FEZ-Berlin in the Wuhlheide

FEZ-Berlin in Wuhlheide: 13,000 Square Meters Under One Roof

FEZ-Berlin is located in the Wuhlheide People’s and Forest Park and describes itself as Europe’s largest non-profit center for children, youth, and families. The building was constructed in 1979 as the Pioneer Palace of the GDR and was re-established in 1990; since 1995, it has belonged, along with the Landesmusikakademie Berlin, to a company wholly owned by the State of Berlin. The surrounding park was designed by Ernst Harrich between 1919 and 1932 and used as a Pioneer Park from 1950. For rainy days, one number is particularly important: 13,000 square meters of indoor space, plus 175,000 square meters outdoors. The facility is large enough that an afternoon is rarely enough, and the offerings are tailored to children, youth, and families.

Swimming Pool, orbitall, and Three Theater Stages

Sportingly, the swimming pool is the core: a basin with a teaching area, diving boards at one and three meters, play equipment, and a water temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. Children without a Seepferdchen (swimming badge) stay in the teaching pool. Next to it is orbitall, a space center modeled after the International Space Station; the adventure world lasts 90 minutes, is open to children aged eight and older, and astronauts are regularly guests. The Astrid Lindgren Stage hosts three stages with plays, puppet theater, concerts, dance, and science shows, some in English, and provides four wheelchair spaces. Additionally, there’s the Alice – Museum for Children with the interactive exhibition Green Planet Berlin, the in-house fezino cinema, a gallery, and club activities ranging from table tennis to acrobatics and volleyball.