Shopping for German School Supplies in Germany

California girl in germany
Katy in Heidelberg

My daughter, Katy, spent a Semester studying in Berlin. I’m delighted that she sent us a few posts about life as a California Girl in Germany. This week… shopping for German School supplies. Apparently, it’s not the same as it is here in California… 

All photos taken by Katy used with permission. 

There were many things I expected to be different during my study abroad in Germany, yet the one thing I did not expect was  the vastly different experience shopping for German School Supplies. When I was growing up, we had long school supply lists with requirements of 3 inch binders, grid paper for math, and colored pencils for science. There were so many choices, that we would keep mom in the store for hours finding the perfect folder with cute animals on them and and pencil cases disguised as toys. Of course, the lists were shorter when I went to college, and shopping was more about getting the basics when I had to pay for it myself, but the choices and selections were still huge.

 

I worked at Target during the summer, and saw the piles of colorful, cartoon covered items people picked up for their kids. Everything was marked down so cheap,  everything is sold in bulk.  But, when I went to buy my needed school supplies in Germany, it was a totally different experience. First of all, all the paper good stores I saw were generally small, only around 2-3 aisles and containing very specific items. This meant there was no surplus of different brands vying for your attention in post-its or pencil sharpeners.

The folders and binders were mostly plain and there wasn’t a large variety of different notebooks or binders. Of the selection they did have, only a few had characters of patterns as most things stuck to primary colors. And where were the pockets in the folders?

german school supplies

Even more noticeable, beyond not having a huge selection of each item, things were not sold in bulk. The largest pack of classic ballpoint pens I found was a 10 pack. Pens, pencils and highlighters generally were sold individually or in packs of two. I equate this to German’s sense of appreciating the things you have, and needing fewer things that you treat with care.

german school supplies

 

The other huge difference is that they have different designs for their products. After walking into 4 stores I still could not find my familiar 2 pocket folder or accordion folder. Instead, all I found were binders and their interesting version of folders which rely on flaps and elastic to hold papers inside. It looks like I will have to get used to a new way of storing my notes, or ask for a care package from home.

german school supplies

Coming from a world of unlimited selection, it is interesting to shop in a German paper goods store that only had 4 types of backpacks and 3 different pencil boxes. Still, I found everything I need.


Studying in BerlinKaty attends the University of California in Berkeley where she earning a double major in History and Political Science. This year is spending the Winter and Spring terms studying at the Free University in Berlin and learning to deal with snow. Navigating Berlin is a lot different than Berkeley, but she’s loving the experience.

We will be hearing from her fairly regularly as she shares what’s it’s like to be a California Girl in Germany.

Update! Katy finished up at UC Berkeley, and is now studying Law in Washington DC.

Looking for German School Supplies?

Who else had one of those zippered pencil holders that was loaded with colored pencils, a sharpener, pens and even a compass?

YOUSHARES 72 Slots Pencil Case - PU Leather Handy Multi-Layer Large Zipper Pen Bag with Handle Strap for Colored/Watercolor Pencil (Purple)YOUSHARES 72 Slots Pencil Case – PU Leather Handy Multi-Layer Large Zipper Pen Bag with Handle Strap for Colored/Watercolor Pencil (Purple)YOUSHARES 72 Slots Pencil Case - PU Leather Handy Multi-Layer Large Zipper Pen Bag with Handle Strap for Colored/Watercolor Pencil (Purple)Pelikan Fineliner 96 Pen Set, 0.4mm Tip, Assorted Colors, 10 Colors Per Set (940676)Pelikan Fineliner 96 Pen Set, 0.4mm Tip, Assorted Colors, 10 Colors Per Set (940676)Pelikan Fineliner 96 Pen Set, 0.4mm Tip, Assorted Colors, 10 Colors Per Set (940676)

 

