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A person walks past a tall ship in the Hamburg harbor, city buildings seen in the background, against a pink early morning sky
Image: Christian Charisius/dpa/picture allianceImage: Christian Charisius/dpa/picture alliance

Hamburg

The port city in northern Germany has a population of roughly 1.8 million. A media and industrial hub, it's also known for its Reeperbahn red-light district, football clubs HSV and St Pauli and the Beatles' early career.

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All Content on this topic

Part of the 4.5-ton seizure of cocaine, Hamburg, Germany

Germany makes biggest-ever cocaine bust

Nearly €1 billion worth of cocaine has been seized in the German port city of Hamburg.
CrimeAugust 2, 2019
Olivia Jones poses in front of the "Porno Karaoke Bar" at its grand opening in Hamburg, Germany

Germany's first porn-karaoke bar opens

There's no singing required at Hamburg's newest karaoke bar — but moaning is a must.
CultureJuly 23, 2019
04.2016 Check-in (Sendungslogo)

Hamburg in the Summer

A trip along the Elbe, from the Elbphilharmonie via Sankt Pauli to the Strandperle beach bar.
CultureJuly 20, 201926:04 min
Firefighters fighting cocoa blaze

17 tons of cocoa destroyed on German highway

Police have suggested the incident could have caused over €100,000 ($113,000) in damage.
CatastropheJuly 15, 2019
Marco-Polo Tower in Hamburg, Germany

Tourism in Hamburg — sustainably different!

The Hanseatic city wants to be a pioneer: it is developing tourism for the future. But is it just a nice idea?
TravelJuly 11, 2019
Federal Court of Justice, Leipzig, Germany

German court clears doctors who assisted patients' suicide

A German court has ruled doctors do not have to try to save someone's life against their will after a suicide attempt.
Law and JusticeJuly 4, 2019
Kent Nagano

Kent Nagano as a prophet of post-modernism

Classical music promotes self-discovery and social cohesion, says the American conductor, who recently spoke with DW.
MusicJune 28, 2019
Emergency workers secure the wreck of the No. 5 Elbe Foto: Bodo Marks/dpa

Historic sailboat sinks after collision

A 136-year-old schooner had only just emerged from a €1.5-million renovation when it was sunk by a container ship.
Cars and TransportationJune 9, 2019
Food waste in a dumpster

Dumpster diving remains illegal in Germany

State justice ministers have rejected proposals to legalize taking discarded food from supermarket garbage containers.
Law and JusticeJune 6, 2019
The Olympic Stadium in Berlin

Interior Minister dismisses 2036 German Olympic bid

Hosting the Olympics exactly 100 years after the Nazis staged the event would be a "bad idea" for modern-day Germany.
PoliticsJune 3, 2019
food in a garbage bin

Hamburg aims to legalize dumpster diving

Hamburg's justice senator wants Germany to decriminalize dumpster diving and prohibit supermarkets from tossing food.
Law and JusticeMay 31, 2019
Video-Still SoMe DW-Stories Grundgesetz Englisch

'Dignity for the homeless!'

Dominik Bloh wants to give homeless people a shower bus. "Being able to wash oneself is dignity," he says.
PoliticsMay 25, 201903:24 min
1,000-pound US WWII bomb

World War II bomb in Hamburg prompts evacuation

A thousand-pound US bomb dropped during World War II has been discovered in Hamburg.
May 15, 2019
Fußball 2. Bundesliga | SC Paderborn 07 - Hamburger SV

Former Bundesliga club Hamburg leave everyone at a loss

Hamburg's inability to secure promotion has left everyone scratching their heads, including Felix Magath.
SportsMay 13, 2019
Fireworks over the cruis ship AIDA to mark Hamburg harbor's birthday

Hamburg celebrates its harbor

Three hundred ships, a huge fireworks display and a three-day party. But what brings back visitors year after year?
TravelMay 13, 2019
Ukrainian navy ships in the Kerch Strait

Sea tribunal hears Russia, Ukraine naval dispute

Last November, Russia seized three Ukrainian navy ships and captured dozens of sailors, sparking outrage in Ukraine.
ConflictsMay 10, 2019
A lion at Serengeti Park in Lower Saxony

Two lions attack zookeeper near Hamburg

It is still unclear why the young zookeeper entered the lion enclosure during feeding time.
Nature and EnvironmentMay 4, 2019
04.2016 Check-in (Sendungslogo)

Germany's city-states: Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen

Check In hosts Nicole Frölich and Lukas Stege pay visits to the three German city-states.
CultureApril 27, 201926:06 min
DW Eco Africa - e-mobility in Germany

Are e-trucks the future of transport in German cities?

As more and more cities ban diesel cars, the post company in Hamburg has introduced 8,000 electric scooters.
Nature and EnvironmentApril 26, 201904:24 min
DFB-Pokal: Hamburger SV v RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig beat HSV, reach German Cup final

RB Leipzig ran out 3-1 winners against spirited second-division challengers Hamburg.
SoccerApril 23, 2019
Fußball 2. Bundesliga | Hamburger SV v SG Dynamo Dresden

Hamburg's tradition tackles Leipzig's commercial blueprint

The German Cup semifinal sees Hamburg's traditional roots up against the commercial power of RB Leipzig.
SportsApril 23, 2019
Helmut Schmidt's garden gnome

Ex-chancellor's garden gnome goes for €3,000

A garden gnome painted by former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt has been auctioned for €3,000.
SocietyApril 14, 2019
DW Euromaxx 13.04.19 - Flying Pictures

Flying Pictures - Breakdance Meets Classical

The Flying Steps urban dance crew has staged "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky.
LifestyleApril 12, 201903:53 min
Deutschland Hamburg Elbphilharmonie

