its elegant hotels, its 27 hot
and the commitment of the local com-      as a swimming lake and green areas for      Friday:       08:00 am – 12:00 am         but was partially destroyed by French      the other Taunus communities, Oberur-         springs and its mild climate and park-
panies have been growing steadily and     a perfect work-life balance.                                                          troops in 1796. The castle today pro-      sel has its share of restored half-timbered   like setting – they continue to make it a
                                                                                                                                vides the backdrop for concerts and        houses in the historic center. One of         popular resort and conference center,
                                                                                                                                other cultural events. Other small         Oberursel’s advantages is that it is home     attracting visitors from far and wide.
                                                                                           Contact                              communities that have been incorpo-        to the Frankfurt International School.        Today, Wiesbaden is also the capital of
                                                                                           Stadt Raunheim                       rated into Königstein include Falken-      Many parents choose to live in close          the State of Hessen and thus home to
                                                                                           Jan Laubscheer                       stein, Mammolshain and Schneidhain.        proximity to FIS, thereby saving on com-      many governmental offices.
                                                                                           Am Stadtzentrum 1                                                               muting time and also allowing their chil-        The Rhine River and wine are
                                                                                           65479 Raunheim
                                                                                                                                Kronberg                                   dren to take full advantage of the many       inseparably linked with Wiesbaden.
                                                                                           T: +49 (0) 6142 – 402 22 0           The jewel of Kronberg is undoubtedly       extra-curricular activities at the school.    Numerous     producers     of   German
                                                                                           F: +49 (0) 6101 – 505 66 90          the Schlosshotel, which was built by                                                     sparkling wine (Sekt) are located in
                                                                                           J.Laubscheer@raunheim.de
                                                                                                                                Empress Victoria, the eldest child of      Idstein                                       and around Wiesbaden. Nearby, the
                                                                                           www.raunheim.de                      Queen Victoria of England and wife of      Idstein is a quaint town of cobblestone       Rhinegau winegrowing region, with its
                                                                                                                                Kaiser Frederick, the heir to the Prus-    streets and half-timbered houses with         distinctive wines and culinary delights,
20   Newcomers Guide 2021

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 EVERYTHING
          also awaits discovery. Each summer,        baden is the Kurhaus, an elegant con-       along Wilhelmstrasse. And in the his-
          the Rhinegau music festival highlights
          spectacular performances set against
                                                     cert hall and congress center set in the
                                                     midst of a beautiful park. you like to
                                                                                                 toric city center, stroll along the cob-
                                                                                                 blestone streets where small shops
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 BUT ORDINARY!
          the backdrop of the ancient vineyards.     shop, head for the antiques quarter,        and boutiques are nestled between                                                                                     • Located at our beauftiful
             One of the focal points of Wies-        elegant retail arcades or the boutiques     half-timbered houses.                                                                                                   river Main
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Best view in Town
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Great City Trip Location
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Modern Conference Hotel
          Managing a Growing City: In Conversation with                                                                                                                                                                • Short and Long Stays
          Frankfurt’s Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann                                                                                                                                                                          are welcome
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • 61 Apartments and 18 Flats
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       • Wellness & Spa Area
                                                     to new arrivals in town, be they cor-       “Newcomers Network” is a great plat-
                                                     porate executives or straightforward        form in this regard, assisting Newcom-
                                                     staff members that “You are welcome         ers with tools, communication forums,
                                                     to Frankfurt!” That marked the birth        the annual “Newcomers Guide” and
                                                     of the Newcomers Network. The city          the regular International Stammtisch
                                                     decided to launch a new initiative to       throughout the year. It comes as no
          What truly makes Frankfurt a “New-         help Newcomers to town and support          surprise that it has likewise become a
          comers City”?                              them with a new event format. The           strong tradition here in Frankfurt, now
          Frankfurt has always been a city that      original idea remains as good as ever,      extends well into the region - and I’m
          has openly welcomed people from            namely bringing numerous municipal          proud to be doing my part to support
          all around the world. Our roots date       institutions and a number of private        this unique network.
          back to the trade fairs that took place    sponsors and supporters together in
          in the free city of Frankfurt for centu-   one place for one event once a year.        Why is Frankfurt the most interna-
          ries and attracted merchants from all      It enables any “Newcomer”, for the          tional city in Germany?
