Press articles about the Überseestadt
Service for reporters
Our basic press information on the Überseestadt Bremen provides information on one of the largest urban development projects in Europe and provides current figures from the district.
You will find current press releases below.
Überseestadt Bremen: Breathing new life into the old docklands
From an abandoned port to a bustling “world of possibilities”: Since the early 2000s, the former docklands in Bremen’s western quarter have been under development to create a new “Überseestadt”. As a company of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen Bremeninvest has been commissioned to improve infrastructure, put commercial and residential properties on the market, help companies to establish their business there and provide the various stakeholders in the Überseestadt with the support needed to fill this new district in Walle with life.
The Überseestadt is located exactly where great international cargo ships used to be docked, loaded and unloaded (hence its name as the “City Beyond the Seas”). By the late 1980s, however, the Europahafen and international seaport had failed to adapt to the developments in modern container shipping, leading to several vacancies around the harbour basin. The Senate of Bremen approved a master plan in 2000 to restructure the former docklands to the right of the Weser. The idea was to reclaim the area for urban living and business by creating a new district: the Überseestadt. All local developments are still based on this master plan to this day.
One of Europe’s largest urban development projects
It seamlessly joins the list of outstanding European port regeneration projects and is one of the largest urban development schemes of its kind. Bremeninvest is driving development work over the Überseestadt’s 1km x 3.5km plot of land. “We expect the Überseestadt and its infrastructure to be fully marketed by 2025”, predicts Andreas Heyer, the Chairman of the Board at Bremeninvest. This is a realistic goal considering the impressive rate of development so far: “The Überseestadt is developing really quickly with great success.
The Überseestadt’s location near the city centre is an important factor: It’s just under two kilometres away from Bremen Cathedral, and you can get there by walking along the popular “Schlachte” promenade by the river Weser. As a district in Bremen-Walle, the Überseestadt can be reached directly using public transport, the A27 and A281 motorways, and from Bremen Airport via the B6 road.
The old and the new
The Überseestadt is different from other projects of its kind in that the people of Bremen have opted against a general overhaul, deciding instead to retain the existing port industry while developing new open spaces for a wide range of uses.
The Überseestadt’s redevelopment has breathed new life into its port and logistics companies, its historical storage facilities and sheds, and Bremen’s long-established companies. Its central promenade is formed by the restructured quayside of the Europahafen. June 2011 saw the inauguration of a marina at the Europahafen with mooring facilities for both private boats and passenger ships.
New properties have been under development around the harbour basin since 2003, and they all fit in nicely among the surrounding storage facilities. Elaborate restoration work has also been carried out on several old and listed buildings. Retailers and long-standing companies have been joined in the area by young start-ups. Companies from the cultural and creative sectors have also proven to be a stroke of luck for Bremen’s city planners; they were among the first businesses to become established in the Überseestadt after believing in its potential.
The living spaces, jobs and various other activities available in the Überseestadt accentuate its quality as a “world of possibilities”. The new quarter on the waterfront is characterised by perfect harmony between the past, present and future, the old and the new.
25 years of Überseestadt Bremen
Dynamic development from historic harbour area to modern urban district
Bremen, 15 May 2025.
Twenty-five years ago, the Bremen Senate decided to develop the old harbour areas into Überseestadt. Today, the district presents itself as an urban area that uniquely combines work, living, leisure and tourism in a location directly on the waterfront. Überseestadt is characterised by a successful blend of maritime history and modern architecture: on the one hand, historic buildings such as Speicher XI have been carefully renovated and given new uses, while on the other hand, innovative new buildings such as the building ensemble at the head of the Europahafen harbour shape the face of Europe's largest urban development project.
A historical view of Überseestadt
The history of Überseestadt began with the closure of the overseas port in 1991 and its subsequent filling in seven years later. In 2000, the Senate laid the foundation for the approximately 300-hectare site in the immediate vicinity of the city centre with its ‘Development Concept for the Restructuring of the Old Port Areas in Bremen’. The master plan in 2003 concretised the vision for Überseestadt and formed the basis for the future use and design of the site.
Rapid economic and population growth
Since WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH began marketing the Überseestadt district, it has developed at an impressive pace: initially home to 300 companies with around 6,000 employees, by 2021 it was already home to approximately 1,208 companies with around 19,714 employees. The mix of industries ranges from traditional port operations to creative start-ups and international logistics service providers. At the same time, the number of residents grew from 288 in 2011 to just under 3,918 in 2021 – and the trend is still rising. ‘Überseestadt has developed more dynamically than we had expected at the beginning,’ says Andreas Heyer, Chairman of the Management Board of WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH. This is also reflected in the marketed space: just under 120 hectares of 288 were initially available for new settlements. Of these, more than 93 hectares have now been marketed.
