A trip to explore Germany’s northwestern port city of Bremerhaven.
The European nation of Germany has a special place in my heart for obvious reasons: my darling husband is from there. But, despite having visited his hometown of Berlin nearly 20 times, I realize that I’ve seen very little of the country.
For this reason, I jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with the German National Tourist Board to produce a video series exploring the unique culture, sights, history, and language of this large and diverse country. This past May I hit up four new cities and Bremerhaven was the first among them.
Now, you may not have ever heard of this seaside town, but it holds an important place in the country’s history. Located in the northwestern part of Germany, Bremerhaven has a long history as a trade port and still plays a crucial role in the nation’s trade relations even today.
The maritime culture is super strong here. The city is home to seven overseas harbours filled with tall ships, and restaurants boasting a variety of seafood cuisine. There’s even a hotel shaped like a sail which I had the good fortune to stay in! The Atlantic Hotel looks like the German cousin to the Burj Al Arab and is just as fun to take photos with– trust me, I have proof.
But the main reason for my visit to Bremerhaven was to explore the German Emigration Center, located in the downtown core. Because, as it turns out, the port city was actually a hub for German émigrés seeking a new life in the New World– over 7 million Germans sailed to North America from here!
The city was also the absolute heart of German emigration to Canada: according to the 2006 Canadian census, over 3 million Canadians claim to have German ancestry. Opened in 2005, the German Emigration Center is Europe’s largest theme museum about emigration, and allows visitors to experience the emigration process through interactive exhibits. It was while here that I discovered that Germany emigration to Canada spanned 250 years and comprised many different milestones.
The history of German Emigration to Canada
As I mentioned above, German emigration to Canada took place over approximately two and a half centuries, from 1711 to 1961, and there were several major waves.
The first Germans to settle in Canada were mainly soldiers who served in the British army– after finishing their tour of duty they elected to stay in their new land.
The second wave of German immigrants was comprised primarily of German labourers who settled in the Canadian Prairies, and the later waves of immigration were fueled mostly by the Second World War.
Canada’s politics, immigration policy, and extensive amounts of arable land made it a practical and attractive choice for German farmers and craftsmen!
But enough with the history lesson. Bottom line: I found the German Emigration Center so interesting that I went back for a second visit. This is definitely a must-do activity in the city!
Is the German Emigration Center the only thing to do in Bremerhaven?
Absolutely not! If history museums aren’t quite your thing, no worries! There are other definitely things to do in Bremerhaven, like exploring the Fishery Harbour (Fischereihafen), visiting the Klimahaus (an interactive science center of sorts that focus on climate, climate change, and weather), or the zoo!
And of course, eating as much seafood as humanely possible should be on the agenda… *wink*… I recommend chowing down on a fish sandwich at one of the food stands downtown or, if you’re seeking finer dining, at one of the more upscale establishments at the Fishery Harbour.
Don’t forget to at least have a drink at the establishment known as “die letze Kneipe vor New York” — directly translated as “The last bar before New York”, it’s said to be the last place German emigrants went for a tipple before boarding the boat to the New World.
But moving pictures speak louder than words, don’t they? I made a video about my stay in Bremerhaven, so give it a watch and let me know what you think!
Have you ever been to this part of Germany?
I travelled to Germany in partnership with the German National Tourist Office and produced 5 videos in all. Make sure to watch the whole series:
- My first video chronicling the journey of German immigrants to Canada via the city of Bremerhaven;
- The second video showcasing Germany’s Fairy Tale Route and revealing the origins of and inspiration for the Brothers Grimm’s most popular stories;
- The third video explaining how the city of Stuttgart has had a huge impact on both what we drive and what we drink in The Great White North (as well as in many other parts of North America!)
- The fourth video which explains why Frankfurt is Crazy, Sexy, and Cool;
- And the last video which gives insight into why Germany’s capital of Berlin is the place to be!
88 Comments
Hi, Oneika – I thoroughly enjoy reading about your world travels. You are an inspiration!
I was so surprised and happy to see Bremerhaven featured in your blog! I grew up in Bremerhaven! As the daughter of a military man (Army), I attended elementary school in this city. My wonderful memories came flooding back as I watched your video – thanks for that! 🙂
My brother still lives there. His two sons were born in Bremerhaven but now live in Hamburg. Matter of fact, my nephew is a well-known DJ in Europe! Check out his website – http://www.djstylewarz.de/ to learn more.