          manner of trades. After all, Frankfurt     first time ever, to garner information
          was in the center of Europe and thus       and useful material in one place – and      Congratulations on such a great anni-
          easy for all to reach who had wares        meet others in the same situation.          versary! As a matter of fact, this year I
          to sell. Indeed, the welfare of the cit-   Over time, the Newcomers Festival           have invited the “Newcomers Network”
          izens of Frankfurt and local business-     became an established unique and            to our august Paulskirche in Septem-
          es have traditionally been dependent       excellent opportunity for Newcom-           ber to mark this unique event in 2020
          on the excellent relationships we          ers to find out all about their new         – alongside the “Newcomers Festival”
          have nurtured since time immemo-           home, and potentially make friends          that same weekend. I wish the “New-
          rial. Welcoming Newcomers with an          among the other Newcomers at the            comers Network” all the best for the
          open mind, a strong interest in other      same time. Needless to say, many a          future and trust it will in its own inim-
          cultures and all walks of life, not to     Frankfurt citizen has joined in to make     itable way continue our tradition of
          mention links to people from all over      it great meeting place of hearts and        welcoming Newcomers. What we have
          the world has long since been part of      minds, a typically Frankfurt Festival       achieved in Frankfurt over the years,
          the Frankfurt DNA                          where we celebrate our Newcomers!           what we do and demonstrate in our
                                                                                                 daily lives in Frankfurt could undoubt-      Business between the Airport,
          When did the city first start celebrat-    What’s the “Newcomers Network”?             edly serve as a role model for other         Frankfurt Fair and the City
          ing the Newcomers Festival?                I am glad that you ask, as it is without    cities in Germany, Europe, and the
          Well, it was exactly 20 years ago,         doubt an important institution. I myself    world beyond: A heritage of welcom-          In a fantastic location on the Sachsenhausen
          when under Petra Roth, the then            personally welcome all “Newcomers” at       ing Newcomers, not as our guests, but        Main riverbank the Lindner Hotel & Residence
          Lady Mayor of Frankfurt, the idea          regular annual official receptions. How-    as our fellow citizens of a truly interna-   Main Plaza delights its guests not only with a
          was first mooted of “rolling out the       ever, in addition we in Frankfurt want      tional Frankfurt am Main and its metro-      sensational view of the Frankfurt skyline, but
          red carpet” for international expats in    to give Newcomers ongoing and lasting       politan region.                              also with a New York thirties style architecture   Lindner Hotel & Residence Main Plaza
          Frankfurt. Under her watch, she want-      support in all the different phases of                                                   with an elegant ambience rich in detail.           Walther-von-Cronberg-Platz 1
          ed us as a city to visibly demonstrate     finding their feet in their new city. The   Welcome to Frankfurt.
                                                                                                                                              The acclaimed New Brick restaurant and the         60594 Frankfurt am Main
                                                                                                                                              cosy Harry’s New York bar make your heart skip     Tel.: +49 69 66401 0
                                                                                                                                              a beat. A luxurious city hotel that is fun and     Fax: +49 69 66401 4004
                                                                                                                                              perfect as an event location.                      E-Mail: info.mainplaza@lindner.de
Editorial

2SINN GmbH
Pfungstadt
 Your
At theagency forone
       heart of  communication   and marketing
                    of the fastest-growing and most dynamic economic regions
in Europe, and one of the prime addresses for business in Germany.

Pfungstadt and its districts of Escholl-   Pfungstadt has evolved from a miller’s     institutes, meaning the town is highly    synergies. Thus, Pfungstadt is swiftly     it is home to companies that need to       entwicklungsgesellschaft Pfungstadt
brücken, Eich and Hahn are located close   homestead into a modern industrial         appealing for students and special-       evolving into one of the region’s larg-    emit a higher level of pollution (noise,   GmbH & Co.KG has since 2016 been
to the Bergstrasse in south Hessen and     town. And there’s lot waiting to be        ist staff. The Technical University of    est biotech centers. And it is also home   dust, smell).                              your direct focal point for enquiries –
with a view of the Odenwald foothills.     discovered, such as the historical town    Darmstadt is in the immediate vicini-     to top-notch mechanical engineering                                                   easily accessible and ready to assist,
                                           halls in the heart of the city, and the    ty, the first independent university in   and technical companies who togeth-        Here, too, land can be acquired from in-   it seeks to offer companies practical
With its great transport links to the      Eschollbrücken, the Kulturhaus, the        Germany. The Friedrich Ebert School       er ensure us a strong future, great ap-    dustrial corporations or rented. Above     solutions. A service that many com-
two interstates (the A67 and the A5),      former synagogue, Villa Büchner, the       in Pfungstadt and the international       peal, and outstanding prospects.           all, innovative production outfits will    panies already based here appreciate.