The Überseeinsel as a district of the future
One of the most outstanding current construction projects is the Überseeinsel on the former Kellogg site. ‘A modern, green district of the future is being created there on an area of 15 hectares – with a sustainable mix of residential, commercial, cultural and leisure uses, supported by environmentally friendly energy and transport solutions,’ says Andreas Heyer, who took over project coordination for Überseestadt on behalf of the Senate in 2009. ‘Commercial facilities such as a hotel, a brewery, an ice rink that can be used for roller sports in summer, and several restaurants have already opened.’
The Stephanitor in the east of Überseeinsel is currently under construction. It is intended not only to be a prestigious location for businesses, but also to provide living space for people in different stages of life. A daycare centre, a health centre with a swimming pool, a mobility storage facility and small-scale commercial enterprises will bring diversity to the neighbourhood. The residential greenhouse will be ready for occupancy in early 2027, and five residential buildings on the Weser riverbank will be ready for occupancy at the end of 2026. The Stephanitorhöfe, with its five-part building complex and three inner courtyards, will be completed in early 2028.
The Kellogg Courtyards project is scheduled to be implemented from 2028 onwards: two new buildings and three landscaped open spaces will then complement and connect the existing structures – the Flakes factory and the machine and boiler house. The Überseeinsel, the heart of Überseestadt, is such a forward-looking urban development project that it was awarded the Immobilienmanager Award in 2023 and the Polis Award for ‘Urban Land Recycling’ in 2024.
Planned ‘Piek 17 Future Quarter’
The ‘Piek 17 Future Quarter’ project will create a new neighbourhood centre on the last undeveloped site in Überseestadt. Citizens were able to contribute their ideas and wishes in a participatory process. ‘The start of the framework planning based on the competition results for Piek 17 is expected in 2025 and is likely to take around two years. This will be followed by the creation of building rights, for which a further two years are planned,’ says Sven Jäger from WFB on the current status.
The area around Schuppen 17 is intended to enable innovative forms of living and working, as well as opportunities for culture, creativity, leisure and sport. The direct waterfront location, combined with the historic industrial heritage, such as existing buildings formerly used for port operations, sheds and a cold storage facility, but also old railway tracks and the remains of a quay, make this location particularly attractive. Sustainably constructed new buildings and green open spaces in conjunction with a climate-neutral energy supply are to complete the existing buildings in line with the requirements of a future-oriented district.
Infrastructure for education, health and leisure
Überseestadt is also growing as an educational location: in addition to the Überseestadt primary school, the new Überseestadt secondary school is being built and vocational schools have started operating. The University of the Arts has also expanded its offerings in the district. Investments are also being made in the area of health: a modern health centre has opened in Schuppen 1, bringing together various specialties and medical service providers and thus significantly improving medical care. Various leisure and recreational facilities such as the Überseepromenade, the Waller Sand beach park with play and sports areas, and the Überseepark with its various exercise facilities create attractive public spaces. In addition, there are two newly planned green spaces, Hilde-Adolf-Park and Franz-Piper-Karree, which are expected to bring even more quality of life to Überseestadt after their redesign.
Events with appeal far beyond the district
Together with the Überseestadt Marketing Association, WFB has launched major events such as Maritime Family Day, Überseestadt Tour Day and HafenWiehnacht, which have appeal far beyond the district. The special markets at Bremen's wholesale market also ensure that people flock to Überseestadt from near and far. The district has also established promenade and adventure miles, which are used by various players from the fields of education, culture, events and gastronomy and offer something for all age groups.
Outlook: The transformation continues
With the successful transformation of the former harbour area as part of the urban revitalisation project, Bremen is setting an example of how historic areas can be turned into vibrant, sustainable urban districts. WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH will continue to actively promote the further development of Überseestadt on behalf of the Senate. To this end, it is working closely with the departments of economics, construction and transport, as well as the Waller Advisory Board. The common goal: a vibrant part of the city and a liveable district for everyone.
