The Henges family, with four children, live in Dransdorf, part of the city with many large families (6.24 per cent according to the study). However, it is only in sixth place behind Hoholz (7.52), Medinghoven (7.25), Neu-Tannenbusch (6.99), Ückesdorf (6.83) and Röttgen (6.31). A quick look at postcodes reveals most large families live on the outskirts of the city, especially in Beuel, but also in Hardtberg and in the north of Bonn.

The City Youth Welfare Office believes families with three or more children move particularly to areas with larger apartments like Medinghoven. Other areas are attractive to families because of their surroundings, such as new build areas with lots of playgrounds and kindergartens.

Doris Mathilde Lucke, a professor of sociology at the University of Bonn, says social status is another indicator. She has the impression that many families with lots of children live in Südstadt. Parents in a good financial position often have more children than average. “Children are also a status factor,” says Lucke.

But there are also many families from lower social backgrounds with lots of children, although their motivation is often different. In these cases, children above all give life meaning. “That is why some fathers have the names of their children tattooed on their skin.”

Lucke says there is also a level of society where children are becoming more and more rare. “Many couples in the mid-levels of society are fearful of the future. They do not bring any children into the world because they do not know what is coming.” There is a lot of uncertainty, especially with regard to finances.

There are three advice centres in Bonn for families that cannot cope with their situation: the city advice centre, the Caritas and the Protestant advice centre. Christiane Wellnitz has experienced several conflict situations as a family therapist and deputy head of the Protestant advice centre. But problems experienced by families with more children are often the same as in any other family. In the beginning, parents with lots of children are often more overwhelmed than others but Wellnitz knows that: “When the children are older, this phenomenon often reverses, because siblings help each other and relieve the parents of work.”

(Original text: Joshua Bung. Translated by Kate Carey)