Bremerhaven

About the place: Bremerhaven is a major port city in northern Germany, located at the mouth of the Weser River where it meets the North Sea. It forms an exclave of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen state and stands as one of the largest container and fishing ports in Europe.

Flag Description: The flag consists of a triband of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and red. In the center of the flag is the coat of arms of Bremerhaven featuring a silver shield. The shield displays a red three-masted ship (Hanseatic cog) sailing on blue water containing a silver fish. The sails of the ship are decorated with symbols of the historic constituent towns: a golden anchor on blue (Lehe), a red pattée cross (Geestemünde), and a silver key of Bremen on red. The aspect ratio of the flag is 3:5.

Symbolism: The red and white colors reflect the traditional Hanseatic colors. The coat of arms in the center encapsulates the history of Bremerhaven's creation in 1947 by merging former municipalities: the red cog and fish represent maritime navigation and fishing, while the symbols on the sails represent the founding towns—the anchor for Lehe, the cross for Geestemünde, and the key for the connection to the city of Bremen.