Kiel is investing 8 million euros: Holstenstrasse is being redesigned!

Kiel is investing 8 million euros: Holstenstrasse is being redesigned!

On November 7, 2025, the city of Kiel took an important step towards a modern and barrier-free city center. As part of urban development funding, the Ministry of the Interior has made up to 8.258 million euros available to comprehensively design the pedestrian zone on Holstenstrasse. The renowned street, which is one of the oldest pedestrian zones in Germany, will not only be upgraded, but also made fit for the future.

The planned measures include a complete redesign of Holstenstrasse, which stretches from the Alter Markt to the Scheven Bridge. Asmus-Bremer-Platz and western Hafenstrasse will also be integrated into the concept. The focus is particularly on improving accessibility. In the future there will be a continuous band of natural stone slabs, which will make the transitions to the buildings more uniform.

Comprehensive measures to improve the city center

The funding not only serves to improve the pedestrian zone, but is also intended to help strengthen Kiel's city center as an economic, supply, residential, leisure and cultural oasis. For example, the city is planning to lay clinker and natural stone paving and want to replace diseased existing trees with new plantings. A special highlight will be the redesign of Asmus-Bremer-Platz with two new fountains, while the existing fountains will be removed.

“The goal is to create a functional pedestrian zone that meets today’s requirements,” explains a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior. The city administration has designed an integrated development concept on which the funding applications are based. Urban development funding has proven to be a valuable urban development tool since its introduction in 1971 and will continue to play a role in strengthening the city and improving the quality of life.

A look into the future of urban development funding

The city of Kiel is part of the broader federal-state strategy to promote lively city centers. The federal program “Sustainable inner cities and centers,” for example, offers a budget of up to 250 million euros for projects that enable cities and municipalities to modernize their centers and meet new challenges. Applications can only be submitted by cities and municipalities, although private individuals can apply for grants for certain renovation measures.

“We see urban development funding as a crucial basis for the sustainable development of our inner cities and the creation of an inviting living space,” said the spokesman. An important aspect here is the consideration of monument protection and the stabilization of socially disadvantaged neighborhoods. The funds provided for urban development funding come from the federal budget, which earmarks 790 million euros for this purpose in 2024 to help cities master their challenges creatively and sustainably.

Kiel's city center can look forward to exciting times as the city prepares for change and lets older structures shine in a new light. For citizens, this will not only mean an improvement in the cityscape, but also an increase in quality of life and urban experience.

Further information about the planned project and the funding can be found in the detailed press release from and in the programs of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction, which support sustainable urban development in Germany.