Curious about a bridge with three names? Today, we are standing before the Hansabrücke. It is more than just a river crossing. It is a story etched in steel and stone.
The Hansabrücke spans the Spree River. It links Berlin’s Hansaviertel and Moabit. This bridge stands at kilometer 11.53 of the Spree-Oder waterway.
The Hansabrücke’s story began in 1892. A private developer built a wooden trestle bridge here. Upon its completion, it was named Altonaer Brücke. This name came from the road it connected to. As new housing developed near Moabit, the area became known as Neues Hansaviertel. The bridge was renamed Hansabrücke in 1895.
That original wooden bridge had swing gates for ship passage. By the 20th century, the bridge was too small for the increasing traffic. A new bridge was needed. Architect Bruno Möhring, engineer Friedrich Krause, and sculptor Walter Schmarje designed a stone bridge. It closely resembled the Lessingbrücke. The river was narrower at the new location. The Hansabrücke had a single 50-meter arch. The design featured a three-story bridge house. It was built in the style of Hanseatic gabled houses. A bridge warden lived here. The house also contained storage and service rooms. The new Hansabrücke opened in 1910.
World War II devastated the area. The Hansabrücke was destroyed. Makeshift pipelines served as emergency crossings. In 1950, the remaining bridge parts were demolished.
Between 1952 and 1953, the Hansabrücke was rebuilt. It was a simpler design. The third Hansabrücke is a functional structure. It features a concrete deck on eight arches. The bridge was renovated in the early 1970s.
Look closely at the northwestern bridge pier. You can see a flat relief of a Hanseatic cog. This used to be above the bridge house entrance.
A Schifferbrunnen or Boatman’s Fountain was added in 1914. Hermann Hosaeus designed it. A sandstone column rises from a twelve-sided basin. It depicts a barefoot boatman playing an accordion. Four frogs once served as waterspouts. The fountain is dry now. The basin is planted with flowers. The Hansabrücke and the Schifferbrunnen are now protected as historical monuments.
In July 2009, the Hansabrücke hosted a boat party. It was called Berlin Beats & Boats and East Port Festival. Today, many shipping companies dock near the Hansabrücke. Since 2006, the café ship Spree-Blick has been docked. It serves as a boat house too.
This Hansabrücke is not alone. Other bridges share the name. Hamburg, Stettin, and Herford have their own Hansabrücken.
So as you cross this bridge, remember its history. The Hansabrücke is a testament to Berlin’s resilience. It has transformed from a simple wooden structure to a vital part of the city.