I spent several years in West Germany without observing the term «Kiez». However on my first visit to Berlin, after the reunification, I observed the term «Kiez» all over, and I wondered what does it mean?
First I consulted Wikipedia:
«Kiez is a German word for a city neighborhood, a relatively small community within a larger town. The word is mainly used in Berlin and northern Germany. BERLIN.DE, the official Berlin Tourist site, calls the Kiez a small island in the big city.
Further, from BERLIN.DE:
«The Berlin Kiez is a lifestyle. Every Berliner lives in their own Kiez. What really counts is the neighborhood: the Kiez. It creates identity and gives its inhabitants a feeling of belonging and a home amidst the vastness and anonymity of the big city»
Further from BERLIN.DE and now about newer use of the term KIEZ.
«Researchers from Humboldt University have found out that the real estate and tourism industries in particular have shaped the term «Kiez» after the German reunification. Tourists wanted to get to know the most trendy neighborhoods of the city while real estate agents presented numerous areas as historical Kieze to new Berliners.»
Conclusion:
The word KIEZ today, at least in Berlin, has two meanings:
- For the locals it mean the neighborhood, where they meet, make friends and have their local parties, where they discuss questions related to the school or kindergarten of their children, etc. The second meaning of «Kiez»:
- Created by the tourism industry to guide the tourists to quarters and streets with special style and history, together with cozy bars, good restaurants, Döner Kebab shops and trendy cafes.
Examples: Simon-Dach-Kiez in Friedrichshain, the Richardkiez in Neukölln, or the Wrangelkiez in Kreuzberg……….. But, according to Wikipedia:
According to Wikipedia, the term «Kiez» describes an island-like living area of a manageable size. Although there are well-known and historical Kieze such as the Simon-Dach-Kiez in Friedrichshain, the Richardkiez in Neukölln, or the Wrangelkiez in Kreuzberg,
«every Berliner has their very own Kiez and can decide for themselves where its starts and ends»
