History

The idea for the Circus was born during the many trips undertaken by Andreas Becker between 1991 and 1997, when he was searching for something that was more interesting that his studies of Business and Psychology. Gradually semesters in stuffy lecture theatres gave way to backpacking trips across many continents, and it was during these journeys that he developed a feeling that there must be a “better way” than the variety of hostels, hotels and guesthouses that provided a roof over his head as he traveled. This was the impetus he needed to kick start a new project.

In 1997, with three others – Ansgar Meemken, Peter Löllmann and Helge Duijkers – Andreas began the search for a suitable building. With approximately DM60,000 (€30,000) in their pockets, and a determination to never accept the impossibility of what they were trying to do, the endeavor began.

The chance to turn an idea into reality came with contact to one of the municipal building associations (Wohnungsbaugesellschaft) in Berlin: in this case the WBM. Due to the unique situation in the city during the mid to late 1990s the WBM had a vast number of properties that were in the process of being transferred back to their original owners – mostly Jews who had property confiscated during the Nazi dictatorship – and which the WBM was charged with temporarily managing. As the restoration process went on, the WBM could rent buildings for a period of up to two years, and they became the temporary home for a variety of projects.

Indeed, it is fair to say that countless creative, unconventional and sometimes even crazy projects could not have got off the ground in 1990s Berlin-Mitte without the work of a single person at WBM: Mrs Weitz. More than anyone else she influenced the atmosphere of the neighborhood by using the discretion her role offered to its furthest extent, and the Circus was one such project and a temporary rental contract for a building on the corner of Rheinhardtstrasse and Am Zirkus – thus providing the name for the hostel itself – was signed.

What followed was four months of hard, painstaking renovation to get the hostel ready. Friends, family and university colleagues worked for free, along with the ever-patient builders. By Easter 1997 the Circus Hostel was ready, 40 bed waiting for the first guests, and the start of a story that remains as fascinating, unbelievable and exciting now as it did back then.

The first travelers through the doors were a pair of young Danish girls, and three days after the opening the hostel was fully booked. It was clear immediately that there was a demand amongst visitors to the city for the hostel, a demand that had remained undiminished over the last decade, and for which we are extremely grateful. Over the first two years the Circus expanded to 58 beds, filling all the available space, whilst all the time owners and staff battled with burst heating pipes from the 19^th Century coal-fired system, the overdue bills from the building and renovation stage, the changes that resulted when two of the original partners left the company – Peter Löllmann moving to Spain, and Helge Duijkers who opened a hostel of his own.

In 1999 dubious real estate speculators bought the Circus building. Thanks to public interest in a number of questionable real estate deals in Berlin-Mitte during this period, the new owners were motivated to pay inconvenient renters a significant sum of compensation for leaving the building before the end of their contract. It was this development that led to the possibility of a new base for the Circus in the Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse, across the street from the Volksbühne theatre.

This move allowed the Circus to expand to 100 beds in a building that was light years ahead of the old space when it came to technical and structural standards. And in the new location the experience continued as before: enthusiastic guests, happy owners, and a growing team that identified with the Circus in an exceptional way. It felt more like a home than a business.

During this time Berlin was developing into one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. The growth was especially marked in the low-budget sector, and it was clear that the demand for affordable, clean beds in a friendly atmosphere was exceeding what the Circus could supply. At this point Wilhelm Hilpert – a real estate owner from southern Germany – enters the story. In his own headstrong manner he was undeterred by the unconventional nature of the Circus owners, and was quick to realize the potential of the idea. He offered the Circus a building on Weinbergsweg, directly on the Rosenthaler Platz, that was already in the process of being developed into doctor’s offices, but which had the potential to become one of Europe’s finest hostels.

2001 was an important year for the Circus therefore. As plans continued for the new location, Ansgar Meemken left the company in order to concentrate on his career in his original profession, whilst Christian Göppert and Andreas Digel – both of whom had been long term employees of the company – became partners. At Christmas 2001 the new Circus Hostel opened, and overnight the company grew to almost 350 beds across the Weinbergsweg and Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse locations. With the addition of a street café and basement bar, the Circus had almost completely made the transformation from the idea of a modern hostel to reality.

This step was something of a risk, but it met with undoubted success. In the years that followed the Circus became a member of Europe’s Famous Hostels, and was chosen by the “backpackers bible”, the Lonely Planet as one of the best hostels in Europe. Meanwhile UK newspaper The Guardian named the Circus the best hostel in Europe. But most of all it was the response of our guests that has been so positive and remains completely overwhelming.

The Football World Cup, hosted in Germany in 2006, gave the Circus the momentum to expand the Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse location to 150 beds. A restaurant on the ground floor was integrated into the hostel, and became the home for both guests and crew during those unforgettable weeks during the football celebrations.

Once more 2006 was a year of change on the ownership side, with two further “old employees” – Tilman Hierath and Andreaw “Jim” Hadfield – becoming co-owners. One of the first steps taken was a decision to sell the Rosa-Luxembutg-Strasse location and invest in a new project and the next stage in the Circus story.

This was to be a new low-budget hotel, with only private rooms but continued to run in the Circus’s own unique style. This had become a priority for the company, and something that the owners had been increasingly passionate about. The first reason was the high demand for private rooms for young Europeans taking weekend and other short city trips on the ever-increasing network of no frills airlines. The second motivation was the chance of a second location to further adapt the Weinbergsweg hostel for the needs of backpackers.

The construction has been ongoing since the end of 2006, and the new “Circus baby” has be rising up across the street from the Weinbergsweg hostel. With the hotel opening in October 2008 another new chapter will begin in the Circus story, indeed as the company settles on a home at Rosenthaler Platz, it could be said that the Circus is growing up. Everybody is extremely happy.

At this point I would like to make a few personal comments. Telling the first eleven years of the Circus story awakes different memories for the people involved – most of them amazing, as we have somehow managed to escape most negative experiences. Pictures that flash through my mind are trips to the basement of the first building to shovel coal, the “bar” that was basically an unheated shed with stolen sofas, no running water and a Circus-tent-shaped fishing net that hung in the bright yellow corner above a rotating disco ball.

Then there are the 300 cheering fans celebrating as Neuville scored at the death against Poland during the 2006 World Cup; the sword swallower in middle-ages garb performing in the lobby; the opening party for the Circus Weinbergsweg that descended into near-chaos. And then there are the faces of the many people who accompanied us on the journey for at least part of the way and helped shape what the Circus is, people such as Galym our nightshift savior from Kazakhstan; Chris the first barkeeper now living in Atlanta; the nicest receptionist in European hostel history Lotte, who decided to move to Australia  thanks to Andrew, our then barman…

Unbelievable. What a fantastic and completely unpredictable experience that last eleven years have been. A great job, with many guests who have become friends and the promise and anticipation that there is much more to come…

Andreas Becker

becker@circus-berlin.de