Hamburg in 360 degrees

Discover Hamburg with a panoramic view!
TravelApril 2, 2019
Highway near Stuttgart

Stuttgart drops diesel while German cities dally

Stuttgart will bring in diesel bans in April after activists sued the city for dirty air. And the rest of Germany?
Nature and EnvironmentMarch 28, 20195 images
DW Sendung Check-in - Shortcut Hamburg

Hamburg's loveliest waterside spots

Check-in presenter Lukas Stege discovers Hamburg's maritime side.
CultureMarch 26, 201908:22 min
Hamburg fire brigade boat on the Elbe

Webcam viewer calls to save man in Elbe River

A lucky senior was spotted in an apparent coincidence by an internet user. Police are investigating how he fell in.
SocietyMarch 21, 2019
MiG Made in Germany - 05.03.2019

Explainer - the history of free trade in Europe

In 1280 a group of merchants set up the Hanseatic League, an early international trade association.
BusinessMarch 6, 201902:21 min
Windräder vor Kraftwerk Neurath

German renewables drive creates problems

Germany wants to phase out nuclear power and coal-fired plants at the same time — a plan that raises supply issues.
BusinessMarch 4, 201903:45 min
external

Hamburg students' climate strike

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has joined of Hamburg students for a Fridays for Future protest.
March 1, 201902:09 min
external

No air travel and a vegan diet

German schoolchildren tell DW what they are doing to battle climate change.
Nature and EnvironmentMarch 1, 201900:50 min
Students holding a banner that reads March now or swim later

Hamburg students ditch class for climate protest

Greta Thunberg, the activist who began school strikes over climate change, marched with students in Hamburg.
Nature and EnvironmentMarch 1, 2019
John Neumeier

Choreographer John Neumeier: Creativity is a gift

DW had a chat with Hamburg Ballet's director about his most iconic pieces, Hamburg's rain and his hopes for Russia.
CultureFebruary 22, 2019
Jann-Fiete Arp Hamburger SV

Is Jann-Fiete Arp really good enough for Bayern Munich?

Now suffering from second season syndrome, it appears Bayern may have been too quick to snap up Jann-Fiete Arp.
SportsFebruary 8, 2019
Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie

Brexit a hard day's night for Brits in Hamburg

With the UK's exit from the EU looming, Brexit plans are proving hard to come together in the port city.
PoliticsFebruary 6, 2019
external

Brits in Hamburg get nervous

DW travelled to Hamburg in northern Germany, where many Brits fear the consequences of a hard Brexit.
January 29, 201903:02 min
DW EcoIndia - Sendung vom 26.01.2019 ECIE German Smatr City

Smart city - urban digitalization

Digitalization is changing cities, offering people new ways of getting around without a car.
Nature and EnvironmentJanuary 25, 201903:04 min
Band Tocotronic

Popxport - PopXport Special: Tocotronic

Verbal acrobats, critical darlings, chart toppers: Tocotronic have been an institution in German indie rock since they came on the scene 25 years ago. We tell the story of what is possibly Germany’s most intellectual band.
MusicJanuary 19, 201926:06 min
Graf von Götzen als Gouverneur von Deutsch-Ostafrika auf einer Erkundungsreise ins Innere der Kolonie Deutsch-Ostafrika auf einer Erkundungs- reise ins Innere der Kolonie

Hamburg's colonial past

WorldLink looks at how Germans and Tanzanians are dealing with their shared colonial history.
SocietyJanuary 18, 201917:02 min
Deutschland | Hamburger Polizeiwappen

Hamburg: Police hunt for clues in ax murder

Mohamed J. was a longtime resident of Germany who was active in social projects both in Hamburg and his native Syria.
CrimeJanuary 18, 2019
The storm in Bremerhaven

Storm surge sweeps across northern Germany

A storm surge has inundated parts of northern Germany, including Hamburg's world-renowned fish market.
Nature and EnvironmentJanuary 8, 20195 images
EcoIndia 11

Waste not, want not

Two Hamburg designers turn waste into design objects.
Nature and EnvironmentJanuary 4, 201903:54 min
Deutschland Teeprobe im Bünting-Teemuseum in Leer

Tea as a lifestyle drink

Tea is rising in popularity in Germany. Will it ever totally replace coffee or beer?
LifestyleDecember 26, 201804:22 min
A computer with Islamist propaganda

Police in Hamburg arrest suspected teen 'IS' supporter

The young man was also accused of promoting the killing of police officers on social media.
CrimeDecember 23, 2018
DW Popxport Sendungslogo

Popxport Special: Tocotronic

25 years in the business, 12 studio albums, and no end in sight: a PopXport portrait of Tocotronic.
MusicDecember 22, 201826:02 min
ZDF-Talkshow Maybrit Illner | Correctiv-Chefredakteur Oliver Schröm

Alarm over cum-ex sleuth in Hamburg

A Hamburg probe against German cum-ex sleuth Oliver Schröm has outraged fellow journalists.
PoliticsDecember 12, 2018
Angela Merkel in Hamburg

Merkel's emotional farewell

After 18 years in office, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stepped down as CDU party leader.
December 7, 201802:49 min
Angela Merkel

Merkel takes leave as conservative party head

Angela Merkel stressed togetherness in her final speech as party chair at the CDU conference in Hamburg.
PoliticsDecember 7, 2018
Child on a tricycle

Hamburg police mediate 3-year-olds' tricycle spat

Hamburg police cleared up the dispute without arresting either of the toddlers.
SocietyDecember 6, 2018
external

"Lazarus": David Bowie's musical in Hamburg

Shortly before he died, David Bowie wrote a musical. Now, the show is dazzling Hamburg.
MusicDecember 5, 201804:44 min