News
New Hanseatic association founded in La Rochelle
La Rochelle is the only French city in the Union of Cities THE HANSA. In order to promote the Hanseatic heritage in France, advance the international cooperation with other cities, and facilitate encounters between young Europeans, the association HANSERA was recently established in La Rochelle.
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Merry Hanseatic Christmas!
Dear Hanseatic friends, At the end of this eventful year, we would like to pause for a moment and say thank you: thank you for your kind and trusting cooperation and for your commitment to the Union of Cities, which makes our Hanseatic community so special. We wish you a restful and enjoyable holiday season and all the best for a happy, healthy and hopefully more peaceful New Year!
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North German youthHansa ready to set sail
On 6 December, the final steps towards founding the North German Youth Hanseatic League were taken in Stade. Under the motto ‘Cast off for the first Hanseatic adventure’, committed young people met to celebrate the founding and set the course for the future. In spring 2026, the association will officially be established as an unregistered association.
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Rees officially admitted to the Rhenish Hansa
The city of Rees is now a member of the Rhenish Hansa. During a festive ceremony at the recent Wesel Hanseatic Festival, the oldest town in the Lower Rhine region was officially accepted into the regional Hansa. ‘This acceptance marks a further step in maintaining and strengthening historical and partnership ties between the Hanseatic cities,’ emphasised Rees Mayor Sebastian Hense during the ceremony.
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Youth meets business at "Walk and Talk" event in Neuss
On 29 October 2025, the Hanse-Gesellschaft Neuss e.V. (Hanseatic Society of Neuss) and the Neuss Vocational College invited 50 enthusiastic school pupils to a networking event. Under the motto ‘Walk and Talk – Youth Meets Business’, the participants met with several member companies of the Hanse-Gesellschaft Neuss e.V.
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Lübeck is Germany's Fair Trade Capital
On 29 October, local municipalities from all over Germany were honoured for their commitment to fair trade at the Old Town Hall in Munich. Leading the way was the Hanseatic City of Lübeck, which was named the ‘Capital of Fair Trade’. Inseparably linked to Lübeck's commitment is the work of the ‘Fair Hansa’, which has been working for more than ten years to make Hanseatic cities and Hanseatic days fair.
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THE HANSA at the EUSBSR Annual Forum
On invitation of the EUSBSR Policy Area Tourism and Culture Coordinators, Stefanie Bischof presented THE HANSA in the session « Routes that resonate » on 29 October at the EUSBSR Annual Forum in the Polish seaside resort Sopot. In addition to the Union of Cities THE HANSA, Liberation Route Europe, the Sauna Route, and the European Project Center at the University of Wismar were also represented.
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Autumn Commission meeting in Stargard
From 17 to 19 October, delegates from twelve countries met for the Autumn Commission in Stargard to assess the state of preparations for the 46th International Hanseatic Day, which will take place from 11 to 14 June 2026 in the Polish Hanseatic city.
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Open Monument Day 2025
On 14 September, the Open Monument Day will take place across Europe. In Germany alone, more than 5,000 historical sites open their doors for this event every year, including many attractions in Hanseatic cities.
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Kamper Kogge is back home
On 10 May, the Kamper Kogge set sail to take part in the 45th International Hanseatic Day in Visby, Sweden. Exactly two months after its departure, the Kamper Kogge is now back in Kampen. This means that the replica of a medieval Hanseatic ship from the 14th century has successfully completed its longest voyage to date, travelling more than 1000 nautical miles in its wake.
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