Haselhorst

Haselhorst is a neighborhood in Berlin's Spandau district, defined geographically by its unique location where the Spree flows into the Havel. The area is enclosed by numerous waterways, including the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal, the Havel, and the old branches of the Spree, which give it a distinctive, water-shaped character. The name goes back to a mention in 1590, when it was recorded as the field name of the Plan outlying farm in the land register of the Spandau administrative district. In the early 19th century, the district magistrate Grützmacher bought the land, which had previously been destroyed by Napoleonic troops, and built a new manor house. The area remained rural for a long time, until it was incorporated into the town of Spandau in 1910 and became part of Greater Berlin in 1920.

Urban development accelerated considerably in the 1930s, when the Reichsforschungssiedlung Haselhorst (Reich Research Housing Estate) was built. The estate was designed by renowned modernist architects such as Walter Gropius and offered affordable housing for the families of workers in the nearby industrial plants. Today the Reichsforschungssiedlung ensemble is a protected historic monument and a major draw for visitors interested in architectural history. Other architectural highlights include the Weihnachtskirche (Christmas Church), built in the neoclassical style, and the Roman Catholic St. Stephanus Church. In the western part of the neighborhood you will also find the former site of the Salzhof, now a modern residential area known as Wasserstadt Oberhavel, which is accessed via new bridges over the Havel.

In Haselhorst, you'll experience a mix of industrial heritage and a quiet residential atmosphere. The Spandau Citadel, which is of national significance, lies right within the neighborhood and is an important historical landmark. Since 2011, the bank of the Havel has offered a continuous green corridor with paths for walkers and cyclists, connecting the Pulvermühle and Haveleck districts. Public transportation is provided by the U7 subway line, which stops at the Haselhorst and Zitadelle stations, as well as by several bus lines. Today the neighborhood is known mainly as a residential area, though industrial businesses such as BMW are still located in the south.