German Steel Town Lures Newcomers with 14-Day Free Stay 🏘️

A Town in Search of New Faces

Eisenhüttenstadt (“Ironworks City” or "Steel Mill City") was founded in 1950 on the banks of the Oder River, about 62 miles east of Berlin. As the first fully planned city in East Germany, it was originally named Stalinstadt from 1953 until 1961. The town was built around a major steelworks complex that still employs roughly 2,500 people. At reunification in 1990, Eisenhüttenstadt’s population peaked at more than 50,000. In the decades since, younger residents have migrated to larger cities, dropping the current population to approximately 24,000—about half its 1990 level.

In response, the municipal council has launched “Make Plans Now,” an “innovative immigration project” that offers selected participants free accommodation from September 6–20, 2025. This 14-day trial is designed to introduce newcomers—commuters, returnees, skilled workers, and self-employed professionals—to life in a city that still preserves its mid-century modern architecture, green spaces, and affordable living costs.

How the 14-Day Trial Works

Applications are open through early July via the town’s official portal. Chosen participants will receive a two-bedroom, fully furnished apartment (utilities and Wi-Fi included). While living rent-free in the heart of Eisenhüttenstadt, they will be guided through:

• A walking tour of Karl-Marx-Straße, showcasing wide boulevards, communal green areas, and socialist-era mosaic murals by Walter Womacka.

• A visit to the steelworks, where international guests can observe modern iron- and steel-making processes.

• Networking events with local employers, including opportunities for internships or job shadowing at nearby engineering, logistics, or service-sector firms.

• Cultural outings to the Oder River waterfront, the weekly open-air market, and the town’s small museum dedicated to everyday life under the former GDR.


Participants are also encouraged to explore independently: sample local cuisine at a café on Bürgerplatz, cycle the riverside trails, or shop at neighborhood markets. The goal is for trial residents to graduate from tourists to “would-be locals,” evaluating employment prospects, lifestyle, and community integration before making a permanent move.

Reversing Eastern Germany’s Population Decline

Local officials stress that Eisenhüttenstadt has struggled with outmigration since reunification. Although the integrated steelworks remains the principal employer, many young adults have relocated to Berlin, Dresden, or Munich in search of higher incomes and urban amenities.

Municipality data indicate that rental rates hover around €5–6 per square meter (roughly one-third of comparable rates in Berlin) yet the town struggles to attract skilled families and remote workers.

By offering a zero-cost, no-obligation stay, the council hopes to appeal to professionals in fields such as engineering, manufacturing, IT, and creative services who can work remotely or commute part-time to Berlin. If even a fraction of trial participants opt to remain, the program could stabilize—and potentially reverse—the town’s demographic slide.

Why You Might Consider a “Trial Run”

Anyone curious about living in a planned 1950s-era city—offering green spaces, low rent, and a strong sense of community—can seize this opportunity at no risk. You can move into your furnished apartment, walk to the town square, and experience GDR-era architecture firsthand. Over 14 days, you can evaluate job prospects, connect with local businesses, and enjoy riverside tranquility—all while paying no rent.

Applications close in early July 2025. If the prospect affordable housing and a peaceful riverfront lifestyle appeals to you, explore further and apply at www.jetzt-pläne-schmieden.de.