During the festive season, various public services and administrative offices across Germany announce their special holiday schedules, ensuring residents are aware of changes to their operating hours. Notably, the Stadtbücherei Würselen is among the organizations recommending adjustments.
The Stadtbücherei Würselen will conclude its services for the year on December 21. The library will then close for Christmas vacations from December 23 through January 6, 2025. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, January 7. The library team wishes all readers, "Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch und freut sich auf ein tolles, gemeinsames neues Jahr." (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.)
Meanwhile, the municipality of Grefrath announces complete closures across all its administrative offices during the holiday period, starting from December 24 to January 1. Staff at the Standesamt (civil registry office) will be on standby for urgent matters, particularly the registration of deaths, available for business only on December 27 from 10 AM to 12 PM. They suggest residents forward their relevant documents via email at [email protected] for more streamlined service.
Importantly, Grefrath's administration is also making provisions for the upcoming early federal election scheduled for February, stating, "Mit Blick auf die vorgezogene Bundestagswahl im Februar stellt die Gemeinde Grefrath Erreichbarkeiten des Wahlamtes sicher" (With regards to the early Bundestag elections, the municipality will secure accessibility for the electoral office), as reported by the municipal administration. While most offices are closed, emergency services will remain accessible following normal protocols throughout the holiday breaks.
Over at Vorpommern-Greifswald, the district administration will keep their offices not only from December 23 but also closed on the 27th and 30th. Regular services will not resume until January 2, 2025. Emergency services, on the other hand, will be operational, ensuring aid to those facing urgent situations, as communicated by Landrat Michael Sack (CDU), who requested residents' patience during this downtime.
Lastly, the Velbert city administration is implementing holiday breaks from December 23 through January 1, 2025. During this period, all city offices, including public libraries and the Tourist-Info, remain shut. Yet, they foresee some lines of emergency communication and service: for example, the Standesamt will handle urgent birth and death registrations on December 27, operating from 10 AM to 12 PM.
The ServiceBüro will function solely for outstanding urgent registration and passport matters on December 27 within the same time frame. Beyond the 27th, other emergency services, such as the municipal regulatory service, the social services, and even emergency contact numbers for youth services remain operational to assist residents through the holiday season.
On the cultural front, the Deutsches Schloss- und Beschlägemuseum will have regular hours only from December 27 to 29, closing its doors on all other days throughout the holidays. Meanwhile, certain emergency services are poised to continue monitoring any winter-related issues, such as snow emergencies, ensuring public safety through the council’s readiness protocols. From January 2, 2025, Velbert intends to revert to its regular business hours, enhancing its service offerings back to the community.
This Christmas, public service institutions across Germany are making it clear how they will balance holiday cheer with the need for some operational continuity during this festive period. Residents are encouraged to take note of these timelines, ensuring they are prepared for all administrative affairs as they navigate the holidays.
