“Bullenhuus,” the Low German name echoes through time. Bullenhausen, a district of Seevetal, holds stories aplenty. Today, we explore its unique past.
Bullenhausen sits southeast of Hamburg. It is not directly in Hamburg, but a suburb of the maritime city. Its maritime flair includes its own yacht club. Bullenhausen has a population of 1271. Thirty-five of these own a secondary residence.
For centuries, Bullenhausen bordered Hamburg. A guarded barrier marked this boundary. It was between Neuland and Bullenhausen. Armed ships watched the Hamburg side. Disputes arose between fishermen and boatmen. These arguments sometimes led to armed clashes and arrests. In 1609, Duke Wilhelm von Harburg set up a customs post. It was on the Bullenhausen dike.
An 1854 decree restricted nighttime stays in border areas. It also applied to stays on country roads. Border officials could use firearms. This was if they found more than two people with luggage.
Bullenhausen’s name appeared on Elbe maps around 1568-69. It was also known as Bollenhusen and Pollenhaußen. Neuland was mentioned as early as 1296. Some believe the Neuland church stood in Bullenhausen. A clergyman was mentioned there in 1310. In 1593, Marten Schwen lived near the Nienlander Church in Bullenhausen. The field name “Kirchhof” supports this. The place name likely comes from the “Bullen”. These were flat, pot-bellied river boats.
The marshes between Harburg and the Seeve were settled later. The Elbe and its branches flowed freely. Settlements grew on higher ground. These were along riverbanks. Dikes east of Harburg allowed villages to grow. Bullenhausen became a village.
In 1593, ten Höfner and Köter lived in Bullenhausen. They were free hereditary leasehold farmers. Unlike Meyerhöfen, they could sell their land. Soon, landless people settled there. By 1667, there were eight Höfner and eight Köter. Köter owned no land. They worked as day laborers or as fishermen. A ferry between Bullenhausen and Hamburg existed by 1692. Some Köter acquired land over time. They grew vegetables and fruit.
Storm floods often destroyed dikes. The Elbe shifted its riverbed south. When dikes broke, residents had to repair them. A bad dike break happened in the winter of 1813/14. French soldiers damaged the dike during work. The marsh was flooded for weeks. It then froze over. After the flood of 1962, a flood-proof dike was built. Residents protested. The dike would run through their gardens and block the view of the Elbe. This led to the “Dike War of Bullenhausen” in the 1960s.
The Hamburg port expansion between 1927 and 1937 caused toxic silt to be dumped. This polluted the Bullenhausen foreland. During World War II, a large anti-aircraft position was built here. From 1955, villa-like houses with views of the Elbe appeared. In 1972, Bullenhausen voted to join Hamburg.
Bullenhausen’s story reflects resilience and change. From border disputes to dike wars, its people adapted. As you explore, remember the past. The echoes of history resonate here.