In 13th century, merchants from Stade are traceable in Gent, Utrecht and in Ripen (Ribe) in Jütland (Denmark). Since then, Stade belonged to the Hanseatic League. Yet, Stade abstained from greater undertakings because of its trade in Denmark and the Netherlands and later on because of its decreasing economic power. The town tried to secure its economic interests in Holland and Flanders with the help of more powerful Bremen. Temporarily Stade served as an alternate place to pass by the staple in Bruges. Because of its receiving the English cloth merchants, the Merchant Adventurers, in 1587, Stade was excluded from the Hanseatic League in 1601.

Under Swedish rule (1645-1712) Stade became administrative centre and was built an important fortress within European context. The burdens to bear because of Sweden’s European wars lessened the economic strength of the town that came under the rule of the electorate of Hanover in 1715 for a long time. It was only in 19th century that the town gradually started growing again and joined the common economic development. The fortification ring around the town was only demolished since 1880. So a first planned extension of the town and new industrial enterprises could be implemented after 1900.

After first World War, through incorporating two villages Stade became connected to the Elbe. In second World War, Stade remained nearly without damages although there was an operational centre for night fighting. With more than 10.000 refugees staying in Stade the population increased to above 30.000, yet the necessary infrastructure improvements could not be financed. It was only when a nuclear power plant was erected in 1967-72 connected with an extended industrialisation on the banks of the Elbe that Stade got the financial means to knowingly renew the old town that has not been destroyed in the wars. In November 2003 the nuclear power plant has been shut off, a symbol of the structural change Stade has to live through in the future.

The archival collections are accessible through typewritten catalogues and card-indexes. There is a multiplied survey of collections. An appearance on Internet is intended. Archives library and administrative library comprehend about 15.000 volumes.

The archival collections comprise 1.500 metres of charters, records, newspapers, plans and photos. Yet the bulk of the archival tradition only begins in 17th century about 1640 and continues without significant losses up to the present. The municipal collections are complemented by the deposited tradition of the churches, the brotherhoods of late Middle Ages and the records of some important enterprises.

The fire of 1659 has destroyed most parts of the town archives. From Hanseatic times there are only preserved the town’s privileges since 1204, a small copy book and the books of voluntary jurisdiction since 1286 where transactions of real estate and the cession of mortgages have been inscribed thus documenting the interior economic development of a medium sized Hanseatic town. Therefore more tradition on Hanseatic history has to be found especially in the publications of sources of Hanseatic history and the letter and copy books of other Hanseatic towns.

The Stade statutes of 1279, the oldest town law manuscript in Middle Low German still preserved, are of special importance.