“Seventy-three thousand seven hundred and ninety-four tons.” That’s the weight of goods handled at Brink-Hafen in 2013. This inland port thrives on the Mittellandkanal in Hannover. Brink-Hafen sits at canal kilometer 161.1 North. It rests between the Brink-Hafen and Vinnhorst districts. The port’s elevation is 50.3 meters above sea level.
Brink-Hafen’s story began in 1912 during the Mittellandkanal’s construction. By 1916, it was open for business. Back then, the port belonged to Brink. Brink was an independent community. In 1938, Brink joined Langenforth and Langenhagen to form Langenhagen. A private company initially ran the harbor. The Brinker Hafen area became part of Hannover in 1974. For a time, 700 meters of the Mittellandkanal and Brink-Hafen were part of Langenhagen.
Today, Brinker Hafengesellschaft mbH manages the port. It is a subsidiary of Hafen Hannover GmbH. The company provides services to businesses around the port. These services include recycling, aluminum smelting, and steel trading. Around 30 businesses operate within the harbor area. The main goods handled are steel, recyclables for the aluminum industry, and scrap metal.
The port area covers 19 hectares. Two mobile excavators serve 350 meters of quay facilities. In 2013, 73,794 tons of goods passed through on 139 ships. Rail transport is also significant here. In 2013, trains moved 205,473 tons of goods using 3,234 wagons. The port railway connects to the Deutsche Bundesbahn network. This connection runs via an extension track at Vinnhorst station. The port railway tracks stretch over 17 km. They extend to the northern pier with two tracks. A single track serves the southern pier.
During the Second World War, the Brinker ironworks became a satellite camp. In late 1944, the SS brought 500 female prisoners to Hannover. The women were forced to work at the Brinker ironworks. Factory I produced ammunition. Factory II manufactured aircraft parts and repaired planes. Most of the women were from Poland. They had been arrested during the Warsaw Uprising. The prisoners were deported to Hannover via Pruszkow transit camp and Stutthof concentration camp. Allied bombing raids targeted the Brinker ironworks. One attack destroyed the camp in Langenhagen in early January 1945. At least two women died. The survivors moved to the Hannover-Limmer women’s satellite camp.
A locomotive from World War II is on display. It was built in 1942 by Ruhrthaler Maschinen-Fabrik Schwarz & Dykerhoff K. G. The locomotive number is 2371. It stood near Am Brinker Hafen street until late 2017.
In 2003, a monument was dedicated to the former Hannover-Langenhagen women’s satellite camp. This was initiated by IG Metall Hannover.
Brink-Hafen stands as a testament to Hannover’s industrial past. It also serves as a reminder of a dark chapter in history. Today, Brink-Hafen continues its role as a vital logistics hub.