Thank you for sharing and telling the story of beautiful Bremerhaven! I am planning a trip there soon.
Safe travels!
Cathleen
Thanks so much for showcasing other cities in Germany!! We lived there when I served on active duty. We love Germany and were so happy there. This video was well done…congratulations! I’m looking forward to more!
Sure!
My in-laws live in a town not too far away from there called Achim!
p.s. ‘Love the video!
Right on my man!
I didn’t know that.
This is a remarkable article by the way. I am going to go ahead and save this post for my brother to read later on tonight. Keep up the fine work.
That’s very good point
It’s difficult to find knowledgeable people about this topic, however, you seem
like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
I like the valuable information you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I’m quite certain I’ll learn many new stuff right here!
Good luck for the next!
Spot on with this write-up, I actually feel this site needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read more, thanks for the advice!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your next post thank you
once again.
What’s up to all, how is the whole thing, I think
every one is getting more from this site, and your views are fastidious
for new people.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was
great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you
aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
There is certainly a great deal to learn about this subject.
I really like all of the points you have made.
This design is steller! You most certainly know how to keep a reader amused.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost
moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job.
I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
Thanks for a marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you might be a great author.I will remember to bookmark your blog and
may come back at some point. I want to encourage you to definitely continue your
great posts, have a nice day!
Wonderful website. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to some
friends ans also sharing in delicious. And of course,
thank you in your effort!
Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous
to and you are just extremely wonderful. I really
like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it.
You make it entertaining and you still take care of to
keep it smart. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a terrific website.
Greetings! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a
group of volunteers and starting a new project in a community
in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it
up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website
to come back later. Cheers
Just wish to say your article is as astounding. The clarity in your post is
simply excellent and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject.
Well with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed
to keep up to date with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please keep up the gratifying work.
Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against
hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any recommendations?
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say
that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you
write again very soon!
I believe this is among the such a lot important info for me. And i am glad reading your article. However should commentary on some basic issues, The site style is great, the articles is actually nice : D. Just right activity, cheers|
It’s in reality a nice and useful piece of info.
I am glad that you just shared this useful info with us.
Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Terrific article! This is the kind of info that should be
shared around the net. Disgrace on Google for now not positioning this publish upper!
Come on over and talk over with my website .
Thank you =)
If some one wants expert view regarding blogging and site-building then i propose him/her to pay a visit this
webpage, Keep up the pleasant work.
Keep on working, great job!
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This post posted at this web page is actually pleasant.
Hello there I am so happy I found your web site, I really
found you by mistake, while I was searching on Askjeeve for something else, Anyways I am here
now and would just like to say kudos for a tremendous post and a
all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I
don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but
I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have
time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do
keep up the great jo.
I have been surfing on-line greater than 3 hours lately, but I never found any attention-grabbing article like
yours. It’s beautiful price sufficient for me.
Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you
probably did, the net can be a lot more helpful than ever before.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your site.
You have some really great posts and I feel
I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some material
for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an email if interested.
Regards!
I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all site owners
and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much
more useful than ever before.
These are truly impressive ideas in about blogging. You have touched some nice things here.
Any way keep up wrinting.
Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a weblog website?
The account aided me a applicable deal. I have been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided brilliant clear idea
Thanks for your marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading
it, you will be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog
and may come back down the road. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great work, have a nice weekend!
Thanks for your marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it, you may
be a great author.I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and
will come back sometime soon. I want to encourage you to continue your
great writing, have a nice morning!
whoah this blog is magnificent i love reading your posts.
Stay up the good work! You realize, a lot of individuals are hunting around for
this information, you could aid them greatly.
Excellent blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host
are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
I know this website provides quality depending articles or reviews and other
material, is there any other web page which presents such
things in quality?
Thanks for finally talking about > Germany: A little city called
Bremerhaven – Oneika the Traveller < Loved it!
I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today, but
I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough
for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content material as you did, the internet
can be a lot more helpful than ever before.
Can I simply just say what a comfort to find somebody that truly knows what they are talking about on the net.
You certainly understand how to bring a problem to light
and make it important. A lot more people should
check this out and understand this side of your story.
I can’t believe you are not more popular since you
surely have the gift.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
It will always be interesting to read through articles from other authors and practice something from their sites.
