Altstadt: Nikolaifleet

Nikolaifleet is the clearest local landscape element in this part of Altstadt. Water and the spaces immediately around it influence routes, views and the amount of openness between the surrounding streets, giving this micro-area a character that differs from drier and more densely built parts of the district. Treating Nikolaifleet separately helps bring the waterside setting and its everyday recreational value into the description. To the south-east, the Kontorhausviertel with the Chilehaus represents Hamburg’s trading history and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble linked with the Speicherstadt. Nikolaifleet, Deichstraße and the ruins of St. Nikolai preserve especially strong historical atmospheres amid the modern city. Permanent housing is limited, and many streets become noticeably quieter after shops and offices close. Its distinctive character lies in this contrast between national landmarks, global commerce, reconstructed urban space and small surviving traces of old Hamburg.