Hamburg is an easy-going place. People from Northern Germany are not easily upset. No stress, is their motto, going about things in a “suutje” way (Low German for gentle). Maybe that attitude is caused by the closeness of water, which is known to have a soothing effect. The Alster and Elbe embrace the city – most Hamburg residents spend their spare time at the beach, take a sailing trip or a long walk on the banks of the Elbe. Water is everywhere. Eight percent of Hamburg is covered with it. Small canals and branches of the Elbe can be found all over the city.
Someone once counted 2,485 bridges in Hamburg. And with Neuwerk, Scharhörn and Nigehörn, three North Sea Islands off the coast of Cuxhaven belong to the city. Hamburg – the maritime metropolis.
The water has turned Hamburg into a cosmopolitan city, into the “Gateway to the World” as the Hanseatic city is usually referred to (the Hanseatic League was a medieval trade organization of seaports). Hamburg’s harbor is Germany’s biggest seaport. And it keeps expanding. In 2006, the handling of sea goods increased by 7.3 percent, reaching a new record at 135 million tons.
Hamburg’s residents love their harbor. The harbor birthday, which is celebrated with a 3-day festival every year, also broke a record in 2006 when 1.5 million attended the festivities. What a wonderful way to say “thanks!” Hamburg owes its harbor almost everything, from the Reeperbahn, which was developed to entertain sailors, to the famous fish market, the “Speicherstadt” (warehouse city) and Hagenbeck’s Zoo. The “Hafencity” (harbor city) that is currently under construction makes the area even more attractive.
Yet Hamburg also sets sail in other districts. The city is a veritable boomtown. The population grows and Hamburg’s residents gain more self-esteem every day. In 2001, the Color Line Arena was opened in Bahrenfeld. Europe’s most modern multipurpose hall was named after Norway’s biggest ferry-owning company. New hotels and malls are opened every year, the airport is being modernized thoroughly and will be connected to the S-Bahn network in 2008 (at last). Still Hamburg’s residents remain calm despite all the hustle and bustle.
A common saying around here is “calmness generates strength”. This not only applies to the ocean liners docking here on a regular basis, but to Hamburg itself. The natives keep going about things a “suutje” way...
Quelle: New in the City
