26th International Hansa Convention in Osnabrück in 2006
Report about the preparation and realization
Already in
Early Middle Ages Osnabrück has been a member of the historic Hanseatic
League. When in 1980 44 cities met to arrange the 1st Hansa
Convention of Modern Times, Osnabrück also sent its delegates.
DIE HANSE
today is an active network between cities, that had been members of the old
hanseatic league or were trade partners. She consists now of more than 160
cities from 15 countries. In those cities the hanseatic spirit is uphold
differently and intensely in more than one way – for instance by the
celebration of hanseatic days throughout the year – events appreciated merely
by the local public.
But only
twice a year there are meetings of all delegates of hanseatic cities to discuss
and coordinate by resolutions the further activities of the league: at the
meeting of the „Autumn-Commission“ and at the Hansa Convention of Modern Times.
The latter one is arranged each year by a different hanseatic city by a
different motto. Since the journey shall also be culturally rewarding for the
delegates, a big feast is arranged for the international guests and the local
people, where the spirit of the hansa is uphold: to promote the
self-consciousness and prosperity of these cities and their mutual
collaboration and furthermore to provide a contribution to the economical,
cultural, social and legislative unification of the European democracy.
Within
the scope of the International Hansa Convention each hosting city is given the
possibility to present its tradition, history, economical and cultural
importance.
In 1986 the
city of Osnabrück gained the acceptance to
organize the 26th International Hansa Convention 2006 in Osnabrück, in a year
which also represented the 650th jubilee of the Hanseatic
League.
By choosing
the motto „Europe in Osnabrück“, the city of Osnabrück gained the following purposes:
- to present the city of Osnabrück as a historic town with a high levelled attractive cultural scene and as the City
of Peace
- the Hansa-Convention should be a
popular event with priority to the locals and the international guests
- the city of Osnabrück should be remembered by
international guests and guests of the local regions as a town to be remembered
and to be visited further along
The city of
Osnabrück dealt
to those challenges by starting the intensive phase of planning and organizing
the 26th Hansa Convention 2006 in 2003.
This report
of the Hansa-Office would like to provide an insight in the phase of the
planning and the realization of the Hansa Convention in Osnabrück.
The 26th
International Hansa Convention 2006 in Osnabrück was, following the words of
its President Bernd Saxe “with an attendance of 107 cities from 15 countries
the best visited International Hansa
Convention of Modern Times”.
According
to a poll held by the Osnabrück Marketing & Tourism GmbH (OMT) it attracted
150.000 visitors to the city centre, coming from Osnabrück and its regions,
Westphalia, the Netherlands,
Belgium
and other European areas. According to the poll the Hansa Convention has been
attended at least one time by its visitors during its 4 days.
Furthermore,
the poll showed that this large event has been experienced as a cultural
enrichment by the citizens of Osnabrück. Accordingly this event was very well
attended and was perceived as a rich and colourful event by its foreign
visitors.
Webpage of the 26th Hansa Convention 2006 in Osnabrück
