Hanover

Hanover (German: Hannover) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. With a population of 535,932 as of 2021, it is the 13th-largest city in Germany and the fourth-largest in northern Germany after Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen.

The city is located at the confluence of the River Leine and its tributary the Ihme, in the south of the North German Plain. Hanover is a major transportation hub, with many railway lines and motorways (Autobahnen) crossing through it. Hanover Airport in Langenhagen is Germany's ninth-busiest airport.

Hanover is well-known for its large fairgrounds, which were greatly expanded for the Expo 2000. The city hosts important annual trade fairs like the Hanover Fair and, until 2018, the CeBIT. It is also famous for events such as the Schützenfest Hanover, the world's largest marksmen's festival, and the Oktoberfest Hanover. The city has important educational institutions, including the Hanover Medical School and the Leibniz University Hanover.

Etymology

The name of Hanover may come from the German phrase (am) hohen Ufer, meaning "on the high (river) bank." In English, the city is traditionally spelled "Hanover," but the German spelling "Hannover" is now more commonly used, especially in places like Encyclopædia Britannica. Both spellings are pronounced the same in English, with the stress on the first syllable. The older English spelling is still used when talking about history, such as the British House of Hanover.

History

Hanover was founded in medieval times on the east bank of the Leine River. Originally a small village of ferrymen and fishermen, it grew into a town in the 13th century and received town privileges in 1241 due to its strategic location at a natural crossroads. Its position on the river helped it become an important trading hub, connecting it to the Hanseatic League city of Bremen and serving as a gateway to several key regions.

In the 14th century, major churches were built, and the city began to grow with the start of industrialization in Germany. Later, in 1636, a ruler moved his residence to Hanover, and it became significant enough that its rulers were later named monarchs of Great Britain. During the Seven Years' War, nearby battles affected the city, and later, during Napoleon's time, Hanover faced occupation but contributed soldiers who fought against France. After the Napoleonic Wars, Hanover became a kingdom but was annexed by Prussia in 1866. The city developed its transportation systems in the late 19th century with the introduction of horse railways and electric trams.

Geography

Hanover has an oceanic climate, meaning its weather is influenced by air masses from the ocean. Even though it is not on a coast, the city experiences temperatures and precipitation patterns typical of such climates.

The city is divided into 13 boroughs and 53 quarters. Some well-known areas include Mitte, which is the city center, and Nordstadt, Oststadt, and Zoo, home to Hanover Zoo.

Politics

The current mayor of Hanover is Belit Onay of Alliance 90/The Greens, elected in 2019. The most recent mayoral election took place on 17 October 2019, with a runoff on 10 November.

The Hanover city council works together with the mayor to govern the city. The latest city council election was held on 12 September 2021.

Main sights

Hanover has many important historic buildings. One of the city's most famous sights is the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, which includes a large Baroque garden with Europe's tallest fountain. The New Town Hall is another landmark, featuring an observation deck reached by a unique elevator.

The Hanover Zoo is highly rated and includes many different themed areas like Sambesi and Yukon Bay. The zoo welcomes over a million visitors each year. The city's Old Town contains historic churches and buildings, some of which were damaged during World War II but later rebuilt. Other notable spots include the Hanover Fairground, site of the EXPO 2000 fair, and the Telemax tower, the tallest in Lower Saxony.

Population

Hanover has a population of about 540,000, making it the largest city in Lower Saxony and the 13th largest city in Germany. The Hanover Region, which includes cities like Langenhagen, Garbsen, and Laatzen, has a population of about 1,160,000. The Hanover metropolitan region, home to cities such as Braunschweig, Hildesheim, and Göttingen, has around 3,850,000 people, making it the 8th largest metropolitan area in Germany.

Hanover became the capital of Lower Saxony in 1946 and grew quickly in the 1950s and 1960s. This growth attracted many people from countries like Turkey, Greece, and Italy. The city is also known for having one of the largest Vietnamese communities in former West Germany.

Society and culture

Hanover is a center for Protestant organizations, including the World Communion of Reformed Churches, the Protestant Church in Germany, and others. In 2015, about 31% of people were Protestant, 13% were Roman Catholic, and 55% followed other religions or were irreligious.

Hanover has many museums and galleries. The Historisches Museum Hanover shows the city's history, while the Kestnergesellschaft and Kestner-Museum display art from classical modernist to contemporary styles. The Landesmuseum Hanover is the largest museum, showing European art, nature, and world cultures. Other museums include the Sprengel Museum for 20th-century art and the Wilhelm Busch Museum for caricature and graphic arts. Hanover also has many theatres, including the Lower Saxony State Theatre and the Theater am Aegi for musicals. Classical music is important in Hanover, with two symphony orchestras and international music competitions. Popular music groups like Scorpions come from Hanover. The city’s top football team is Hanover 96, which plays in the 2. Bundesliga. Hanover also has teams in ice hockey, rugby, water sports, fencing, basketball, baseball, and American football. The Hanover Marathon is a major running event, and the city hosts cycling races and dragon boat competitions.

