This year’s theme is “International Enterprise in the Hanseatic Region in the year 2009”. In addition

to leading companies from Groningen that have been marketing their products for several generations,

international companies from the Hanseatic region will also participate, including companies from other

Hanseatic and old trading cities in Belgium, Germany, Italy, France and Scandinavia.

In the time of the Hanseatic League, from the twelfth to the sixteenth century, entrepreneurship, quality

products, professionalism and international enterprise were top priorities. Groningen too was one of the European

cities belonging to this powerful trading alliance. In those days, merchants and mercantile

families in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe were dealing with the production and trade of quality

products. Only those companies from Groningen and the entire Hanseatic region that have been producing

quality products or services for generations are invited to attend the second Hanseatic Day, organised by Het Hanze

Huis and Bijzondere Locaties Groningen. This select group of some fifty companies will be brought together

on the Hanseatic Day within the scope of a trade market located in the Der Aa church choir.

Historic Homeground of the Hanseatic Day

The Hanseatic day was the most important body of the Hanseatic League, consisting of the representatives

of the member cities and merchants. The Day held on the Hanseatic Day discussed all matters of importance.

The decisions and laws were adopted by majority of votes and  appeal could be lodged against them. Hanseatic

days were held irregularly and many members chose not to send representatives due  to the high cost involved

or a temporary conflict of interest. Those refusing to comply with a decision taken at the Day could lose their

League membership. Bremen, for instance, lost it as many as three times. To reduce the number of assemblies,

a large number of less important decisions was left to Lübeck, giving the city an important leading part to play

between days. Usually it was the Lübeck city council that called for a Day, often months in advance,

so nearby cities had sufficient time to discuss the agenda, determine their positions and to consult on who to

send to the Day. The first general meeting of Hanseatic cities (Hanseatic Day)  was held in Lübeck in 1356.

Some days also took place in Groningen around 1450, for instance in the Dominican monastery behind the

Oude Ebbingestraat. In 2007 Het Hanze Huis and the Der Aa church / Bijzondere Locaties Groningen

injected new life into the Hanseatic day tradition.

The Der Aa Church / Bijzondere Locaties Groningen

The name of the church refers to the Aa, a river which in the time of the League served an important

function for shipmasters and merchants in the western part of the city. The Der Aa church, first mentioned

in writing in 1246, has seen some turbulent times. The church was originally consecrated to the Virgin Mary

and Saint Nicholas, the patron of merchants and sailors alike. Many important merchants and wealthy artisans

were once buried in the Der Aa church.

Het Hanze Huis: Store and Commercial Enterprise

For seven years now, Het Hanze Huis, a commercial enterprise with shop located in Groningen, has been

selecting old food producing companies  Hanseatic and trading cities throughout Europe and selling their products

on the Dutch and Belgian markets to specialised stores and through its  own shop adjacent to the Der Aa church,

located at A-kerkhof NZ no. 2.

Yours faithfully,

HET HANZE HUIS

Storehouse phone number: +31-(0)50-5893290

www.hethanzehuis.nl

BIJZONDERE LOCATIES GRONINGEN

Der Aa church phone number: +31-(0)50-3181433