Under the banner "Hallo, Politik", doors were flung open on 17 and 18 August and everybody was invited to make a voyage of discovery and take a look behind the scenes in the political heart of Berlin. 

Guided tour with the Chancellor

A special attraction again this year was the traditional tour with the Chancellor. Starting in the Court of Honour, Chancellor Angela Merkel took her "state visitors" past the first-floor gallery and into the garden of the Chancellery. There they were able to inspect the federal police helicopter that the Chancellor uses, and to have a chat with Angela Merkel herself. Then it was time to cross the River Spree into the Federal Chancellery grounds where the Chancellor teamed up with the Olympic champion and former track cyclist Kristina Vogel and Felix Neureuther, one of Germany’s most successful alpine ski racers, for a panel discussion.

Discussions, children’s press conference and entertainment at the Federal Press Office

At the Federal Press Office visitors could find out more about the history of the building and the 70 years of the German Basic Law or constitution. Lots of stations offered games for younger visitors, good food, and discussions with excellent speakers. 

Things kicked off on Saturday with deputy government spokespersons Ulrike Demmer and Martina Fietz, Federal Minister for Family Affairs Franziska Giffey and the former Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber.

On Sunday, federal government spokesperson Steffen Seibert answered the questions put by younger visitors. As well as wanting to know when the Chancellor got up in the morning, the children and young people were interested in the expansion of the 5G network, a possible ban on plastic bags, the education system in Germany, world peace and climate policy.

The climate was also the focus of the discussion with the Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze, Maja Göpel, Secretary-General of the German Advisory Council on Global Change, and Clara Mayer from "Fridays for Future". In the Federal Press Office’s press lounge they discussed climate change, sustainable mobility and ending the use of coal to general power. 

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Round table, bicycles and intestines model in the ministries

The various ministries too had a lot to offer.

At the Federal Foreign Office visitors had a chance to discuss issues with Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, and to see first-hand what a state visit is like.

At the Federal Environment Ministry everything revolved around climate action, species diversity and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Meanwhile, visitors to the Federal Ministry of the Interior took their places at the round table to engage in discussions with the State Secretaries in person. Another major attraction was the "Live-Hacking" event, where visitors could see just how easy it is to hack unprotected data.

Data were also a priority at the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Affairs. On the programme here: an encounter with your virtual self, thanks to a project of the Karlsruhe Center for Art and Media.

At Zietenplatz, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs celebrated with the people.

And at the Federal Defence Ministry, the musical entertainment provided by the Bundeswehr made for an excellent atmosphere.

At the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure the spotlight was on bicycles. Visitors were also invited to fire all their questions at the Federal Transport Minister, Andreas Scheuer.

Europe’s largest model of intestines was on display at the Federal Ministry of Health.

Every year more than 100,000 visitors use the open day to find out more about the work of the German government at the Federal Chancellery, the federal ministries and the Federal Press Office.