Eidelstedt

Eidelstedt is a quarter in the Eimsbüttel borough of Hamburg. It lies in the north-west of the borough, near the city’s outer edge. The quarter borders Schnelsen, Niendorf, Stellingen, Bahrenfeld and Lurup. A small stream called the Mühlenau once flowed through the village centre. The name Eidelstedt comes from an old Saxon word meaning a safe place to live. The village was first mentioned in records from the late 13th century. At that time it appeared under names like Eilstede or Eylenstede. One explanation links the name to medicinal leeches once found in the Mühlenau and the village pond. In 1937 the village became part of Hamburg through the Greater Hamburg Act. Today Eidelstedt has two railway stations on the Hamburg-Altona–Kiel line. The S-Bahn stops at Elbgaustraße and Eidelstedt station. The AKN commuter trains also serve Eidelstedt station and Eidelstedt Zentrum station. The quarter remains a quiet part of the city, with open spaces near the old village centre.