In Germany’s financial capital, traditional water houses bring people of all classes together.
Frankfurt has become Germany’s financial capital, known for the country’s only high-rise skyline. But look closer to the ground and you’ll find a tradition that brings rich and poor, bankers and punks, together.
The humble “Wasserhäuschen,” or little water houses, have been a distinctive feature of the city since they started springing up in the second half of the 19th century.
Back when drinking unboiled tap water wasn’t advisable, the little kiosks offered bottles of mineral water. They encouraged workers, with the city’s approval, to drink affordable water rather than beer and schnapps.