our town is not only an ideal base for     Pfungstädter Moors and much more           school in the neighboring Schuldorf                                                  benefit greatly from locating here.        When finding the right location for
companies, but also for trips all over     besides. The Municipal Museum focus-       Bergstrasse have classes up to 12th       Commercial estates that in optimal                                                    your company, Stadtentwicklungs-
the region. The Pfungstadt LRT has         es on the history of Pfungstadt as a       grade, and there are childcare centers    strategic locations, a fast and flexible   As regards support for local commerce      gesellschaft Pfungstadt will do its
since 2011 been connected to the           former milling village and of the dis-     and all-day schools at hand for the       service for commercial operations,         Pfungstadt and its municipal Stadt-        utmost to help.
Odenwaldbahn railway network and           tricts. Strongly shaped by 19th century    small children and juniors.               well trained staff, and blanket broad-
each day of the week whisks numer-         industrialization, the development of                                                band coverage make Pfungstadt ideal
ous commuters to the Darmstadt             past and present lifeworlds is present     Pfungstadt is located in one of Eu-       for corporates.
main station and from there to their       in the form of original materials on lo-   rope’s fastest-growing and most dy-
jobs in the Rhine-Main region – and        cal culture and nature. The exhibitions    namic economic regions, where the         There are classical commercial areas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Contact
the day-trippers out and into the          and events present the museum’s re-        focus is, among other things, on de-      available in the Nord-West Commer-                            Frankfurt am Main            Magistrat der Stadt Pfungstadt
Odenwald forests and hills.                search and collecting effort and finds     veloping the technologies of tomor-       cial Park. Thanks to the B426 highway                                                      Kirchstr. 12-14
                                           from early history and even Classical      row. Just down the road is the forev-     which runs straight past it, the A5 and    Wiesbaden                                       64319 Pfungstadt
Cultural life in our town revolves         Antiquity highlighted. Another aspect      er expanding international Frankfurt      A67 interstates are swiftly reached.                                   Flughafen
                                                                                                                                                                           Mainz                       Rhein-Main          Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft
around our clubs – there are almost        addressed is Pfungstadt’s industrial       Airport and Frankfurt’s heavy-hitting     The commercial park currently has                                                          Pfungstadt GmbH & Co. KG
100 of them and they offer all man-        history, starting with the time when       finance center. Moreover, Pfungstadt      free aeras of various sizes that can                                                       Brunnenstraße 9
ner of leisure-time pursuits. Over the     the first mills were founded through       is in the middle of the Rhine-Main-       be configured to meet the respective                                                       64319 Pfungstadt
course of the year there are various       to its industrial heyday as a hub for      Neckar IT cluster, one of the world’s     investor’s exact needs. Each company                                   Darmstadt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           T: +49 (0) 6157 9880
festivities, such as the Pfungstäd-        making cigars, matches, rare chemi-        most important ICT hubs.                  benefits from the central location that                                                    T: +49 (0) 6157 4029889
ter Street Festival that attracts tens     cal dyes (ultramarine), fine brewing                                                 has great advertising appeal into the
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Pfungstadt
of thousands of guests from the re-        and even manufacturing kitchen ap-         With its central location in this         bargain.                                                                                   info@pfungstadt.de
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           info@seg-pfungstadt.de
gion, or the Christmas market in the       pliances.                                  high-profile German economic region,
old quarter between the Town Hall                                                     Pfungstadt is really ready for the fu-    Moreover, Pfungstadt has a classical                                                       www.pfungstadt.de
and St. Martin’s Church. And in 2023       Pfungstadt has numerous training           ture and boasts superb transportation     industrial park that abuts Eberstadt,                                                      www.seg-pfungstadt.de
Pfungstadt is proud to be hosting the      facilities. We’re close to outstanding     links. The sheer range of companies       one of Darmstadt’s districts. It is un-
Hessentag state festival.                  educational institutions and research      based here fosters networking and         like a classical commercial estate as

                                                                                                                                                                            Mannheim
