THE HISTORY
At the origin of
Hamburg’s gateway to the world
Hamburg’s history as a trading city made its first waves at Nikolaifleet, where the Counts of Schauenburg began building the first port facilities in 1188. For centuries, the Fleet has remained a pulsating center of trade – a place where goods, ideas and visions are set in motion.
Just a few meters from today’s Haus der Seefahrt, the first modern harbour basin was built in 1866 with the Sandtorhafen. In 1888, the Speicherstadt warehouse district was officially opened – symbolizing Hamburg’s rise to become a leading trade and logistics metropolis.
From Kontorhaus
to metropolis
FORWARD INTO THE PRESENT
Around 1900, Hamburg experienced a rapid upswing: the Kontorhaus became a symbol of a new era of trade. The St. Pauli Landungsbrücken were built in 1910 – and the Haus der Seefahrt in the same year.
With its representative façade and modern work surfaces, it captures the progressive spirit of its time. Today, on Nikolaifleet, it is a reminder of the origins of this success story – and of Hamburg’s enduring role as a gateway to the world.