The old Hanseatic port city of Hamburg lies in northern Germany near the border of Denmark. A free city-state for much of its existence, it was once one of the biggest ports in the world, but struggled during the Cold War because of its proximity to East Germany. In the center of town is the old warehouse district, which is a free zone and exempt from customs and duties. This area is now being redeveloped into more modern complexes that intermingle with the refurbished brick warehouses lining the canals. A short distance away is the center of downtown Hamburg. Here there is a public square in front of the massive city hall with stairs leading to water. It is said that Hamburg has more bridges than Amsterdam or Venice, as evident by the numerous canals throughout the city. On the main banks of the Elbe river is the city’s passenger docks, where cruise liners and tourist boats pick up and drop off people. The other side of the river is filled with shipping cranes and industrial complexes. While not naturally beautiful, the citizens of Hamburg like this view as it represents the prosperity of their city.