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Heidelberg
24   Newcomers Guide 2021

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Newcomers Story
          Darmstadt                                  having an identity of its own. The LRT     its moated castle. The bilingual Euro-

                                                                                                                                            Ronald Hoogerbrug
          FrankfurtRhineMain has a royal lineage     and trams whisk you to Frankfurt’s         pean School RhineMain, which is fully
          – which starts in Darmstadt, due south     CBD – if you do not work in one of the     accredited by the EU, has about 1,600
          of Frankfurt. It was here that Queen       creative industries based in Offen-        students and is located in the Bad
          Victoria’s grandson, the Grand Duke        bach that is. Offenbach was once the       Vilbel suburb of Dortelweil.                Life is a journey, not a destination
          Ernst Ludwig of Hessen, married his        center of the German leather industry,
          second wife, Eleanor, in 1905. To mark     the vestiges of the industrial past can    Hanau
          the occasion, the city bestowed the        be seen throughout the city. The city      Birthplace of the Grimm brothers,           Ronald was born in Rotterdam. After       in Frankfurt last year as General Ma-
          gift of the 48-meter-high Wedding          boasts the greatest diversity of nations   Jakob and Wilhelm, Hanau is located         completing his Hotel Management           nager for the InterContinental Frank-
          Tower (Hochzeitsturm) on the couple.       among its inhabitants of any German        on the northern banks of the Main Riv-      studies in the Netherlands, he left his   furt. When not at work, he loves ex-
          The tower forms the pinnacle of the        city. Thanks to the new harbor district    er, just 20 km east of Frankfurt, Hanau     home country and has since lived and      ploring his new surroundings with his
          Mathildenhöhe – the birthplace of          along the Main River, Offenbach is now     is one of the areas where the Hugue-        worked in 10 different cities in Euro-    wife and son.
          the German Art Nouveau movement.           becoming more trendy ... especially for    nots settled in the 17th century and        pe and North America until arriving
          Today, Darmstadt is home to many           young families priced out of Frankfurt.    the French influence is most evident
          international families: The city is        Apartment rents in Offenbach are low-      in the gardens of the Philippsruhe
          headquarters      for   the   European     er than in neighboring Frankfurt, but      Castle, which is one of the first exam-
          Space Agency and the international         the older stylish apartments with high     ples of Versailles’ influence in Germany.   Newcomers Interview
          pharmaceutical and chemical giant          ceilings are now fast becoming more        Not far away on the park promenade          Heimat (Home) means:                      The strangest German word I
          Merck. In addition, a state-funded         expensive.                                 is Wilhelmsbad, a huge leisure park         Having had the privilege to live          learnt:                                              Nationality
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Dutch
          international school is located in                                                    that dates back to the 18th century.        and work in various countries and         “Seufzen” – although having been
          nearby Seeheim-Jugenheim (www.             Bad Vilbel                                 Hanau was largely destroyed during          to have experienced different cul-        married to my German wife for                     In Rhein-Main since
          schuldorf-bergstrasse.de). The quality     Located on the northern border of          World War II, and many of the build-        tures, for me home is the feeling of      quite some time already, it was not                1 year (August 2019)
          of life in Darmstadt is heightened by      Frankfurt, Bad Vilbel is well known        ings are therefore new. Indeed, many        being together with my loved ones         until reading to my son as he was
          the many leisure activities in the sur-    for its mineral waters and spa park on     members of the US military were sta-        in one location instead of the place      growing up, that I stumbled upon
          rounding areas. The Odenwald, with its     the banks of the Nidda River. With a       tioned here – in barracks that have         itself. Other than that when I think      the word “Seufzen”, which I now as-
          softly undulating range of mountains, is   population of 34,000, it is the largest    since been transformed into green           of my home country and culture, I         sociate with children books.
          well known as a weekend getaway. And       city in the Wetterau region and has        housing estates. Hanau offers good          think of the word “lekker”. Google                                                2. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 E xploring new bike and hiking
          the Bergstrasse, one of Germany’s most     become a popular residential commu-        shopping with all the major chains as       it if you want to understand why the      This is the App on my phone, which        routes in areas surrounding the
          balmy winegrowing regions, offers many     nity, thanks to good transportation        well as boutiques, restaurants and          Dutch use it for far more purposes        I cannot live without – tell us why:      city.
