6 Facts about Hamburg you haven’t known yet
Guest
Check out our list of unusual facts to make sure you know even more about your future homecity Hamburg than the locals do!
1. Every 35 minutes a bicycle gets stolen.
Make sure to equip yourself with a theft-proof lock if you want to leave your bicycle on the streets for a little while. At least you do not have to worry about your favorite vehicle when you are at home: You can simply leave it in the dedicated and safe bicycle room of your THE FIZZ student home without wasting a thought on whether or not your bike is still at the same place you left it.
2. 900.000 households, 50 % single.
If you are looking to find someone to spend the many rainy days with, which Hamburg is known for (more on this below), there is a great offer of potential soulmates. Oh, and the majority of student apartments in your THE FIZZ will be single households as well. Just saying….
3. Reeperbahn means ropewalk.
Have you googled Hamburg yet? If so, you have probably learnt about the Reeperbahn. However, do you know how the world-famous entertainment district got its name? Well, guess it is time for a brief history lesson: In the 17th and 18th century, most of the ropes needed in the production of ships in the harbor of Hamburg were made in the street that is called Reeperbahn today. Consequently, the name Reeperbahn makes a lot of sense: In Low German “Reep” means “rope” and “Bahn” means “track”. Today the name of the 930-meter long street is more or less the only thing that reminds of the historical background. Instead, the Reeperbahn evolved to the central walk of Hamburg’s red light and entertainment district with a huge number of (night)clubs and bars. Might this be connected to the high number of single households (see fact no. 2)? By the way: Just like the upcoming THE FIZZ, the Reeperbahn is located in the district of Altona and you can get there in less than 15 minutes using public transport.
4. 133 days of rain per year.
We know, this sounds like it is a lot and, as mentioned earlier, Hamburg is well known for its rainy weather. Not all rain is the same though: In Hamburg, it rarely rains an entire day. Usually, the sea breeze drives the clouds away quickly, so a shower is soon followed by sunshine again. However, did you know that Munich, the southernmost metropolis of Germany, has an average of 173 rain days per year? Yup, that one was surprising to me as well. Still, bringing a good raincoat and an umbrella with you to Hamburg sounds like a smart idea.
5. 2.496 bridges.
In case the bright sunshine has led you to believe that you do not need the umbrella today (a fallacy, see fact no. 4!), there are nearly 2.500 options to find shelter underneath until the rain is over. Hamburg has the largest number of bridges of all cities in the world and yes, this includes Venice.
6. 4.200 earthworms.
The University of Hamburg has the largest collection of earthworms in the world. What the collection is used for? Science, baby! (I wish I could get into more detail, but I have not majored in Biology.) Anyway, the more interesting question is: Is it a coincidence that this collection of rain-loving animals is located in a city known for its rainy weather? And why is it not located in Munich then? Well, after reading these facts, you would know better!
I admit: These facts will probably not help you to find your way around Hamburg, but maybe they will make you shine with some random knowledge at your first party in this wonderful city.
All photo rights by International Campus GmbH.