Ever wondered about the name Herrenwyk? It’s a fascinating story. We’re standing in Herrenwyk a district of Lubeck with a rich industrial past. Herrenwyk’s name hints at its history. It means “herring bay”. The Trave River narrowed here. This made it a perfect spot for herring fishing. The -wyk suffix means bay in Low German. Herring were plentiful. This explains the name Herrenwyk.
Herrenwyk wasn’t always an industrial center. It transformed significantly in the 19th and 20th centuries. A large blast furnace plant opened in 1907. This brought hundreds of workers. Their families joined them too. This caused a housing shortage. The plant built homes for its employees. These homes were organized hierarchically. The general director’s villa was in the west. The workers’ housing was simple. Each house had a small garden. They lacked bathrooms.
The Flender shipyard also played a significant role in Herrenwyk. Founded in 1917 it became a major employer. It even built U-boats during World War II. The shipyard employed thousands. However due to the shipbuilding crisis it faced insolvency in 2002. This marked the end of a 120-year tradition of iron and steel shipbuilding in Lubeck. The buildings were mostly demolished.
The Herrenwyk blast furnace plant closed in 1981. The plant’s gashouse used the gasses from the blast furnace. The gashouse was powered by the gasses from the ironworks. It was part of the power plant. After the plant closed the site was cleared. Even the cooling tower a 42-meter-tall structure was removed in 2009.
Today Herrenwyk has changed. The industrial past remains. The Geschichtswerkstatt Herrenwyk museum tells the story of the area’s industries. You can see exhibits of tools machinery and even a blacksmith’s hammer. It documents workers’ lives in the area. The former workers’ casino is now a senior citizens’ home. The old bathhouse where workers who lacked their own baths went is now used for office space. The area is undergoing transformation. A technology center helps new businesses to thrive. The harbor is busy too. Multiple companies operate there.
Herrenwyk’s story is one of transformation. It’s a story of industry of workers and of change. This quiet area has a history you can touch see and feel. It’s part of Lubeck’s story. A story told through its streets factories and museum. It’s a story waiting to be discovered.