It’s a sight most frequently associated with Venice – vast stretches of water squeezed between buildings, all connected via a multitude of bridges.
The Italian city is home to 150 canals, linked by 435 bridges. Amsterdam, meanwhile, has over 1,200 bridges crossing its 165 canals. While these figures are pretty impressive, it is a lesser-known European city that holds the record for the highest number of bridges.
Hamburg, a major port city in northern Germany, is connected to the North Sea by the Elbe River and is crossed by hundreds of canals.
It is estimated that Hamburg has between 2,300 and 2,500 bridges inside its city limits – more than Amsterdam, London and Venice put together, according to the Guinness World Records.
The age of some of these structures also vary hugely – the oldest was built over 360 years ago, with new bridges constantly being constructed.
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany and is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country. It has become a popular tourist destination as a result of its beautiful scenery and unique blend of historical monuments and modern pubs and nightclubs, including the world-renowned red light district, Reeperbahn.
It is surrounded by water on almost all sides. The Alster River has been divided into two lakes that lie on either side of the city, the Binnen and Aussenalster (Inner and Outer) and the River Elbe, which flows through into the North Sea.
Some of the most notable include Köhlbrandbrücke, which is known as one of the most remarkable landmarks in the city. Completed in 1974, it is almost 2.5 miles long and is high enough for ships to pass underneath. Today, it is the second-longest bridge in Germany. It dominates the harbour skyline and from its heights you can enjoy a stunning panorama of the busy port and the HafenCity district.
The Ellerntorsbrücke was built in 1668 and is one of the oldest stone bridges in Hamburg. Its three arches cross the Herrengrabenfleet canal. For centuries this bridge served as the main route between the old town and the town of Altona, now a district of Hamburg.
With its name meaning the “Ocean Bridge”, Überseebrücke is a covered pedestrian bridge that connects the Hamburg harbour to its largest jetty. The Überseebrücke was first built in 1930, and rebuilt almost three decades later after the destruction caused during World War II. Its special construction consists of five parts that allow the bridge to adapt to the changing water levels during the high and low tide.
The Brooksbrücke bridge was completed in 1887 and one of its unique characteristics are the statues that adorn its four corners. The original statues were lost in World War II, but they were replaced with the current ones in the early 2000s.
Kattwyk-Brücke is a 290 metre-long vertical lift bridge with two 70-metre high-end portals for rail and road transport. It was inaugurated in March 1973. With a lifting height of 46 metres, it is the largest vertical lift bridge in the world.
A new bridge, to replace the existing Köhlbrand Bridge, is scheduled to open for traffic from 2040 onwards. It will achieve a higher clearance for ships, as future vessels are expected to get larger and larger and will still require access to the southern part of the port.
Even just a day trip to Hamburg will certainly involve crossing at least one of these nearly 2,500 bridges. It would be impossible to see them all in one day.
The city is so proud of its infrastructure that it offers guided tours that highlight some of its most interesting bridges.
