Few know that Hasbergen in Delmenhorst was first mentioned in a settlement agreement in 1142. We are standing in a place steeped in history. Hasbergen has seen centuries of change. It is now part of Delmenhorst in Lower Saxony. But Hasbergen retains its unique charm.
Hasbergen sits on a geest ridge surrounded by marshland. The Delme River flows through it. The Ochtum River also meets here. This area is prone to flooding due to its low elevation. Tides and water from the uplands contribute to this. About half of the area is grassland. Thirty percent is farmland. The rest consists of forests, water and buildings.
Hasbergen was once made up of several smaller communities. These included Deichhausen, Sandhausen, Neuendeel, Schohasbergen and others. The area is divided into three main parts. These are Mühlenende, Mitteldorf and Kirchende. Mühlenende has a clustered village layout. To the east is a linear village. The church sits at the east end. This suggests the linear village was settled later. The Delme River flows from Delmenhorst towards the Ochtum near the mill.
Archaeological finds show that people lived here in the Stone Age. Saxons settled in Northern Europe during the Migration Period. In the late 8th century, the Franks conquered the Saxon Empire. They brought Christianity. Hasbergen was then under the Bishopric of Bremen.
Bremen became a trading center in the 11th century. Immigrants from the Netherlands came to the region. They made the marshlands around Hasbergen habitable.
The Stedingers lived northwest of Hasbergen. They refused to pay taxes to the Archbishop of Bremen. The archbishop declared them heretics and called for a crusade. In 1234, the Stedingers were defeated. The border towns of Ochtum, Deichhausen and Sandhausen were added to Hasbergen.
Around 1142, Hasbergen separated from Ganderkesee Church. It became its own parish. This parish included the County of Delmenhorst. Around 1350, the parish was placed under Delmenhorst Church. This happened after the death of Hasbergen’s pastor.
In 1311, Delmenhorst rerouted a Flemish trade route. This route originally passed through Hasbergen. This change hurt Hasbergen’s trade. A customs station was set up in Hasbergen at Varrelgraben.
The St. Laurentius Church was consecrated in 1380. Schohasbergen was first mentioned in 1417. The watermill was mentioned around 1450.
In 1463, the knight Count Gerd raided Hasbergen. In 1538, parts of Delmenhorst and Hasbergen were destroyed. About 40 houses and the mill burned down. The name Brandhöfen may have come from this event.
During the Thirty Years’ War, Hasbergen suffered looting. This was especially bad in 1622 and 1623. In 1655, the plague struck the parishes. In 1679, French troops destroyed and looted the area.
In the mid-18th century, Hasbergen became a center for cork cutting. After World War I, the community was connected to the power grid. The volunteer fire department was founded in 1927. In 1974, Hasbergen was incorporated into the city of Delmenhorst.
The name Hasbergen may come from a legend. During a storm tide, a horse and foal sought safety on a hill. Wolves were chasing them. The church now stands on this hill. The name combines “Has” from the English word “horse” and “Bergen”. This means “to shelter”.
The flood of 1962 caused severe damage in Hasbergen. Much of the area was flooded. The water entered stables and houses. Livestock was lost. The cemetery wall and the watermill were flooded too.
Today, Hasbergen is managed by Delmenhorst. It has its own local council. This council allows Hasbergen to have a say in local matters. The village celebrated its 850th anniversary in 1992. Hasbergen’s history is rich and varied. It is a place worth remembering.