Hamburg Port Anniversary

What would Hamburg be without its port? Providing a safe haven for ships all over the world, the harbour is a basis of the city’s economy. It’s no wonder, then, that residents throw a big party, the Hamburger Hafengeburtstag, every year to celebrate the port’s anniversary. It attracts crowds of international travellers to the city on the Elbe River.

Short & Sweet

The Hamburger Hafengeburtstag takes place over three days every year on the first weekend in May.

Recurring events are the ‘tugboat ballet’ on Saturday, the ships leaving parade on Sunday and the evening fireworks.

Visitors can stroll past the countless stands and while away their days.

The Port of Hamburg: „Gateway to the world“

There’s no overlooking the port when you visit Hamburg. Pulling into Hamburg Central Station, you can see the many cranes and containers of the harbour from your train, and the Autobahn 7 also takes you past the port. The dimensions of the harbour can be best appreciated from the Landungsbrücken (landing bridges). In the Willkomm Höft restaurant, incoming ships are greeted with the national anthems of their countries of origin.

Historical background

The harbour and the Hanseatic League

The port and maritime industries have always been important to Hamburg’s economy. There are traces of the city’s past as a trading centre whenever you go. Hamburg started dealing in salt and spices early on, and this trade contributed to the city’s wealth and significance.

Today, Hamburg harbour is one of the largest ports in Europe. Gigantic freighters bring countless containers into the city, and massive cruise ships also regularly stop there. In total, vessels from more than 170 countries sail up the Elbe to dock in Hamburg, giving the city its special international flair and making it a gateway to the world. Any coffee you buy in Germany will have almost certainly travelled through Hamburg!

Risa from Japan reports on her visit

Risa Yoshizumi is a 22-year-old exchange student studying German at Hamburg University. Here’s what she says about the Hafengeburtstag:

„When I arrived in Hamburg, I heard that the weather wasn’t always so good. But when we went to the Hafengeburtstag, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I went together with two friends I met during my exchange year, and we had a lot of fun.
‘When we got to the harbour, the large ‘departure parade’ had just begun, with the ships making their way back home. There were lots of lovely sailboats and a couple of giant cruise ships. It was really impressive! Every ship had its national anthem played, and the emcee told us about the vessel’s history and crew.
‘The festival reminded me a bit of Japan. There, too, there are always lots of stands with things to eat and drink. Of course, in Germany you have piles of sausage and fish rolls. And cotton candy, which I knew from Japan. But cotton candy in Hamburg is made very differently, and you eat it from a paper cone and not from a stick.
‘I liked the stands a lot. They were very creative, and each one was unique. The atmosphere was very good, and we encountered a lot of people speaking different languages. I had heard that Hamburg is nicknamed the ‘gateway to the world’. Now I understand why. During the Hafengeburtstag, I realised how many influences from a so many different countries come together here. Back in Japan, I’m a member of the photography club, so I had lots of fun taking photos of the ships and the stands. I found lots of great things to photograph, and I’m looking forward to going to the Hafengeburtstag next year.“

What are the Hafengeburtstag festivities?

The Hafengeburtstag is held in early May, takes place over the weekend and begins on Thursday or Friday with an ‘arrival parade’. A veritable flotilla of ships sail to Hamburg for the festivities, arriving on the first day. They are welcomed by onlookers on the Landungsbrücken, while the national anthems of their countries of origin are played. This maritime parade is broadcast live on television, and you can find lists of the ships taking part on the internet. Some regular ‘guests’ participate year for year, but new ships from all over the world are also invited for every new edition of the festival.

„During the Hafengeburtstag, I realised how many influences from a so many different countries come together here.“

Risa Yoshizumi from Japan

Saturday’s highlight is the ‘tugboat ballet’, featuring the little boats that tow the giant container vessels into the port and see to it that they don’t crash into anything. Tugboats are extremely manoeuvrable and thus ideally suited to ‘ballet dancing’. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? If you’re standing in front, you may get a little wet. In the evenings, there are usually fireworks.

The festivities conclude with the ‘departure parade’ on Sunday when the city bids farewell to the guest ships.

Conclusion

The Hamburger Hafengeburtstag is a special festival. There’s nothing else like it in the world.

If you have the chance to visit Hamburg while it’s on, you should by no means miss it.

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Hamburg Port Anniversary

Short & Sweet

The Port of Hamburg: „Gateway to the world“

The harbour and the Hanseatic League

Risa from Japan reports on her visit

What are the Hafengeburtstag festivities?

Conclusion

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