          a wine festival and culinary delight.      connections to Frankfurt by both car       cafes. Don’t miss the theatrical presen-    than “lecker” in German.                  I spend far too much time on my         3. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 S trolling along the Mainufer,
                                                     and LRT. During the summer months,         tations of Grimm’s fairytales (Märchen-                                               phone, but I could not live without       starting or finishing at AROMA
          Offenbach                                  Bad Vilbel hosts an annual summer          festspiele) performed every spring/         A thing I brought from home, which        the camera as I love capturing mo-        Eismanufaktur
          Offenbach’s appeal lies in being just      theater    festival   (Burgfestspiele)     summer at the Amphitheater next to          I’d never have left back:                 ments of memories or inspiration.
          on Frankfurt’s doorstep but very much      against the backdrop of the ruins of       the Philippsruhe Castle park.               Three kisses when greeting people                                                 Try to give us one wise, funny or
                                                                                                                                            (difficult these days), the color         Tell us how it feels to drive in Ger-   even philosophical sentence:
                                                                                                                                            orange and the pride for my home-         many, what is different, what is        Typical description of Dutch charac-
                                                                                                                                            town Rotterdam and its football           funny. You can also consider public     ter/personality: “doe maar normaal,
                                                                                                                                            club Feyenoord.                           transportation, if anything special     dan doe je al gek genoeg” which
                                                                                                                                                                                      comes to your mind:                     means just act normal, that is crazy
                                                                                                                                            The most exotic place in the world        No question, Germany is well known      enough as it is.
                                                                                                                                            I’ve ever been to:                        to be the best country to enjoy driv-
                                                                                                                                            During one vacation, I was able to        ing, however the traffic jams and
                                                                                                                                            enjoy a helicopter flight over the        construction sites do take away
                                                                                                                                            Whitsunday Islands, snorkeling at         from this pleasure.
                                                                                                                                            the Great Barrier Reef and playing
                                                                                                                                            Golf at Hamilton Island.                  My top 3 Frankfurt, Rhein-Main Tips:
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Room Silhouette at the InterCon-
                                                                                                                                            My first day here…:                         tinental Frankfurt for some of the
                                                                                                                                            we had to eat “Spaghetti Eis” while         best unobstructed views of the
                                                                                                                                            we enjoyed great first impressions          city, while experiencing some
                                                                                                                                            of Mainhattan.                              great food & service
26   Newcomers Guide 2019                                                                                                                                                                                  Getting Settled   27

                                                                                   Housing is probably the most essen-        ments and houses are fitted with built-     ment. If you have your heart set on a
                                                                                   tial issue when you first move to the      in kitchens as well as bathroom equip-      house, then you are better off look-
                                                                                   Rhine-Main region. Newcomers face          ment. Another alternative is to rent        ing in the outlying areas, such as the
                                                                                   numerous,     sometimes      unsettling    furniture: Two companies which offer        Taunus. There are three different
                                                                                   questions. Will I be able to maintain      this, are www.furnitureleasing.de and       types of houses in Germany: a terraced
                                                                                   my quality of life? What will I get for    www.in-lease.com                            house (called Reihenhaus, abbreviated
                                                                                   my money? Which location is suitable          If you plan to reside in Germany         RH); a semi-detached house (called
                                                                                   to meet my requirements? Answers to        for a relatively short period of time, it   Doppelhaushälfte, abbreviated DHH);
                                                                                   these questions are needed quickly. If     may be more advantageous for you to         and a standalone house (called an
                                                                                   you are well informed – and have a bit     choose to live in a fully furnished flat    Einfamilienhaus, abbreviated EFH).
                                                                                   of luck – your house hunting experience    (möbliert). Thanks to the large inter-        There are no rules on size or layout.
                                                                                   in Germany should go smoothly.             national community living in the area,      Houses with three bedrooms tend to
                                                                                      Before you begin your house hunt,       furnished apartments are not hard to        be the norm. Houses are measured in
                                                                                   take a hard look at your disposable in-    find in Frankfurt. Such apartments are      square meters rather than the number
                                                                                   come and set yourself a budget. The        not cheap, but if you do the math, you      of bedrooms. A house of approximately
                                                                                   reality in Germany is that most people     may find it cheaper to pay the extra        130 sqm living space is considered
                                                                                   spend up to one-third of their gross       monthly fee to live in a furnished          average, and a house of 260 sqm very
                                                                                   salary on rent. Statistically, about six   apartment for a few months or years         spacious.
