Speicherstadt is the largest contiguous warehouse district in the world and one of the places in Hamburg that truly gives the city its character. Construction began in 1883, when Hamburg joined the German Customs Union and needed a free port zone where goods could be stored without paying customs duties. The result was an entire neighborhood of red brick warehouses built on oak piles in the Elbe, cut through by canals and connected by bridges.
Today, Speicherstadt is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which says a lot about its significance. It is not just about beautiful facades, but about an area that still carries the imprint of the trade and port life that helped shape Hamburg.
Speicherstadt is located right next to HafenCity, where I was staying at 25hours Hotel HafenCity, so I had plenty of opportunity to explore the area. Originally a free trade zone, many of the buildings now house museums and offices, but several are still used for storage. The stable temperature and humidity make them ideal for coffee, tea, spices, and oriental carpets, goods that have long been associated with Hamburg’s trading history.
During World War II, large parts of Speicherstadt were destroyed in air raids. Several buildings were later reconstructed in keeping with the original architecture, and unless you know the history, it is difficult to see the difference. The pointed gables, narrow towers, and detailed brick facades give the district an almost storybook feel, especially when you stand on one of the bridges and look out over the canals.
Speicherstadt is lovely to wander through during the day, but one evening I decided to walk from Rathaus U Bahn through Speicherstadt back to the hotel because I wanted to see how the area looked after dark. It was a completely different experience. The dim lighting and the completely empty streets made the whole district feel like a ghost town. At one point, the bells from nearby St. Katharinen Church began ringing loudly and somewhat ominously, and I definitely quickened my pace back toward the hotel.
If you are heading to Hamburg, Speicherstadt is without a doubt worth a visit. Just go during the day, or bring your Ghostbuster friends along.