Press contact:
Juliane Scholz
Bremeninvest (WFB Wirtsschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH)
Tel.: +49 421 9600 128
juliane.scholz@wfb-bremen.de
Daniela Krause
textpr+
Tel.: +49 421 56517 28
krause@textpr.com
About the Überseestadt in Bremen
With an expanse of just under 300 hectares, the Überseestadt in Bremen is one of Europe’s largest urban development schemes. The former docklands are being transformed into a “world of possibilities” with a mixture of service providers, offices, businesses, port services and logistics, leisure and cultural activities, and living spaces. In 2020, the Überseestadt was recognised as an outstanding urban development project when it won the immobilienmanager Award for real estate in the category of urban development. As a company of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen Bremeninvest has been commissioned to improve infrastructure, put commercial and residential properties on the market, help companies to establish their business there and provide the various stakeholders in the Überseestadt with the support needed to fill this new district in Walle with life.
Überseestadt facts & figures
Concept
- Around 300 ha total area with a width of 1 km and a length of 3.5 km
- Directly adjacent to the city center
- Direct waterfront location, 2 km from Bremen's historic city center
- Different neighborhoods with individual faces
- A district of Walle
- Optimal transport connections
- Established and lively structures
- Flexible usage options
- Renovated historic warehouses meet modern and energy-efficient architecture
- Lively neighborhood of port business, commerce, modern services, housing, retail, gastronomy, leisure and culture
Area
- Marketable area: 119.2 ha
- Of which marketed; 93.2 ha (as of 12/2021)
Investments
- Approx. 485 million euros in public investments (initial investments) are planned, of which 325 million euros have been approved (as at 12/2024)
- Approx. 2 billion euros in private investments (land purchases, initial and maintenance investments) are expected, initial investments of around 1.22 billion euros have been approved or already realized (as at: 12/2024)
Number of companies at the start of development
- approx. 300 companies with around 6,000 employees
Current number of companies in 2021
- approx. 1,208 companies (business premises) with around 19,714 employees registered in Überseestadt (annual average 2021) (source: Bremen State Statistical Office)
Future development:
- According to a regional scientific study, a total of up to 21,845 jobs could be available by 2025
-
Inhabitants as of 2011
- 2011: 288 people
- 2012: 375 people
- 2013: 475 people
- 2014: 692 people
- 2015: 1,337 people
- 2016: 1,975 people
- 2017: 2,133 people
- 2018: 2,372 people
- 2019: 3,078 people
- 2020: 3,548 people
- 2021: 3,918 people
- 2022: 4,496 people
- 2023: 5,135 people
- 2024: 5,515 people
(Source: State Statistical Office)
Expected population by 2030
- Based on the update of the structural data for the Überseestadt transportation model from 2021, around 12,000 residents are forecast for Überseestadt in 2030.
(Source: Senator for Building, Mobility and Urban Development)
Housing stock
- 2,772 apartments (as at: 12/2023)
Press contact:
Juliane Scholz
Bremeninvest (WFB Wirtsschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH)
Tel.: +49 421 9600 128
juliane.scholz@wfb-bremen.de
Daniela Krause
textpr+
Tel.: +49 421 56517 28
krause@textpr.com
About the Überseestadt in Bremen
With an expanse of just under 300 hectares, the Überseestadt in Bremen is one of Europe’s largest urban development schemes. The former docklands are being transformed into a “world of possibilities” with a mixture of service providers, offices, businesses, port services and logistics, leisure and cultural activities, and living spaces. In 2020, the Überseestadt was recognised as an outstanding urban development project when it won the immobilienmanager Award for real estate in the category of urban development. Bremeninvest has been commissioned by the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen to develop and market the Überseestadt.
Success Stories
Sportgarten concept in the Überseestadt is a complete success
The Sportgarten (Sports garden) Überseestadt stands for exercise, sport and intercultural encounters. Hanns-Ulrich Barde, who co-founded the Sportgarten Bremen association, can still remember the beginnings on the wasteland at Winterhafen. In this interview, he talks about the development and the latest milestone: a lighting system.
Learn moreExperience pleasure on the Überseeinsel
After the Brüning Group in summer 2023, the first floor of the former rice hall on the Kellogg site is now coming to life. Högen Eck, Zio Manu di Napoli and Bremer Braumanufaktur are joining forces to create a new dining experience.
Learn moreEuropaquartier: transport links completed
Construction work at the Konsul-Smidt-Straße/Überseetor junction has been completed. This means that the Europaquartier (formerly Schuppen 3) has been connected to the Überseetor area in terms of transport since mid-May 2023. In this interview, Hanno Fritsch, Project Manager for Building Construction/Development at WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen GmbH, explains the key facts about this construction projecte.
Learn more
