Of course, there are few things more exciting than living in a big city – especially in a metropolis like Berlin. Countless things to do, new surprises every weekend, legendary party nights in renowned clubs – provided you can get past the bouncer – music on every corner, whether open-air or deep underground, and top gastronomy: the list is endless. But sometimes the hustle and bustle of the big city just gets too much. Maybe you’re already toying with the idea of starting over – in a quieter location? For many, this sounds like a lot of effort and high costs. But what if we told you that there’s another way – with a free trial apartment? Then prick up your ears: In Eisenhüttenstadt, a small, charming town near Berlin, you can try out exactly that – and find out whether a change of scenery suits you.
Eisenhüttenstadt (Oder-Spree) is inviting people to take part in a new project under the motto “Make plans now” from September 6 to 20, 2025 for a two-week free trial. This means that selected participants will be given a furnished apartment to get to know the city, the lifestyle and career prospects in Brandenburg for a certain period of time. The background to the project is the declining population of the city, which has shrunk from 50,000 to around 24,000 people. Julia Basan from the economic development department explains that although the trend is rising again slightly, the city still needs new residents – especially skilled workers.
The program is aimed at people interested in returning, commuters, skilled workers and the self-employed who can imagine living in Eisenhüttenstadt. In addition to free accommodation and a leisure program, participants also gain exciting insights into local companies – with the opportunity to apply for various positions there. The application phase for the relocation project runs until the beginning of July and can be completed via an online form at:👉 www.jetzt-pläne-schmieden.de
Similar campaigns have already been carried out in other cities in recent years – for example in the neighboring city of Guben, where around 100 applications were received and 16 trial apartments were selected.