Removals to Hamburg with The Moving Partnership
Hamburg draws a wealth of visitors from all over the world, many of whom go on to make it their home. This is particularly true of the UK, with plenty of clubs and communities (as well as a dedicated social network site) set up purely for British expats. Here The Moving Partnership, who can help if you are interested in an overseas house move to Germany, take a closer look at Hamburg.
Hamburg’s History and Heritage
The name comes from the castle which Emperor Charlemagne had built between the Elbe and the Alster rivers – ‘burg’ means castle or fort – in the year 808AD. It’s been invaded and occupied many times over the centuries – by the Vikings, the Danes, the Poles – but it’s never lost its importance as a major trading post.
With this in mind, the year 1189 was one of the most important in the city’s history – it was the year Hamburg became a Free Imperial City and was given tax-free access to many other European markets.
It has overcome many fires throughout the centuries, outbreaks of disease (notably the Black Death and cholera) as well as extensive bomb damage during the Second World War. The 1939-45 conflict does at least mean that large parts of the city were rebuilt, either as residential or commercial areas (notably the districts of Hammerbrook, Billbrook and Hamm South), within the last century.
Getting There and Getting Around
If you’re travelling by air, Hamburg Airport (HAM) is the second busiest in the country after Berlin and it’s around 8.6km north of the city centre. It offers flights to most European countries (including the UK).
If you are considering removals to Hamburg, there’s plenty of public transport from the airport to the city – the commonest way in is via the S-Bahn train line which has services every 10-20 minutes. There are six S-Bahn lines, four underground (U-Bahn) lines and seven regional rail lines.
Once you are in the city there are five main stations - Hauptbahnhof (central station), Altona, Dammtor, Harburg and Bergedorf. ICE (Inter City Express) will connect you with most German cities and some mainland European capitals.
If you’re travelling to Hamburg by boat, although most boats which come in are commercial (for the port), there are some ferry services across the Elbe, the city’s main river, which many commuters, as well as tourists, make full use of.
If you prefer to drive, the city is served by seven Autobahn (German motorways) which should make it easy to get to any other part of Germany. Park-and-ride is a popular option for many motorists who do not want to drive right into the city centre.
The city centre is quite small but, given that the city is 700km2, you won’t see everything easily by travelling on foot. Cycling may be an option, but dedicated lanes aren’t all that common in Hamburg.
The Main Attractions
Hamburg is well known as being the place where the Beatles really cut their teeth in the early 1960s and there is a rich musical tradition which endures to the present day.
It’s not just pop music either – the composer Johannes Brahms was born in the city and the Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall is the main concert hall for the city and has its own orchestra. There’s also usually a musical or two to go and see as a major musical production company, Stage Entertainment, is based in the city.
If architecture is more your passion, then visit the 19th century St Michael’s Church, which has a copper spire and some great views across the city. There’s also the impressive City Hall, which is also the city’s seat of government.
And the Speicherstadt district, pictured, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of newly renovated red-brick Gothic-style warehouses which is now home to cafés, museums, galleries, some penthouse apartments and numerous criss-crossing canals.
If you are looking for something family friendly, try the Miniatur Wunderland, the largest model railway system in the world (one of the museums in Speicherstadt).
Shopping Around and Eating Out
Mönckebergstraße, in the city centre, has the main brand names which you can find in other Germain cities such as Galeria Kaufhof, Karstadt, C&A and Saturn.
For more independent or artisan shopping, try the fish market (which sells fruit and veg as well as fish) and the various other Hamburg markets – you can usually bag a bargain at the flea market at Schanzenviertel every Saturday. And Hamburg has some very popular Christmas markets – many of them are held close to the City Hall.
If you are eating out, there are plenty of delicious native dishes to try, such as green runner beans cooked with bacon and pears, and pan-fried Frikadelle, which is the forerunner of the hamburger (although in Hamburg it isn't necessarily served with bread or a burger bun).
For dessert, try the Franzbrötchen (like a sweet croissant) and to accompany it, Alsterwasser – a beer shandy – is very popular.
Overseas House Moves to Germany with The Moving Partnership
At The Moving Partnership we can help you with removals to Hamburg and many other German cities, including Berlin, Bremen, Bonn, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart.
Our extensive network of contacts means we can come up with a competitive quote which will meet your individual needs – for more information follow this link or call us on 0800 772 3709.
