A ship’s horn blares a greeting. We stand before the Wedel-Schulau Willkomm-Hoft. This isn’t just any welcoming committee. This is Wedel’s famous ship welcoming station.
For centuries Wedel thrived on the Elbe’s edge. Its history stretches far back. Documents mention “brothers from Wedel” as witnesses in 1212. Though not definitive this hints at an earlier settlement. Its name means “bank of water” a fitting description for this river town. The small Wedeler Aue brook once formed a trade route obstacle.
Wedel’s rise to prominence was linked to the ox trade. Oxen from Jutland were driven along the Oxen Way. This route was later used by armies becoming known as the Army Way. The Wedel ox market became a major hub in northern Germany. Up to 30000 head of cattle were traded in a single spring market. The Wedeler Roland statue stands as a symbol of this bustling market. Originally a wooden statue the current sandstone Roland dates from 1558. He symbolized justice and oversaw market negotiations.
The Thirty Years’ War brought hardship to Wedel. The ox trade declined. Johann Rist a poet and theologian born in nearby Ottensen became Wedel’s pastor in 1635. He documented the war’s devastation in his writings. Rist was a remarkable figure. He even helped create the Elbschwanenorden a group preserving the German language.
Danish rule followed the death of the last Schauenburg count in 1622. The 17th and 18th centuries saw plagues fires and more war. In 1848 Wedel joined the Schleswig-Holstein rebellion against Denmark. This marked the beginning of a new era. Industrialization boomed. The Moeller Company later Muller-Wedel International began producing optical instruments. A rail link in 1883 further spurred growth.
The 20th century saw Wedel’s amalgamation with Schulau in 1909. The Great Depression hit hard. Unemployment soared. Political unrest increased leading to Nazi power. Tragically a subcamp of the Neuengamme concentration camp operated near Wedel. Hundreds of Jewish and other prisoners were held there.
World War II brought devastation. A 1943 bombing raid damaged or destroyed nearly 70% of Wedel’s homes. Post-war reconstruction was massive. The Elbhochufer garden city project built thousands of homes for refugees and those made homeless by the war. In 1952 the Willkomm-Hoft was established greeting incoming ships with flags and anthems a symbol of Wedel’s enduring spirit.
Today Wedel is a thriving city. It boasts museums a theatre a theatre ship and educational institutions. Its lively culture and history are evident everywhere. We stand here at the Willkomm-Hoft a testament to Wedel’s resilience and its connection to the Elbe. The next ship approaches. The flags unfurl. The music begins. We are in Wedel.