Hamburg’s Speicherstadt holds secrets within its waterways. Here, at St. Annenfleet, history whispers from every brick.
St. Annenfleet is a short canal section in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt. It sits on the St. Annenufer. The Neuerwegsbrücke marks its beginning. The St. Annenbrücke signals its end where Holländischbrookfleet begins.
Since 2015, St. Annenfleet is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This acknowledges the historical importance of the Speicherstadt. Buildings on the St. Annenufer are known as “Block R.”
Look to the right. You’ll see the Speicherstadt Town Hall. It served as the headquarters for the Hamburger Freihafen-Lagerhaus-Gesellschaft. Hanßen & Meerwein and architect Johannes Grotjan designed it. Completed in 1904, its neo-Renaissance style contrasts the warehouse district’s brick Gothic.
The Hamburger Freihafen und Lagerhausgesellschaft wanted a magnificent building. Their old office at Am Sandtorkai 1 was too small. They commissioned Hanßen & Meerwein and Johannes Grotjan.
Hanßen & Meerwein had designed their head office. They were also involved in Hamburg’s town hall design. The building, supported by 463 wooden posts, became known as the “Speicherstadt town hall”. The clock tower resembles a medieval town hall belfry.
St. Annen 1 opened on June 1, 1904. It cost 600,000 Reichsmark. The eclectic design combines Roman archways, Renaissance windows, and Baroque details. The gable features the HFLG coat of arms.
Inside, Art Nouveau style prevailed. Tiles, doors, and wooden panels showcase curved forms. Fine bricks from Saxony, Oberkirchen sandstone, and copper were used. Black slate with embedded fossils lined the interior.
Pragmatic changes for office use altered the building over time. However, it survived the Second World War undamaged. Many nearby warehouses were destroyed.
For its 100th birthday, St. Annen 1 was renovated. The firm gmp also built Hamburg Airport and Berlin’s main railway station. Their task was to modernize the building while preserving its history.
New meeting rooms and offices were created. A glass ceiling arched over the foyer. An old fire bell from Kaispeicher A serves as a reminder of the past.
New offices were made by linking former yards. The warehouse lofts let in little light. The interior was equipped with a wash block and meeting rooms.
The hatches now serve as windows. Goods were once delivered, stored, and transported to the street with a winch.
At St. Annenufer 2, you will find the Hamburg Coffee Museum. It is now known as the Genuss-Speicher. Coffee was stored and processed here by Hansen & Studt starting in 1896. The Burg family now runs the museum.
Learn about Germany’s favorite drink. Discover Hamburg’s role as a coffee capital. The building features the only vaulted cellar in the Speicherstadt. The exhibition includes tools, machines, roasters, mills, filters, pots, and advertising related to coffee.
So next time you sip your coffee. Remember the history and the heritage. Remember St. Annenfleet and its contribution to Hamburg.