The Venice of the North

Regardless of the fact that Hamburg is quite distant from the open sea, life in Germany’s second largest city is determined by water. Two large artificial inner-city lakes, the Inner Alster and the Outer Alster as well as numerous crossing canals form Hamburg’s inner city structure. Therefore the hanseatic metropolis has a maritime flair which is unique in Germany and a reputation for being the Venice of the North. Everywhere in the city it becomes obvious, how much people here enjoy life on the waterside – on the traditional fish-market where early risers and tourists taste the delicacies of the North Sea as well as in the bars on the banks of Elbe river, where in the evenings the party crowd settles in beach chairs for barbecues and picnics.

But above all other attractions it is the Hamburg harbor, which brings the unique charme to this cosmopolitan city and determines its rhythm of life. Europe’s third largest port is the most important trans-shipment center for numerous goods worldwide. Nowhere else in the world more amounts of coffee and carpets are reloaded. It is a special experience to watch the hec- tic scenery on the water with its fascinating contrasts. Battered fishing boats cruise in front of noble luxury liners, modern con- tainer carrier ships berth next to venerable sailing boats. Germany’s gate to the world, as Hamburg harbor is called, is a fas- cinating micro-cosmos – a world of its own – which we will explore regularly with our international participants.