Hennigsdorfer Straße

In 1876, Hennigsdorfer Straße received its name, a tribute to the town of Hennigsdorf in Brandenburg. Hennigsdorfer Straße stands as a quiet reminder of this connection between Berlin and its neighboring town. The street’s history is intertwined with Hennigsdorf’s growth. Hennigsdorf, a small fishing village first mentioned in 1375 as Heynekendorp, transformed with the arrival of the railway and the canalization of the Havel River around 1870. While initially industrially underdeveloped, Hennigsdorf experienced significant growth when AEG acquired the site of a lime kiln in 1910. Between 1914 and 1917, AEG relocated its locomotive construction to Hennigsdorf. Further land acquisitions between 1921 and 1923 led to steel production in the town, solidifying its industrial importance. Hennigsdorfer Straße in Berlin became a subtle nod to this burgeoning industrial center. By 1962, Hennigsdorf officially became a city. Today, Hennigsdorfer Straße not only bears the town’s name but also echoes its transformation from a quiet village to a significant industrial hub. Interestingly, Hennigsdorfer Straße hasn’t always borne its current name. Before 1937, it was simply designated as “Straße 39, Abt. X/1” according to the development plan. Between 1907 and 1910, a section between Holländerstraße and Walderseestraße was renamed Brienzer Straße. In 1937, parts of Hennigsdorfer Straße were renamed Utrechter Straße and Brienzer Straße. After World War II, in 1947, it briefly became Groninger Straße. This shift in names reflects the changing political and social landscape of Berlin throughout the 20th century. Today, as you stand on Hennigsdorfer Straße, you’re not just on a street, but on a timeline that whispers stories of a small village’s industrial rise and a city’s evolving identity.