Court stops rally at the Nikolaiort: urgent application in Osnabrück failed

Court stops rally at the Nikolaiort: urgent application in Osnabrück failed

Osnabrück, Deutschland - In Osnabrück, an urgent request was rejected against the transfer of a planned meeting at the Nikolaiort. As reported [regionalheute.de] (https://regionalheute.de/niedersachsen/eiltrag- against-assembly transfer-in-osnabrueck-abelnt-1752059642/), the 5th Chamber of the Administrative Court on July 9, 2025 decided that the city of Osnabrück may move the rally to an alternative location. The applicant originally planned a meeting for July 12th.

The reason for the laying lies in previous complaints about the volume of past events that burdened public space at Nikolaiort. These symptoms and the cramped space make the Nikolaiort particularly susceptible to noise and disorders. The applicant, who expects between 30 and 50 participants, had also violated noise protection requirements in the past and provoked uninvolved.

laying decision and legal bases

The city of Osnabrück had offered alternative locations such as the castle garden, the square of June 17, the station forecourt and Willy-Brandt-Platz. These places are easily accessible and offer similar opportunities to the public, as the administrative court emphasized in its decision. It was also pointed out that when weighing fundamental rights, the right to freedom of assembly must always be weighted against the dangers for third parties. The court made it clear that the city properly exercised its discretion when choosing the location, which [Lower Saxony Administrative Court] (https://www.verwaltungsgericht-osnabrueck.niedersachsen.de/aktuelles/pressemaytreungen/eilantlicht- against-verlung-einer-nikolaiort-in-Osnabruck-am-Morstag-Angemelden-fleben-- 242895.html) in its press release) explained.

Against the current decision, the organizer has the right to appeal to the Higher Administrative Court within two weeks. This could lead to a further legal examination of the relocation decision, which had already failed in June with a similar application.

effects on future meetings

This decision could set a formative sign for future meetings in Osnabrück. Because the legal framework for such events is also relevant, such as the provisions of the NDS. GVBl. Or the current right of assembly, which is specified in Article 2 of the Law of May 20, 2019. It contains important regulations for meetings in the open air that must take into account the organizers, but also the public interests, such as Wolters Kluwer.

The situation in Osnabrück shows how important a balance between the right to freedom of assembly and the protection of the general public is. The decision of the administrative court could be important for both the city administration and future organizers and show how sensitive issues in public space must be treated.