Finkenwerder

Finkenwerder is a quarter of Hamburg in the borough Hamburg-Mitte. It lies on the Elbe river and includes parts of the port. The quarter covers 19.3 square kilometres, with the Elbe on its western and northern sides. A small uninhabited island called Schweinesand belongs to Finkenwerder and marks its westernmost point. The Köhlfleet channel borders the quarter to the east, separating it from Waltershof. To the south, Finkenwerder shares land borders with Francop and Neuenfelde. The quarter has a history dating back to 1236 when it was first mentioned as a fishing village. It became part of Hamburg in 1445 and gained suburb status in 1919. During World War II, a subcamp of the Neuengamme concentration camp was established here. A U-boat bunker stood in Finkenwerder but was heavily damaged by Allied bombs in April 1945. The foundations of the bunker were uncovered during runway extensions at Hamburg-Finkenwerder Airport. Today, Finkenwerder is known for the Airbus Hamburg plant and its airfield. The area combines industrial zones with rural sections. Two ferry lines on the Elbe provide public transport, as the quarter has no rapid rail service. There are two elementary schools, two secondary schools, six day-care centres, seven doctors’ practices and three pharmacies. The quarter’s coat of arms reflects its past as an island community.