Bremer Loch, Bronze donation box at Market Square in Bremen, Germany
The Bremer Loch is a circular bronze slot set flush into the pavement in front of the Bremen Parliament building in the Mitte district. Coins and bills dropped through the opening fall into a collection system built beneath the surface.
The installation was set up in 2007 to collect donations for the Wilhelm-Kaisen-Bürgerhilfe, a foundation that supports people in need in Bremen. It was one of the first public donation points of this kind in a German city.
The Bremer Loch takes its name and spirit from the Bremen Town Musicians, a well-known figure in German folklore. When visitors drop in money, animal sounds rise up from underground, a nod to the donkey, dog, cat, and rooster of the old tale.
The slot lies flat on the ground and is easy to spot right in front of the Parliament building, with no need to search around. You can use it at any time of day, as there are no barriers or restricted hours.
Beneath the bronze slot sits a steel bucket fitted with a light sensor that triggers the animal sounds the moment something passes through. The whole mechanism stays out of sight, hidden entirely underground.
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