Hansa Square And Fountain At Night (Hamburg, March 2017)

Hansa Square And Fountain At Night (Hamburg, March 2017)
#hamburg #nightphotography #hansaplatz

Well, this square ("Hansaplatz") - close to the city's Central Train Station - is clearly one of the more problematic areas in Hamburg. Over years it has been a location known for drug dealing, illegal prostitution and outbursts of violence.

A couple of years ago the whole area was reconstructed and cleaned. The electric lighting was enhanced and the authorities increased police presence and surveillance.

But still you will find reports on violence in the local press on a regular basis. It would not appear that the situation has changed dramatically for the better.

Ok - I did not in particular feel unsafe, when I shot this picture on a Friday evening in early March at around 7 pm. Not unsafe - but a bit uneasy so I made it a quick shot...

By the way: The name of the square refers to the "Hanseatic League", a commercial and military confederation of European port cities which dominated the maritime trade on the Baltic Sea and North Sea in the Late Middle Ages.

Hamburg due to its proximity to the North Sea was a leading member of the confederation. Even today its official name is "Free And Hanseatic City of Hamburg", and locals make a big fuss of "being hanseatic" or doing things "the hanseatic way". Bollocks if you ask me...