Lord Mayor Sibylle Keupen has now inaugurated one of 22 so-called Mulle benches at the Hangeweiher pond, which will soon be on display throughout the city on the initiative of the Aachen Seniors' Council.

These benches, marked with a plaque reading "Lass mal quatschen" (Let's have a chat), invite all Aachen residents and guests to linger and, above all, to chat. The name is derived from the Aachen dialect word "mulle", which means "to chat" or "to talk". The idea behind it: Anyone who sits down on such a bench is signaling openness for a short chat. For older people living alone in particular, these benches can be a low-threshold place to meet and socialize in the middle of everyday life.

Mayor Sibylle Keupen said: "We inaugurated the bench today and put it to use right away in the bright sunshine. The Mulle benches are a charming idea from the Senior Citizens' Council and an effective project. They are an uncomplicated place for people to come together and talk to each other. The benches are intended to create interpersonal bridges for more understanding and togetherness".

The Senior Citizens' Council of the City of Aachen represents the interests of the older generation vis-à-vis politicians, administration and the public. The members are committed to ensuring that the concerns of older people are taken into account in municipal decision-making processes - be it on issues of accessibility, public transport or social participation. The Senior Citizens' Council actively participates in committee meetings and works closely with other institutions to improve the living conditions of older people.