Vertrek Kamper Kogge
Privileg des Königs Eduard IV. 1547 ©EHM Olaf Malzahn
Stoffe und Pelze
Die Hanse zu Gast in Neuss
Übergabe Hansefahne an Torun

From the Middle Ages to the Present Day

It began as a network of long-distance merchants and developed into a powerful association of cities: the Hanseatic League. For more than 400 years, the Hanseatic League shaped the economy, trade and politics of northern Europe. Today, the Hanseatic cities are reconnecting with their great past: The Union of Cities THE HANSA was founded in Zwolle in 1980 to revive the common cultural heritage and, with almost 200 member cities, is one of the largest voluntary associations of cities in the world.

The medieval Hanseatic League

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Hanseatic merchant

Union of Cities THE HANSA

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Hansetag Kampen Abschlussparade

Member cities

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Hansa-Map

The International Hanseatic Day

Just as in the Middle Ages, the Hanseatic cities meet regularly at the Hanseatic Day.  And just like back then, the key decisions of the association of cities are made at the Hanseatic Day today. Every year a different Hanseatic city is host and invites you to celebrate Hanseatic history and international understanding. Not only the delegations from the Hanseatic cities take part, but also up to 500,000 visitors from all over Europe.

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News

Citizen Science Projekt_Hanse.Quellen.Lesen_an der FGHO ©Olaf Malzahn_FGHO
2.12.2024

"Hanseatic ship" citizen science project

In November, the Archive and the Archaeology and Monument Preservation Department of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck and the Research Center for the History of the Hanseatic League and the Baltic Sea Region (FGHO) launched a special collaboration. Together with the FGHO's Citizen Science project, Lübeck's “Hanseatic Ship” is now to be examined using historical written sources.

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Herbstkommission Visby 2024_Bischof
29.11.2024

Autumn Commission meeting in Visby

From 22 to 24 November, delegates from twelve countries met for the Autumn Commission in Visby to learn about the state of preparations for the 45th International Hanseatic Day, which will take place in the Swedish Hanseatic city from 5 to 8 June 2025.

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Die Hanse_Klartext Verlag
21.11.2024

New publication: The Hansa - Popular misconceptions and other truths

How much historical truth is there in today's Hanseatic consciousness? Author Veit Veltzke explores this and other questions in a new publication titled "The Hansa - Popular misconceptions and other truths".

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group picture BSYD_CBSS
18.11.2024

BSYD: Hanseatic heritage in the spotlight

The Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue 2024 was all about the Hanseatic League: 20 young people from the Baltic Sea Region met in Gdansk to discuss the region's cultural heritage and its significance in the present day.

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By Mateusz Filipski - Fundacja Gdańska -02275
11.10.2024

HANSEartWORKS: exhibition catalogue published

The catalogue of HANSEartWORKS 2024 "Made in Hansa" is now online. The exhibition took place during the 44th International Hanseatic Day in Gdańsk, Poland.

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BSYD2024-social-1920x1080-v2
1.10.2024

Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue with a Hanseatic focus

This year's Baltic Sea Youth Dialogue (BSYD) will take place in Gdańsk, Poland, from November 11-16. Young people from the Baltic Sea Region will have the chance to engage with their Hanseatic heritage and its meaning today. The BSYD is organized by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) in cooperation with THE HANSA, financially supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.

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Visegrad CR Annual Forum 2024_Rachid © DIE HANSE - Bischof
30.09.2024

youthHansa @ Cultural Routes Annual Advisory Forum

This year's Annual Advisory Forum of the Council of Europe's Cultural Routes was all about young people. Rachid Hamdaoui presented the activities and structure of youthHansa as part of a panel discussion at the forum in Visegrád, Hungary.

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Saint Peters chest Visby_foto Mattias Wahlgren
27.08.2024

Hanseatic chest from 1240 found in Visby

The chest is a unique item in the Hanseatic history and has been kept in Visby Cathedral Sankta Maria for almost 800 years. According to a document from a guild in Dortmund it was named Saint Peter’s chest. 

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Salt boiling at the German Salt Museum ©Deutsches Salzmuseum
27.08.2024

The German Salt Museum celebrates its 35th anniversary

The German Salt Museum in Lüneburg is celebrating its 35th anniversary. Visitors are invited to an open day with a colourful programme on 8 September 2024. To mark the anniversary, a special exhibition entitled “Voices from the city” will run from September 3 to January 5.

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HanseTreck arrival in Lübeck ©Bischof
8.07.2024

HanseTreck arrives in Lübeck

Despite rain, wind and breakdowns: the HanseTreck has reached its destination! After a tour on cargo bikes from Einbeck to Lübeck, the trek arrived in front of Lübeck's town hall on Saturday, July 6.

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