Ever tasted Flensburg’s famous Pilsner beer? It’s brewed in Schleswig-Holstein’s third-largest city Flensburg. A city steeped in history and close to the Danish border. This proximity to Denmark has deeply shaped Flensburg’s identity for centuries.
Flensburg boasts a rich maritime heritage. For years it was a key trading hub. Its strategic location on the Flensburg Firth a long inlet of the Baltic Sea made it an ideal port. The fjord was and still is perfect for sailing and kitesurfing. The Firth also offers stunning scenery. There are many beaches and hiking trails you can explore both on the German and Danish sides.
Flensburg’s seafaring past is celebrated in vibrant festivals. The Rum Regatta for example is Northern Europe’s biggest gathering of historic sailing ships. Over a hundred ships including many historical ones take part in the race. While the first to cross the finish line gets only a symbolic prize the second-place winner gets a massive three-litre bottle of rum. The regatta usually happens in June. There’s an international market held alongside the harbour. Every other summer Flensburg hosts the Dampf rundum a steamship festival. The star of the show is Alexandra a magnificent steamship from 1908. The festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors.
In the 18th and 19th centuries Flensburg was Danish. The city imported sugar cane from the Danish West Indies to produce rum. Rum became one of its most important export goods. Today a few rum producers remain in the city.
Just a short trip from Flensburg is Glücksburg Castle. This impressive Renaissance building is home to the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. The Duke of Edinburgh is a direct descendant of this aristocratic house. The 16th-century castle and its beautiful parks are open to visitors.
Flensburg is also home to the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt the national driver and vehicle register. Many Germans know Flensburg for its traffic offence database. The city has a Danish national minority the largest in Germany. You can often hear people greeting each other with moin a common local greeting.
Flensburg played an unexpected role in history. After Hitler’s death it briefly became the seat of the last Nazi government. This lasted only until the Allies arrested Admiral Karl Dönitz and his ministers in May 1945. The Flensburg government was based in the Naval Academy at Mürwik. This building is now protected as a cultural monument.
Flensburg is a fascinating place. Its history and culture are a delightful blend of German and Danish influences. It’s a city rich in history a place you can explore by foot. Explore its historic wharf its maritime museum St Nicholas Church and the many beautiful buildings. Remember to raise a glass of Flensburger Pilsner to this wonderful city.