Moving to Bremerhaven: Costs Process & Districts

Bremerhaven is divided into two boroughs with nine districts. North of the Geeste lie Mitte with the city centre, the Old and New Harbours and the Havenwelten, Lehe with many period buildings, Leherheide and, in the far north, Weddewarden by the container terminals. South of the Geeste come Geestemünde, Schiffdorferdamm, Surheide and Wulsdorf, as well as the Fischereihafen district.

For the move, the reputation of a district matters less than the address itself: a period building without a lift in Lehe or Mitte, an apartment block in Leherheide or a detached house in Surheide each place different demands on access and carrying distances. The nearest A27 junctions are Zentrum, Geestemünde and Wulsdorf.

Many people move to Bremerhaven for work or study: Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences has existed since 1975, the Alfred Wegener Institute carries out research at the fishing port, and the ports, from the overseas terminals to the fishing port, shape the city. Around 118,000 people live here. We do not give a specific rent level – it depends heavily on the district and the condition of the flat.

For the move this means: if you are arriving for the start of term or a new job, fix the date early so that the parking restriction and registration fit into the first two weeks. Green spaces such as Speckenbüttel Park in Lehe or the Weser on your doorstep are then the reward for the long moving day.

Contact us for a free survey.

The price of your move depends on the volume, the distance (from €3.90/km), the floor and whether there is a lift. A parking restriction zone can also add costs. If required, we add furniture assembly or a shared load.

We plan long-distance moves from Berlin (Stromstraße 21). Routes can be found under Long-distance moves, and places with their own pages in the locations overview. We plan the return route from the Weser to Berlin in the same way.

If you are moving in Bremerhaven, you can apply to the road traffic authority (Straßenverkehrsbehörde) for a temporary parking restriction zone. The city requires a legitimate interest that justifies the need. Depending on the location, a zone on one or both sides of the street can be approved.

The key points from the city's service information:

• The application states the location, period and required length in metres, plus a power of attorney if someone applies on your behalf.
• The application is submitted online; an informal application by fax, email or post is also possible.
• It must be received at least 14 days before the planned set-up. Processing usually takes about 14 days.
• The fee starts at €20 and depends on the duration and scope of the permit.
• The traffic signs are not provided by the authority. They must be in place at least 4 full working days (96 hours) before use.

Important: according to the city, other vehicles in the zone once set up can be removed, and in the event of damage the applicant may be liable. Contacts can be reached by phone on +49 471 590-3738 (streets north of the Geeste) and +49 471 590-3736 (streets south of the Geeste). We take care of the application and signage so that the removal van has space in Mitte, Geestemünde or Lehe at loading time. More on this under Parking restriction zone; the long-distance route from Berlin is explained under Long-distance move.

Anyone moving into a new main residence in Bremerhaven must, according to the city, register within two weeks of moving in. If you are coming from another German city, this can be done online, in person or in writing; if you are moving from abroad, you must register in person at the citizens' office. The city states that online registration takes about 5 minutes, and in person usually 12 minutes. Vehicle documents must also be updated. You can book appointments at the citizens' offices, for example in Mitte and Nord, on bremerhaven.de.

Bulky waste before moving out:

• Collection is free once a year up to 5 m³ per household.
• Online you choose a free date straight away; with the request card you receive a date within 3 to 5 weeks.
• According to the city, building waste, doors, windows and garden waste are not included.

For parts of the city centre and Geestemünde, the road traffic authority issues residents' parking permits for a fee, for example for Elbinger Platz, Bismarckstraße and Schillerstraße or the northern and southern city centre. You must live in the relevant area and have a vehicle registered in Bremerhaven. Visitor parking permits are valid for one month at most.

To make things easier before the move, planning with a furniture lift is also worthwhile if access is tight.