The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen

At just over 400 square kilometres, the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is the smallest of the 16 German federal states.

Roland statue outside Bremen Town Hall

Although it is actually a two-city state, Bremen is usually counted among Germany’s city-states. In 1947 the cities of Bremen und Bremerhaven came together to form “The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen” with a state constitution similar in many respects to Germany’s Basic Law, adopted a little later.

The term “Hanseatic City” refers to the tradition of the Hanseatic League trading alliance, which Bremen joined in 1358. The city of Bremen is entirely surrounded by the Federal State of Lower Saxony, whilst Bremerhaven is located 60 km away on the North Sea.

Much more than just a port

Seafarers and maritime traders have traditionally shaped the port cities of Bremen and Bremerhaven. Bremen is the most southern German seaport, and Bremerhaven boasts the largest interconnected container handling terminal in Europe, as well as being the world’s top hub for transhipment of cars. Cutting-edge technology puts Bremen’s ports among the world’s fastest. The entire port ensemble ranks as the country’s second largest seaport, making Bremen Germany’s number two centre for foreign trade.

Futuristic skyline in Bremerhaven

Today long-established companies are based in Bremen alongside firms from emerging sectors. The automobile industry, aerospace, foodstuffs, drinks and tobacco production, mobile technologies, life science, biotechnology and the logistics business create a sectoral mix fit for the international arena. This state has also developed into an important high-tech centre for north-west Germany.

The university, specialised technical colleges and outstanding scientific institutions, such as the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, also attract people to Bremen. The Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences offers innovative courses rooted in local traditions, for example in ship operation engineering or maritime technologies, as well as in pioneering disciplines such as wind energy technology.

Open to the world

The Schnoor district in Bremen’s historic centre

Becoming a Bremen town musician was the ultimate ambition for the four animal heroes in the famous fairytale recounted by the Brothers Grimm – an indication of the enormous importance accorded to culture here even in those early days. Nowadays Bremen, cultural state par excellence, boasts a lively theatre, art and music scene. Alongside publicly funded venues, Bremen’s remarkably rich arts scene is also rooted in its independent cultural centres, a plethora of galleries and numerous neighbourhood initiatives.

Founded in 1896, Bremen’s Überseemuseum, with its permanent collections of artefacts from Asia, Oceania, America and Africa, is one of Europe’s foremost ethnological museums, as well as being one of the most visited museums in Germany.

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