Hello i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anyplace, when i read this piece of writing i thought i could also make
comment due to this good piece of writing.
I always used to study paragraph in news papers but now as I am a user of internet thus from now
I am using net for content, thanks to web.
Hi there I am so delighted I found your weblog, I really found you by mistake, while
I was researching on Yahoo for something else, Anyhow
I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a tremendous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design),
I don’t have time to read through it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I
will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the excellent work.
First of all I want to say excellent blog! I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if you
do not mind. I was interested to know how you center yourself and
clear your thoughts before writing. I’ve had trouble
clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts out there.
I do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes
are lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or hints?
Thank you!
This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me.
Many thanks!
Hello! I’ve been reading your blog for some time
now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a
shout out from Kingwood Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the good work!
Hello! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I
genuinely enjoy reading through your blog posts. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same topics?
Many thanks!
Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a sea shell
and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put
the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched
her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to
tell someone!
Great blog here! Additionally your web site a lot up fast!
What web host are you using? Can I get your associate link for your host?
I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
I need to to thank you for this wonderful read!!
I definitely enjoyed every bit of it. I have got you book marked to look at new stuff you post…
Howdy, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of
spam remarks? If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any assistance is very much appreciated.
A person necessarily lend a hand to make seriously posts I would
state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and to this point?
I surprised with the research you made to create this particular post amazing.
Great activity!
As the admin of this site is working, no hesitation very shortly it will be famous, due to its feature contents.
Great post! I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful info specially the last part I care for such information a lot.
Please allow me to introduce myself I’m a man of wealth and taste I’ve been around for a long, long year Stole many a mans soul and faith And I was round when jesus christ Had his moment of doubt and pain.
Very thought out! Whoa.
Incredible blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is magnificent, let alone the content!
Style, typography, shot, icons – classic!!
Gold. I think clients would love this.
Tremendously good texture 🙂
What’s up mates, how is everything, and what you
want to say regarding this paragraph, in my view its really awesome in favor
of me.
This excellent website certainly has all the information I needed
concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
I love what you guys are up too. This type of clever work
and reporting! Keep up the terrific works guys I’ve included you guys to my blogroll.
I am actually thankful to the holder of this website who has shared this impressive post at at
this time.
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but,
I’d like to send you an e-mail. I’ve got some ideas for your blog you might be
interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look
forward to seeing it expand over time.
Magnificent web site. Lots of helpful information here. I
am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And of course, thank you in your effort!
Thanks on your marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you
happen to be a great author. I will always bookmark your blog and definitely will
come back later in life. I want to encourage one to continue your great writing, have a nice holiday weekend!
Wow, superb weblog format! How long have you been running
a blog for? you make blogging look easy. The whole look of your site is wonderful, as well as the content material!
Every weekend i used to go to see this site, as i wish for
enjoyment, for the reason that this this web page conations genuinely good funny stuff too.
Just desire to say your article is as astounding.
The clearness on your publish is just cool and that i can think you are an expert in this subject.
Fine together with your permission allow me to snatch your RSS feed to stay up to date with
drawing close post. Thank you a million and please carry on the rewarding
work.
What a information of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious experience on the
topic of unexpected feelings.
Hi, everything is going fine here and ofcourse every one is sharing
data, that’s in fact fine, keep up writing.
We stumbled over here from a different page and thought I might as well
check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you.
Look forward to checking out your web page repeatedly.
Every weekend i used to pay a visit this site, for the reason that i wish for enjoyment,
since this this web page conations in fact fastidious funny stuff
too.
Designgasmed all over this!
I didn’t know that.
Why is it I always really feel like you do?
Wonderful views on that!
Indeed. A nice article for understanding the current scenario of two world powers
{{Blog sites are a wonderful method to share your thoughts and also suggestions with the globe. They are likewise a great means to build your individual brand name.
Admiring the dedication you put into your blog and in depth information you offer. It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed material. Wonderful read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
What I find tough is to find a weblog that may seize me for a minute but your blog is different. Bravo.
Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from anestablished blog. Is it difficult to set up your own blog?I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin.Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Cheers
One of the more impressive blogs Ive seen. Thanks so much for keeping the internet classy for a change. Youve got style, class, bravado. I mean it. Please keep it up because without the internet is definitely lacking in intelligence.
Comments are closed.