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© Markus Thollhopf
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Emigrant Museum BallinStadt

From Hamburg to a new world

The emigrant museum BallinStadt in Hamburg opens its doors and shows in its exhibition the emigration history from four epochs.

The Ballinstadt celebrates its 15th anniversary

For 15 years, the Ballinstadt has been showcasing the lives and aspirations of people who were on their way to a new homeland. In addition to exhibits on immigration and emigration, people can also research their own ancestors at the Family Research Center.

The history of the Emigration Museum

Why should you visit the Emigration Museum in Hamburg during your stay in the Hanseatic City? Since its opening in 2007, it has rightly been one of the city's most popular museums. The core of the exhibition are the three replica emigrant halls of Ballinstadt, named after Albert Ballin. At the beginning of the 20th century he was managing director of the shipping company HAPAG and as such he was very interested in the millions of emigrants who wanted to start from here into the New World and hopefully into a better life. Since the housing situation in the city had become untenable, in 1901 he had the Ballinstadt built on the Elbe island of Veddel, which became a true city in the city with a church, dining rooms, dormitories and a military hospital. For about 5 million European emigrants, Hamburg was the "gateway to the world" between 1850 and 1939. The BallinStadt Emigration Museum is dedicated to these emigrants.

 

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DISCOVER NOW Events at this location

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    © Hans Hansen, Detail aus o. T. (Objektiv), für Nikon, 1985, Hans Hansen

    Photo: Hans Hansen

    • 19.05.2026
    • 10:00
    • Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MK&G)
    To event
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    © Regina Schmeken

    Blutiger Boden. Die Tatorte des NSU Exhibition

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    • 10:00
    • Altonaer Museum
    To event
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    SKULPTURAL Exhibitions

    • 19.05.2026
    • 10:00
    • Hamburger Kunsthalle
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    © Hamburger Kunsthalle, Foto: Jann Wilken

    Acht Jahrhunderte Kunst Permanent Exhibition

    • 19.05.2026
    • 10:00
    • Hamburger Kunsthalle
    To event
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    Panoptikum - Wax Museum

    • 19.05.2026
    • 10:00
    • Panoptikum
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    © XULY.Bët, Kollektion Herbst/Winter 2024/25, Foto: Marc Baptiste

    XULY.Bët. Funkin’ Fashion Factory 100% Recycled Exhibition

    • 19.05.2026
    • 10:00
    • Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MK&G)
    To event
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    © Suzuki Kiitsu, Tänzerinnen (Detail), Japan, 1. H. 19. Jh., Hängerolle, MK&G, Erworben mit Mitteln der Campe’schen Historischen Kunststiftung aus der Sammlung Walter Gebhard, Foto: MK&G/Tobias Eckmann

    Inspiring Japan Permanent Exhibition

    • 19.05.2026
    • 10:00
    • Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MK&G)
    To event
  • MK&G_InspirationChina_DosemitdreiDrachen_Detail_QianlongAera_1736_1795_SlgMK&G_FotoMK&G_JoergArend_klein
    © Dose mit drei Drachen (Detail), China, Qing-Dynastie, Qianlong-Ära (1736-1795), MK&G, Foto: MK&G/Jörg Arend

    Inspiring China Permanent Exhibition

    • 19.05.2026
    • 10:00
    • Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MK&G)
    To event
  • Hamburg Dungeon
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    Take an 80-minute immersive trip through Hamburg’s chilling city history! Shows

    • 19.05.2026
    • 10:00
    • Hamburg Dungeon
    To event
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    © SHMH Sinje Hasheider

    Die Sammlung des Deutschen Hafenmuseums Permanent Exhibition

    • 20.05.2026
    • 10:00
    • Deutsches Hafenmuseum
    To event

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The Elbe Island of Wilhelmsburg is embedded between the southern and northern Elbe. It impresses visitors with a mixture of industrial charm and bustling life with multicultural flair. With its historic buildings, cafés and shops, the Wilhelmsburg Reiherstieg area is especially popular. It is even called "Little Berlin" due to its transformation in recent years. And then there is the neighbouring island of Veddel, which also has much to offer.

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THIS MIGHT INTEREST YOU AS WELL Further recommendations

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