Germans looking to feed their kids at the local lido this summer can expect to pay between €3.50 and €5.50 ($4.12 and $6.47) for a portion of chips with ketchup and mayo, according to a survey seen by dpa.
During the summer months and the school holidays in particular, Germans flock to outdoor pools, which tend to include multiple swim and play areas surrounded by grassy ares. Larger cities sport several local pools.
The cost of fries, a popular snack at outdoor pools, regularly makes headlines as parents complain of rising prices.
The Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) found that 82% of an overall 94 open-air pool operators questioned said their price for a standard portion of chips would fall within the €3.50-5.50 price range.
Cheaper options also exist, with 15% of participants charging between €2 and €3.50 for a portion of chips. At the other end, some 3% of outdoor pools intend to charge more than €5.50 per portion.
The survey was conducted in April. Some operators run more than one outdoor pool.
Meanwhile, admission prices are set to stay the same as last year at around three quarters, or 77%, of the outdoor pools surveyed.
At just over a quarter (23%), visitors will have to pay more this year. The VKU association attributed this mainly to rising operating and renovation costs.
The majority of outdoor pool operators (73%) expect their financial situation to worsen in the coming years, while 7% anticipate an improvement.
One in five (21%) is considering closing pools in the short to medium term.