                                                                                   out of 10 Germans rent their home –        compared with the costs of buying new
                                                                                   and the figure is higher in major urban    furniture, etc.                             The Contract
                                                                                   areas. The rent you pay reflects the          Rent is classified as either Kalt-       In most cases, rent contracts are a
                                                                                   location, the standard and age of the      miete (you pay for heating, mainte-         pre-printed version of the document
                                                                                   building, as well as the market value.     nance costs and other utilities sepa-       recommended by the Tenants Society
                                                                                   The more convenient the apartment/         rately), or Warmmiete (heating and          of the State of Hessen (Mieterbund
                                                                                   house (i.e. proximity to public trans-     other costs are included in the rent).      Hessen).
                                                                                   portation or shopping districts or         Electricity is contracted directly by the      name of tenant and landlord
                                                                                   schools), the higher the rent.             tenant from the local utility. Although        what you are renting (address, size,
                                                                                      In terms of cost of living, Frankfurt   your utility bill will be based on your        fit-out)
                                                                                   and its environs consistently rank in      usage, you should ask the landlord             the amount of monthly rent
                                                                                   the middle of the international tables.    what the previous tenants paid, so you         any regulation of rent increases
                                                                                   Based on a basket of goods (grocer-        can get a rough estimate of the addi-          commencement date
                                                                                   ies, transportation, accommodation,        tional monthly payments. There are             utilities, specified individually
                                                                                   schooling and entertainment), Frank-       restrictions on increasing the rent, but       number of new occupants
                                                                                   furt is considered significantly less      utilities can be increased at any time.        other terms and conditions
                                                                                   expensive than London or Paris. In         Utilities are netted across the year into      details of the landlord’s bank

          Getting Settled
                                                                                   terms of rents in the RhineMain region,    two instalments (i.e. your heating bill        account and the day the rent is due
                                                                                   housing tends to be equally priced in      will be the same in winter and summer)         condition of the property when you
                                                                                   Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, and most towns       and adjusted by the landlord.                  moved in
                                                                                   in the Taunus region (Bad Homburg,            The housing market in the Frankfurt         an inventory of what the rent
          Housing: How to find the right place for you                             Bad Soden, Kronberg, Königstein and        and RhineMain region is tight, so if you       includes
                                                                                   Hofheim).                                  are on a budget, don’t expect to have a        landlord’s consent to you keeping
                                                                                      Newcomers should be aware that          wealth of choices. Indeed, apartments          pets
          The first task newcomers face is finding somewhere to live. Housing in   apartments in Germany are usually          in Frankfurt’s beautifully restored            the deposit to be paid and when it
          FrankfurtRhineMain is not expensive by international comparison, but     rented empty rather than furnished.        buildings dating from the turn of the          should be paid.
          you will need to be prepared to hunt to find the right place.            Most apartments will therefore not         20th century are rare and landlords ask     Note that most rental contracts stipu-
                                                                                   have a stove, light fixtures, a dish-      for – and get – a premium rent. In gene-    late that the tenant renovates the
                                                                                   washer or a washing machine. Ten-          ral, apartments here are solidly built      apartment – returning it to its original
                                                                                   ants are expected to have their own.       and in good condition, with modern          state – when the lease expires and
                                                                                   Landlords in the RhineMain region          insulation and plumbing.                    prior to departure. Make sure the
                                                                                   have become accustomed to renting             If you choose to live in Frankfurt,      contract specifies this, i.e. what needs
                                                                                   to expatriates, and increasingly apart-    you will likely have to live in an apart-   to be redecorated or repaired.
©Regionalverband FrankfurtRheinMain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Getting Settled   29

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 How to Apartment Hunt                      lord and no longer the tenant. When
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 When looking for a property, it always     house hunting, make sure to get detailed
                                                                                                                                                                     Rising House Prices                         helps to dress for the occasion. Due to    descriptions of the properties and an
                                                                                                                                                                     Thanks to historically low interest         the shortage in the housing market,        exact address before you go on a visit –
                                                                                                                                                                     rates and a robust economy, the             landlords   often     choose   between     it is not uncommon for the same proper-
                                                                                                                                                                     FrankfurtRhineMain region has               several candidates. Don’t be offended      ty to be listed with several agents.
