Hamburg is the German capital of trade relations with Asia, as the presence of more than 400 companies from China, some 100 from Japan, 50 from Taiwan and 40 from Hong Kong shows. Already, more than three million containers to or from China are handled annually, and this segment continues to grow at double-digit rates.
Musicals
The staging of musicals like "Cats", "Phantom of the Opera", "Buddy Holly" and "Mamma Mia" has put Hamburg on the itinerary of every fan of the genre. Current box-office hits are "The Lion King", "Ich war noch niemals in New York" and "Tarzan". The unique setting of the Reeperbahn and harbourside theatres makes every visit a memorable event.
Hamburg
Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
- Area: 755.2 sqkm of which port area 74.4 sqkm
- Location: The city is located on the North German Plain in the lower reaches of the Elbe River, about 100 km from where the Elbe meets the North Sea.
- Climate: Annual average 9.7 degrees C
- Population: 1.7 million (2008)
- Currency and monetary unit: Euro
Geography
Hamburg is located in the North of Germany where the rivers Alster and Bille open into the river Elbe, the distance to the North Sea is about 110 km. With appr. 1,75 million inhabitants is Hamburg (after Berlin) the second-largest city in Germany. In Hamburg Metropolitan Area, comprising adjacent districts in Niedersachsen and Schleswig Holstein, live more than 4 million people.
Where the World is at home
Ever since the port was established more than 1000 years ago, Hamburg has constantly evolved its famous liberality, tolerance and hospitality. When the thriving trade centre joined the mercantile Hanseatic League in the 14th century and became the power centre of the whole North Sea and Baltic region, Hamburg began to establish itself as a global player and a truly cosmopolitan city. The "Gateway to the World" has always been open in both directions - offering passage out into the world, but also inviting the whole world to come to Hamburg.
Today, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is one of the most dynamic urban centres in the European Union and has attracted numerous international corporations, organizations and experts from countries throughout the world.
Culture
A Unique Centre of Cultural Life
Hamburg is a metropolis that boasts a spectacular cultural diversity of the very highest calibre. It ranges from cabaret, fascinating dialect theatre, and all types of performing arts on smaller stages, to acclaimed high-profile productions by the Hamburg State Opera.
Cultural Capital
Hamburg’s reputation as a cultural capital is as distinct as it is multifaceted. The Hamburg State Opera not only is home to John Neumeier’s famous Hamburg Ballet, it was also nominated "Opera House of 2005" for its outstanding opera productions. Laeiszhalle - Hamburg Music Hall is a concert venue of international renown. Deutsches Schauspielhaus and Thalia Theater have gained recognition as Germany’s leading drama theatres. A veritable monument to culture is currently under construction in the new HafenCity quarter. Built atop of the historic Kaispeicher A, the architecturally stunning Elbphilharmonie will open its doors in 2013: A world-class concert hall for major music events – the city’s new, shining landmark!
The Hamburg Scene
Hamburg’s famously creative, flamboyant personalities set the pace in the city’s pulsating night life. Subculture bars or hip beach clubs – new venues are forever setting new trends, in the Schanzenviertel and Ottensen, in St. Georg and in St. Pauli. Down by the water, Hamburg can feel positively Mediterranean!
The world-famous Reeperbahn in St. Pauli has evolved into an attractive entertainment district. It has much more to offer than just a red-light milieu. The scene, and the music, have always been ahead of their time, producing names such as the legendary "Star-Club" and the Beatles, the "Golden Pudel Club", "angie's nightclub", "Docks" and "Grünspan".
Tourism in Hamburg Metropolitan Region – a long history of success since the 1980s. Picturesque towns such as Lüneburg or Stade, more than 1,000 years old, are just as popular as the vibrant shopping world of Hamburg. Water plays a decisive role in the region’s tourism business and fascinates visitors – whether it’s the North Sea beach resorts of Cuxhaven or Büsum, port activity in Hamburg or the recreational areas on the Elbe and all the myriad canals and tributaries. This range of opportunities is complemented by unique areas for rest and recuperation. The Lüneburg Heath and Lauenburg lakeland are just two of the many outstanding areas of the region.
More than 175,000 people in Hamburg work directly or indirectly in tourism. This makes the sector the region’s most important employer. Overnight stays have developed very well in recent years. The City of Hamburg contributes to this through its many-faceted world of culture and entertainment. The second strength is day-excursion tourism. Most guests on day trips come from within the Metropolitan Region itself. In the opposite direction, many Hamburgers take off into the region at weekends for excursions to the North or Baltic Sea or into the interior.
Economy
Hamburg is one of the most attractive business locations in Northern Europe – not just for Germany’s leading corporations, but also for many foreign companies.
Three out of four employees work in the services sector, making it the predominant segment of the region’s economic structure. Beyond that, Hamburg is an important centre of industry. There are over 140,000 enterprises registered at the Chamber of Commerce.
A number of innovative growth industries are represented in Hamburg, most notably in the fields of port & logistics, life sciences, the aviation industry, and media & IT. Other key sectors are renewable energies and trade relations with Asia, with a particular focus on China.
An essential locational advantage is the fact that Hamburg’s business community and public authorities have a history of concerted action to support the development of growth clusters. Media and IT companies were the first to enter into a public-private partnership with the city in 1997, establishing the initiative Hamburg@work. The joint initiative Hamburg – The Place for Aviation and the Logistics Initiative Hamburg followed. The state of Schleswig-Holstein became an additional partner when the life sciences initiative norgenta was formed. In 2009 a new initiative for renewable energy has been started.
Foreign Direct Investment
For details about qualified direct investment opportunities please visit our pages Invest in Hamburg
Hamburg is one of the 16 federal states of the Federal Republic of Germany, the second largest city in Germany and along with Hamburg Harbour, its principal port, Hamburg is also the second largest port city in Europe (after Rotterdam), ninth-largest port in the world, and the most populous city in the European Union which is not a national capital.
