After 14 years living in Berlin, I joked that our summer vacation plans are the true sign we have fully integrated into German culture. We were finally going to Mallorca.

We had never heard of Mallorca before moving to Germany. It is simply not on most North Americans’ radar. Its neighbor, Ibiza, with its annoying lisping pronunciation, is much more well known. But in Germany, the Spanish island of Mallorca is referred to as the 17th Land (German state) by some segments of the population. There is good reason for the affinity. Mallorca boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year, stunning landscapes including more than 30 Blue Flag beaches, abundant restaurants and hotels from budget to luxury, low cost of goods, and plentiful and inexpensive transport options.

But how did Malloca become the place for German visitors? I was curious to find out more about this in my week at a resort on the east side of the island. Mostly I just swam in the pool and enjoyed the beach vibes, but I can confirm that the clientile was heavily German (with a decent smattering of visitors from the UK, France and other European nations). Signage was always in English and German as well as Spanish, with programs also offering German translation. It was fascinating to be in this German enclave while the landscape was decidedly tropic. Still looking for answers upon my return from the trip, I did a little digging and this is what I found about the German Influence on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

What do you call it – Mallorca or Majorica?

First up we had to reconcile what we should call the island. I saw “Mallorca” and “Majorca” getting tossed around interchangeably, but what was correct? Mallorca is the official Spanish spelling of the island and how it appears in most German publications. Majorica is the typical English spelling. Germans have also adopted their own pet name, Malle.

Regardless of how you spell it, Mallorca is pronounced ma-yor-ka. The name Mallorca is rooted in the Latin phrase insula maior, which means “larger island”. This was in comparison to Menorca, “the smaller one”. In Medieval Latin, this became Maiorca and later finalized into Mallorca.

Why come to Mallorica? 300 days of sun is a good place to start PHOTO: Erin Porter

Why do so many Germans go to Mallorca?

First, a bit of history. Mallorca has captured the imagination of visitors since the late 19th century. Originally only available to those with the wealth to make the journey, talk of its extraordinary beauty captured the hearts of other would-be travelers. Polish Composer Frédéric Chopin was one of the first of these high-class disciples, happy to talk of his time living in the famed Valldemossa residence in 1838. By the 1920s he was joined by many other affluent Europeans calling Mallorca home.

At the start of the 1930s, the political climate in Germany was changing and some saw Mallorca as a sanctuary from persecution by the National Socialists. This was short-lived as the Spanish Civil War began in 1939 and the rise of dictator Francisco Franco threatened the peace people sought on the island. The Nazi Condor Legion, a military air unit, was stationed on Mallorca.

After World War II Mallorca again welcomed German tourists to its idyllic shores. This was aided by the opening of the Palma de Mallorca Airport in 1960. German travelers soon had access to inexpensive holiday packages. Along with Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle describing the rapid economic growth in the Federal Republic of Germany after WWII, aided by the Marshall Plan) the standard of living increased and Germans were able to indulge in travel and leisure, like visiting Mallorca.

While working class Germans favored Italy due to its proximity and the ability to arrive by car, middle and upper class Germans noted flying to the island was increasingly inexpensive and easy to do. Mallorquins, quick to spot an opportunity, began catering to this tourist class with German language advertising and familiar offerings. There are German restaurants, doctors, lawyers, schools, banks, newspapers, and even prominent German supermarkets like Aldi, Müller, and Lidl are home here. Nearly every German airport offers at least one direct flight to Mallorca daily, particularly in summer. There is even a Mallorca Oktoberfest, held since 2015!

Cynics of the wave of German tourism say Mallorca is just an excuse for Germans to live like in Germany with better weather – aka without learning the language or experiencing any culture shock. After my visit I think that can be true, but Germans or UK visitors or anyone else all come for the same basic reasons:

• Near perfect weather
• Spectacular landscape and beaches
• Affordable and accessible travel options
• Welcoming culture

How many Germans are in Mallorca?

German people can be found in every corner of Mallorca and are growing in number. There are an estimated 900,000 people living in Mallorca with nearly half in the capital city of Palma. Mallorca has the highest percentage of foreign residents within Spain, about 18.8% of the total population. According to the INE (National Statistics Institute), here is the breakdown of foreign residents with Germans in the lead:

On top of residents, the Mallorca Tourist Board reports that one out of every three of the 5.2 million annual tourists are German.

Beach and resort in Mallorca PHOTO: Erin Porter

Anti Tourism Movement in Mallorca

The presence of cheap drinks and discount holidays have earned the island the unfavorable reputation as a party destination. Unlike the upscale image projected in Ibiza, areas like Balneario 6, known as Ballermann, are best known for raucous partying. Never ending sangria, out-of-control travelers, and the mess that comes with it have brought on the ire of local residents.

Protest have sprung up with increasing frequency. Thousands of sign-wielding residents asking for change have marched the streets several times this year. Mallorca Tourism generates roughly 45% of the island’s GDP, but locals want to attract a different type of attention. They complain the increase in tourism has resulted in a shortage of housing, steeply rising prices, and a negative environment of mass tourism.

One of the ways Spain is seeking to curb this is by limiting alcohol at all-inclusive resorts. Six alcoholic drinks per day are the new rule in places like Magaluf in Majorca. It remains to be seen what effect this limit will have, especially as it only is enacted in a few specific regions.

After having the chance to visit one small corner of the island, I am thankful to see some work is being done to protect the island’s legendary beauty. Have you visited Mallorca? Did you visit the infamous Ballermann? Did you speak German?