Unusual cargo: police find live animals in camper van

The new operator of the 'Camping Steinplatte' site in Waidring, Tentoria GmbH, is terminating contracts with seasonal campers and shifting focus to short-term tourist stays. Annual agreements expire on September 30, 2026; campers may extend for one final season (€4,900 plus extras) but must vacate by end of October 2027. The local tourism board (TVB) called the move 'understandable' and said the planned upgrades align with current market demand.

Motorhome owners Holger and Marlies Eckstein visited the hydropower museum in Ziegenrück (Thuringia) during a trip along the Saale river valley. The museum is located at an active hydroelectric plant and showcases the history of electricity generation. The exhibition includes working turbines and information panels on renewable energy.

At the Saalbrücke border crossing, police stopped a camper van carrying 12 guinea pigs, 8 boxes of bumblebees, and insects. The driver lacked required import certificates. Animals were seized, guinea pigs sent to a shelter, and a fine procedure initiated.

Tenants with a separate parking contract can sublet without landlord approval. If the parking is included in the main lease, the landlord must agree, typically via an addendum. Unauthorized subletting risks a warning or termination.

Circus Busch with its 15-member team has been stuck in Gladbeck since March due to coronavirus lockdowns. The city now needs the site for its own events and demands the circus leave, but the circus lacks funds for relocation. A new site near Magdeburg has been found, but fuel costs around €6,000. The city has pledged an advance payment and grant assistance to enable departure by the weekend.

Michael Franz, who led the Haltern police since 2020, retired on March 31. In an interview, he said he always enjoyed being a police officer and now plans to travel by motorhome.