                                                                                                                            Editorial                                seen a sharp rise in house prices           if you are asked to document your
                                                                                                                                                                     in recent years. Like the other             financial stability (including a copy of   Registration
               2SINN  GmbH
               FrankfurtRheinMain International Office                                                                                                               six big German cities, prices for
                                                                                                                                                                     both real estate ad rental units in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 your employment contract and three
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 months of pay stubs). This is common
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Germany, you‘ll soon discover, is a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            very well-run country. But bureau-
               Your first
               Your agency   forof
                          point  communication
                                   contact in FRMand marketing
                                                                                                                                                                     Frankfurt and the surroundings              practice.                                  cracy is a price for keeping a well-
                                                                                                                                                                     have shot up. Rental units in                  If you are lucky enough to have a       run operation. Your very first duty
               The FrankfurtRheinMain                           first few steps here, whether you are          the beginning, and is a certified edu-                Frankfurt now average about € 12            relocation agent, then the search          is to let the local authorities know
               International Office                             planning from abroad or have just arrived      cational consultant. He is an expert on               per sqm, but prices can be appre-           will go more smoothly. Relocation          where you live. This registration in-
               The FrankfurtRheinMain International             in the region. You will find useful infor-     matters relating to the recognition of                ciably higher for a prime address           agencies generally know the market         volves going to your local registry
               Office was created in January 2018 along         mation on a wide range of topics such          professional qualifications and voca-                 in Westend, Nordend, Bocken-                inside out and can save you the hassle     office (Meldestelle, Bürgerbüro or
               with the website www.find-it-in-frm.de,          as entry requirements, language cours-         tional training, as well as the German                heim and Sachsenhausen. Real                of contacting real estate agents by        Einwohnermelderamt) or the local
               and is often the first point of contact for      es, vocational training, healthcare and        job market. Khaled speaks German,                     estate prices have also increased           pre-screening   the    market,   rental    town hall (Rathaus) and filling out a
               people coming from abroad to the Frank-          understanding housing adverts. There           English and Arabic.                                   significantly. Luxury apartments            contract negotiation, etc. The depth of    form in which you provide your new
               furtRheinMain (FRM) region.                      is also some information for families on          Rebecca Gleixner is responsible for                in choice locations can now cost            service and fees varies.                   address. It is a painless process that
                  FrankfurtRheinMain is unique. It has          childcare and schools, as well as tips on      communications with a focus on social                 as much as € 10,000 per sqm, whi-              The best way to look for an apart-      usually goes very quickly. Registra-
               a strong economy with great job pros-            activities, clubs, culture and international   media. She keeps you up to date with                  le the average price for Frankfurt          ment is to consult one of the many         tion is required of all residents in a
               pects. It offers great quality of life as well   communities.                                   what is going on in the region, sharing               is around € 4,200.                          real estate websites. Since most of        community. Failure to register within
               as cultural diversity. It has a well-devel-         In addition, we provide information         FRM’s charm, and helping newcomers                                                                the ads posted online show pictures of     three months of moving will earn you
               oped infrastructure with short travel-           on the most important contacts and             discover FRM. Rebecca speaks German,                                                              the rooms, building from the outside,      a fine, the amount depending on how
               ling distances within the region. FRM is         services for newcomers to FRM. You             English, French and Norwegian.                                                                    view and surrounding area, apartment       long you’ve been residing at the unre-
               green, and is in the best location, right in     will find links to relevant local author-         Amanda Ife is responsible for com-                 The duration of all rental contracts        hunting online may help you make a         gistered address. Moreover, everyone
               the heart of Europe.                             ities and websites, such as the Federal        munications with a focus on PR and ex-                is unlimited and can be cancelled at        decision more quickly. The leading         is required to register anew when-
                  FRM is also very international. People        Employment Agency or the Chamber of            ternal relations. She is our English native           three-month’s notice. There are, how-       national real estate portal is immobi-     ever they change address, unless that
               come from all over the world to live and         Commerce. On our interactive map you           speaker and is the contact for strategic              ever, some exceptions to the rule.          lienscout24, followed by immowelt and      change only entails moving from one
               work here, and quite a few never turn            can look for various services and contacts     partners in the region. She is originally             German rental law is complex, and it        immonet.                                   flat in a property to another.