Hanover is famous for its exhibitions and festivals. It hosts over 60 international exhibitions each year, including CeBIT and the Hanover Fair. The Schützenfest Hannover is the world's largest marksmen's fun fair, with a huge parade and millions of visitors. Other big events include the Hanover Oktoberfest, the Maschsee Festival, and the International Fireworks Competition. Hanover also attracts tourists with sights like the New Town Hall, Herrenhausen Gardens, and Hanover Zoo. The annual Hannover Messe trade fair draws many visitors and focuses on industry development.

Transport

Hanover has many ways to get around, making it easy to travel. The city's main train station, Hanover Hauptbahnhof, connects to fast trains all over Germany and beyond through the ICE network and the Hanover-Würzburg high-speed rail line. It is also the center for the local train system called the Hanover S-Bahn.

The city is served by Hanover Airport, located in Langenhagen, for air travel. Hanover is also a key point on Germany’s autobahn network, where the A 2 and A 7 highways meet. Local highways like A 352 and A 37 help connect different parts of the city. There are also special roads called expressways and many Bundesstraße roads that work together like a big ring around the city.

Hanover has a big system of trams and buses called Stadtbahn, run by üstra. Some of the trams are models like the TW 6000 and TW 2000. Bicycles are popular in the city center, and you can even bring your bike on trams and buses when it’s not busy.

Economy

Hanover is home to many important companies. The biggest employer is the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles factory. Other major companies include Continental AG, founded in 1871, and audio equipment maker Sennheiser. The city also has many insurance companies and the global reinsurance company Hannover Re.

In 2012, Hanover’s economy produced €29.5 billion. Around 300,000 people worked in the city in 2014, with many commuting from nearby areas. The city had over 34,000 businesses, more than half of which were small businesses registered in Germany.

Business development

Hannoverimpuls GMBH is a company formed by the city and region of Hanover to help new businesses start, grow, and move into the area. It was started in 2003 and focuses on supporting thirteen important sectors for strong and lasting growth. These sectors include Automotive, Energy Solutions, Information and Communications Technology, Life Sciences, Optical Technologies, Creative Industries, and Production Engineering.

The company offers various programs to help businesses expand in Hanover or internationally. It also has special centers to build economic ties with Russia, India, and Turkey. Additionally, the Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover works to share scientific knowledge from Leibniz University Hanover with businesses in production technology.

Education

Hanover is a place where many students from around the world come to learn. The largest university is Leibniz University Hannover, which is also home to the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics. Other important schools include the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover for music and theater, the Hannover Medical School for medicine, and the School of Veterinary Medicine Hanover for animal care.

There are also special schools for different jobs, such as metal and electrical engineering, and business. Students can also learn about plants and animals at places like the Schulbiologiezentrum Hannover.

In popular culture

In the episode titled "Problem Dog" from the American crime drama Breaking Bad, it is mentioned that Madrigall Electromotive GmbH, the parent company of Los Pollos Hermanos, is based in Hanover.

Notable people

Hanover has been home to many famous individuals throughout history. Some well-known people from Hanover include Hannah Arendt, an important American political thinker, and Erdoğan Atalay, a popular actor. The city was also the birthplace of Hermann Bahlsen, who created popular snacks like Leibniz-Keks, and Wilhelm Busch, a famous cartoonist and poet.

Other notable figures include Emil Berliner, who invented the phonograph, and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, a great philosopher and mathematician. More recent Hanover natives include Lena Meyer-Landrut, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010, and Gerhard Schröder, who served as Chancellor of Germany.

Sport

Hanover has also produced many talented athletes. Footballers such as Niclas Füllkrug and Per Mertesacker have represented their countries on the international stage. Other sports stars from Hanover include Stina Johannes, a goalkeeper for the Germany women's national football team, and Andreas Toba, an accomplished artistic gymnast.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Hanover has several twin towns and sister cities around the world. It is twinned with Blantyre in Malawi since 1968, Bristol in England since 1947, Hiroshima in Japan since 1983, Leipzig in Germany since 1987, Perpignan in France since 1960, Poznań in Poland since 1979, and Rouen in France since 1966.

Hanover also cooperates with Mykolaiv in Ukraine, beginning in 2022. These partnerships help cities learn from each other and work together on common goals.