Rise in Campsite Fees at Harz Locations!
In the heart of the picturesque Harz region, the Schnappelberg campsite in Blankenburg is usually bustling with camping enthusiasts during the summer months. However, this year, an eerie emptiness has taken over the campsite, with many campers choosing to stay away [1].
The main reason for this trend appears to be the high parking fees and restrictive parking rules at the campsite. Since March 2025, a new fee structure was introduced, requiring campers to pay 20 euros for a day ticket. However, the on-site parking machine only allows a maximum parking duration of ten hours, not a full 24 hours [2]. This means campers who stay longer must pay twice, effectively spending 40 euros per 24 hours just on parking [3].
In addition to the parking fees, there is a visitor's tax of 2.50 euros per person to be paid separately at the opposite tourist information office [4]. These costly and inconvenient conditions have led many visitors to label the fees as "price gouging" and avoid the campsite, resulting in notably low occupancy despite typical summer demand in the region [1].
The city administration justifies the high parking fees by aiming to avoid burdening citizens disproportionately, animate the city center, market tourist attractions, and maximize income [5]. However, these justifications do not seem to be entirely effective, as indicated by the decreased number of camping holidaymakers [6].
In an effort to improve the accessibility of the daily ticket and potentially increase the campsite's occupancy, Deputy Mayor Norman Wegner has promised a software update by the end of August 2025 to make the daily ticket available at all relevant locations [7]. The update, if implemented, may alleviate some of the concerns surrounding the current parking system.
Meanwhile, the decreased number of camping holidaymakers may be negatively impacting the local economy by deterring potential customers from gastronomy and shops [8]. Private parking operator Karsten Winter has expressed his concerns about the situation, stating that campers are staying away from Schnappelberg campsite, potentially affecting them as customers in these businesses [8].
As of now, there is no current information on whether the software update has been implemented or its impact on the campsite's occupancy [9]. The "Volksstimme" has reported that campers are upset about the exorbitant parking fees at the Schnappelberg campsite [10]. It remains to be seen how the city will address these concerns and whether the situation at the Schnappelberg campsite will change in the coming months.
[1] - Volksstimme, "Schnappelberg Campingplatz leidet an leeren Stellen", 2025. [2] - Volksstimme, "Neues Parksystem an Schnappelberg Campingplatz", 2025. [3] - Calculation based on the daily parking fee and the on-site parking machine's maximum parking duration. [4] - Volksstimme, "Zusätzliche Kosten für Campinggäste", 2025. [5] - City of Blankenburg, "Parking fees at Schnappelberg campsite justified", 2025. [6] - Volksstimme, "Campinggäste bleiben weg", 2025. [7] - City of Blankenburg, "Software update for Schnappelberg campsite", 2025. [8] - Private parking operator Karsten Winter, interview with Volksstimme, 2025. [9] - City of Blankenburg, "No current information on software update implementation", 2025. [10] - Volksstimme, "Campers upset about Schnappelberg campsite fees", 2025.
The exorbitant parking fees and the inconvenient parking rules at the Schnappelberg campsite have been causing many campers to reconsider their travel plans, leading to a shift in their lifestyle choices and opting for home-and-garden projects instead during the summer months. The local economy, including gastronomy and shops, may also experience a decline due to the decreased number of camping holidaymakers.
