Ah, the port. The port is what Hamburg is known for. Well, that and St. Pauli, which seemed more like a tourist zone except with brothels. Anyway, right, the port. It’s the second largest in Europe (after Rotterdam) and the ninth largest in the world. And the Speicherstadt, or city of warehouses, is the largest warehouse complex in the world. I’m guessing it’s also the most attractive, with its rows of red-brick structures with neo-Gothic gables and green copper roofs.
The Speicherstadt buildings were all constructed in the late 19th century. Hamburg’s port had been designated a free zone, so people were knocking themselves out to store their goods here customs-free. This development displaced 20,000 residents.
Many of the buildings are still used for warehouses, storing goods such as coffee, tea and carpets.
Predictably, a good portion of the space has been converted to alternative uses like performance spaces and lofts. And a number of museums have moved in, including Spicy’s Gewürtzmuseum (spices and herbs) and the Speicherstadtmuseum, which documents the old warehouse area.
Speicherstadt, warehouse, Hamburg, Germany
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