Staedtler Karat Aquarell Premium Watercolor Pencils, Set of 24 Colors (125M24)Staedtler Karat Aquarell Premium Watercolor Pencils, Set of 24 Colors (125M24)Staedtler Karat Aquarell Premium Watercolor Pencils, Set of 24 Colors (125M24)Leitz 2-Ring 3-Inch Premium A4 Sized European Black Marbled Binder, Black (R80)Leitz 2-Ring 3-Inch Premium A4 Sized European Black Marbled Binder, Black (R80)Leitz 2-Ring 3-Inch Premium A4 Sized European Black Marbled Binder, Black (R80)Staedtler Watercolor Pencils, Box of 36 Colors (14410ND36)Staedtler Watercolor Pencils, Box of 36 Colors (14410ND36)Staedtler Watercolor Pencils, Box of 36 Colors (14410ND36)Pencil holder / Savings box - Container - WerkhausPencil holder / Savings box – Container – WerkhausPencil holder / Savings box - Container - WerkhausPelikan 338 Medium Rollerball Refill - Blue (Pack of 2)Pelikan 338 Medium Rollerball Refill – Blue (Pack of 2)Pelikan 338 Medium Rollerball Refill - Blue (Pack of 2)Pelikan Pelikano Jr. Fountain Pen, Right-Handed, Medium Nib, Turquoise, 1 Pen (924886)Pelikan Pelikano Jr. Fountain Pen, Right-Handed, Medium Nib, Turquoise, 1 Pen (924886)Pelikan Pelikano Jr. Fountain Pen, Right-Handed, Medium Nib, Turquoise, 1 Pen (924886)

german school supplies

 

11 thoughts on “Shopping for German School Supplies in Germany

  1. I remember when we first moved to Florida from Germany and I needed to get school supplies. Nothing was the same. I still miss the small “Hefte” we used in school.

  2. i remembered those days when i shifted to germany and no any knowledge related to stationery..i missed this

  3. Maybe I can explain some of the differences you mentioned in your post. I lived and taught in the US for over 15 years and now I teach at a German school.
    The reason why there is not a lot of designs but mostly folders in plain colors is because that is how many German schools teach their kids organization skills. For example, in my school all kids have to use a red folder for English, a yellow for German and a blue for math. All use the same colors for the same subjects. It is harder to lose and easier to find them that way. You can still find folders in fun designs in department stores or online and kids use them for outside of school activities like music school classes.
    You won’t find bulk packages of ballpoint pens because many teachers/ schools do not like kids to use them. They supposedly ruin their penmanship. Instead they want kids to use real fountain pens or rollerball pens with ink. That way they can easily be refilled and do not cause as much waste as cheap ballpoint pens that just get thrown away, when they stop writing. A good fountain pen will last a lifetime or at least throughout your school career.
    That being said, I also miss the 2-pocket folders dearly…

  4. I found this in Germany when I was studying abroad in Luneburg, Germany. I had to buy a pen weekly until I got a bunch at once because I was always losing them LOL

  5. Don’t forget about Tinten-Hais, the magic fountain pen ink erasers. They were so clever; I found them indispensable. I expect they are nowhere to be found in Brick and mortar stores in the US.

  6. Yes I love my pencil case.ItIs very organized.

  7. Hi! I have a question about German stationery: is it common for uni students to use loose-leaf paper and put them into their folders (“ring binders”) or to use notebooks? Thanks!

    1. I honestly don’t know. I even asked all the kids I know who studied abroad.

  8. Dear Karen, I was only able to read your daughters text, very informative. No photos came through and I was notable to acmes the file on studying in Germany. I hope you mentioned the American Field Service (the former volunteer ambulance drivers of WW1 and WW2 now called AFS Intercultura for students as young as 15. and the program I attended, the first to reopen after WW2, The Junior Year In Munich sponsored by Wayne State University in Detroit.

  9. If you want to buy backpacks or pencil boxes you wrong in a PAPERstore!!! You have to go to a Kaufhaus with Taschen- und Kofferabteilung, in a Manufaktur, a Lederwarengeschäft, etc.

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