               back. We are convinced that there is no          such as consulates, international schools,     from Ireland and knows first-hand the                 is important to know your rights and           You can also consult the classified
               better place to live and work in Germany         further studies and recognition of qual-       initial steps that new arrivals have to               responsibilities. It is advisable to have   ads in a local newspaper. The main local   Residency and
               than FRM, and whatever you are looking           ifications. In short, we help newcomers        take before they can settle in. Aman-                 the contract checked by your company        newspapers (Frankfurter Rundschau,         Work Permits
               for, you can find it in FrankfurtRheinMain       find the right place to go depending on        da speaks English, German, French and                 or a lawyer. If you do have trouble         das inserat, Wiesbadener Kurier, Frank-    Citizens of the EU, as well as Iceland,
                  It is very important to us that new-          their needs and where they live.               Modern Greek.                                         with your landlord, you might want          furter Allgemeine Zeitung) all have a      Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzer-
               comers feel at home in FRM and the                                                                 If you know someone who needs ad-                  to consult an attorney or one of the        special real estate section – usually      land, are permitted to work and live in
               FRM International Office helps you find          Our Team                                       vice on the region, send them our way! It             several tenant advisory centers in the      on Friday/Saturday, which can also be      Germany without a work or residence
               your feet in the region. Our team sup-           Our team at the FrankfurtRheinMain             is very important to us that people from              region, which offer legal advice and        found in their online version. The hous-   permit. Non-EU citizens normally need
               ports you before and after you arrive,           International Office is happy to help          abroad feel welcome in “Germany’s best                representation. The membership fee          ing section can be found under Immo-       to first get a visa before travelling to
               providing professional advice on work-           with advice and support by email, tele-        place”, and we hope that they will feel at            of € 50-70 also includes legal insurance.   bilien/Mietgesuche/Mietwohnungen.          Germany, and then must apply for a
               ing, studying and living in FRM, as well         phone or personal appointment. We              home in FRM.                                          There is a three-month waiting period       If you are looking for a flat share then   residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaub-
               as guiding you in the right direction for        also offer career advice and help you                                                                after you join before the legal             check out the nationwide search engine     nis) at the local Aliens Office (Auslän-
               other services. The office is part of the        find your way around the job market                                                                  insurance takes effect.                     www.wg-gesucht.de                          derbehörde) in order to stay and work.
               FrankfurtRheinMain Regional Authority,           including CV checks. Make use of our                Contact                                                                                        Whether you look for a property in       As of 2011, the residence permit is a
               and we offer advice free of charge.              professional service from our experi-               FrankfurtRheinMain International Office          Deutscher Mieterbund                        the newspapers or online, the majori-      wallet-sized plastic card with a bio-
                                                                                                                    c/o Regionalverband FrankfurtRheinMain
                                                                enced, multilingual team and get all                Poststraße 16, 60329 Frankfurt am Main           Landesverband Hessen e.V.                   ty of homes for rent are advertised by     metric photo. There are different types
               Find it in FRM                                   the information you need – impartial                                                                 Adelheidstrasse 70, 65185 Wiesbaden         real estate agents (Immobilienmakler).     of residence permits: limited (Aufent-
               Our    website,        www.find-it-in-frm.de,    advice free of charge!                              +49 (0) 69 2577 2577                             T: 0611–4114050                             As of June 2015, the real estate agent     haltserlaubnis) or unlimited (Nieder-
                                                                                                                    contact@find-it-in-frm.de
               provides a comprehensive overview of                Khaled Fakha has been part of the                                                                 info@mieterbund-hessen.de                   fee (usually two months’ rent plus         lassungserlaubnis). The local Aliens
                                                                                                                    www.find-it-in-frm.de
               everything you need to know for your             FRM International Office team from                  www.facebook.com/finditinfrm                     www.mieterbund-hessen.de                    19 percent VAT) is now paid by the land-   Office is the point of contact for
                                                                                                                    www.instagram.com/finditinfrm

                                                                                                                    Monday - Friday: 8:00 to 18:00 (CET)
                                                                                                                    Please make an appointment for personal advice
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