Almost 100 years ago the Emigration Halls in Hamburg were the last homestead to the European emigrants. Shortly before the departure, when the “New World” was within the grasp of the emigrants, the Emigration Halls were renowned as the “port of dreams”.

This website is a journey into the history of emigration over Hamburg, displayed in three re-erected buildings of the former Emigration Halls on the Veddel-Island – The

“BallinStadt”.

The “BallinStadt” is named after the wellknown citizen of Hamburg Albert Ballin, the president of the shipping company HAPAG.

The award-winning conception of the “BallinStadt”, begins with the moving pictures, which depict the emigration from 1850 until 1938.

But not only departing homeland and travelling to the “New World” are part of our exhibition. The stories and questions lying beyond this topic are the pulse of the “BallinStadt”, which brings the history, people and destinies back to life.