1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to website owners.
Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive. They help websites remember your preferences, improve your browsing experience, and analyze how the website is being used.
2. How We Use Cookies
Parks Explorer Europe uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our website and store certain information. We use cookies for the following purposes:
- Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be switched off in our systems
- Functional Cookies: These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization
- Analytics Cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website
- Preference Cookies: These cookies remember your choices and preferences
3. Types of Cookies We Use
3.1 Essential Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You cannot opt-out of these cookies without affecting website functionality.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| cookiesConsent | Stores your cookie consent preference (accepted/declined) | 1 year or until deleted |
| sessionId | Maintains your session while browsing the website | Session (deleted when browser closes) |
3.2 Analytics Cookies
We use Google Analytics to help us understand how visitors use our website. Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information such as:
- How often users visit the website
- What pages they visit
- What website they came from
- How long they stay on the website
- What type of device and browser they use
This information helps us improve our website and provide better content. Google Analytics cookies are stored according to Google's retention settings (typically 26 months).
For more information about Google Analytics cookies, please visit: https://policies.google.com/technologies/cookies
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics - Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics - Stores session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics - Distinguishes unique users | 24 hours |
3.3 Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we have added to our pages.
- Remembering your language preferences
- Remembering your location for map features
- Storing form data to avoid re-entering information
3.4 Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our website are placed by third-party services that appear on our pages. These include:
- Google Maps: When we embed Google Maps, Google may set cookies to remember your preferences and location
- Social Media Plugins: If we add social media sharing buttons, those platforms may set cookies
We do not control these third-party cookies. Please refer to the respective privacy policies of these third parties for information about their cookie practices.
4. Cookie Consent
In accordance with GDPR and German data protection laws (DSGVO), we require your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device.
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie banner that allows you to:
- Accept: Agree to all cookies, including analytics and functional cookies
- Decline: Only essential cookies will be used
Your consent preference is stored in a cookie called "cookiesConsent" in your browser's local storage. This allows us to remember your choice for future visits.
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by clearing your browser cookies or contacting us.
5. How to Manage Cookies
5.1 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. However, if you disable cookies, some parts of our website may not function properly.
Here are links to information about managing cookies in popular browsers:
5.2 Google Analytics Opt-Out
If you want to opt-out of Google Analytics tracking, you can:
- Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
- Adjust your browser settings to block analytics cookies
- Use browser extensions that block tracking cookies
Note: Opting out will not affect your ability to use our website.
5.3 Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not want to have your online activity tracked. Currently, there is no industry standard for responding to DNT signals. We do not respond to DNT signals at this time, but we respect your cookie preferences as set through our cookie consent banner.
6. Cookies and Personal Data
Some cookies may collect personal data about you. When this occurs, the processing of such data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains:
- What personal data we collect
- How we use your personal data
- Your rights regarding your personal data
- How to exercise your rights under GDPR
Please review our Privacy Policy for more information about how we handle personal data collected through cookies.
7. Cookie Retention
Different cookies have different lifespans:
- Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser
- Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them
The retention period for each cookie is specified in the tables above. Some cookies may be stored for up to 2 years, while others are only stored for the duration of your browsing session.
8. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Cookie Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.
You are advised to review this Cookie Policy periodically for any changes. Continued use of our website after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Cookie Policy.
9. Your Rights
Under GDPR and German data protection law, you have the following rights regarding cookies:
- Right to be informed about the use of cookies
- Right to consent or withdraw consent to non-essential cookies
- Right to access information about what cookies are used
- Right to delete cookies stored on your device
- Right to object to certain types of cookie processing
You can exercise these rights by managing your browser settings or contacting us using the information provided below.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +49 (0) 30 174 455 08
- Address: Auguststraße 58, 10119 Berlin, Germany
11. Additional Resources
For more information about cookies and online privacy, please visit:
- All About Cookies - General information about cookies
- EU Cookie Information - EU guidance on cookies
- BfDI - German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information