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Toruń in Hanse
New Hanse Association Originally, in the German language, the word "Hanse" meant a group, a community, an assembly. Since XIII century, the word has been used to describe a group of travelling merchants. The official formation of the proper Hanse took place during a meting in Lubeck in 1356. In the history of Hanse, although sometimes only for a short period, the number of member cities totalled 200. However, the core of the organisation, particularly in the golden age from XIV – XV century, was formed by some 70 cities. Toruń is one of the cities which were regarded as the “original” Hanse members, participating as early as in XIII century in forming the association. Toruń was incorporated into political and organisational actions of Hanse in 1280. In that year the council of Lubeck asked authorities of Toruń if they would agree to relocate the counting-house of Hanse merchants from Bruges to Aardenburg. The role of Toruń in the historical Hanse was that of a trade intermediary. Cloth, salt, vine and spices were imported from the west, mainly from Flanders. Whereas grain, furs, forest products and Slovak copper were shipped to the west. Due to notable importance of cloth trade in Toruń, local merchants were very active in Hanseatic counting-house in Bruges. In 1347 Toruń citizens participated in creating statutes of the house (Jan Rode) and were often members of its authorities. Importance of Toruń in Hanse rose in XIII century when merchants from Toruń established trade contacts with Slovakia whose copper they exported to the west. Toruń was very active in Hanse structures. Out of 48 meetings organised from 1356-1403 as many as 40 were attended by delegates from Toruń. Citizens of Toruń participated actively in diplomatic negotiations and talks attended by Hanse. We know of 35 diplomatic missions of Hanse in the years 1356-1403 and 21 of them included legates from Toruń. The former historical Hanse ceased to exist in 1669 but its ideas revived over 300 years later in 1980 when the first meeting of new Hanse took place in Zwolle, Holland. The importance of the association in contemporary Europe is confirmed by the fact that the first meeting was attended by 50 cities, whereas the number of cities during the meeting in Gdańsk in 1997 totalled 100 and is still growing. Toruń, as a city of Hanseatic tradition could not stay outside the New Hanse Cities Association. Our city inaugurated its membership during the 17th International New Hanse Meeting in Gdańsk in 1997, where, on request of the host, it presented its table with gingerbread and vines from Toruń. Our table, designed by artists from Toruń, was warmly welcomed during the meeting and encouraged many of those who attended the meeting in Oliwia Hall to come and visit our city. The following year we participated in 18th New Hanse Meeting in Swedish Visby in Gotland, which, like Toruń, belongs to elite club of cities figuring in UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. In Visby, during a “Hanse fair”, Toruń presented itself as a city attractive for tourists, and its exposition was “under siege” from persons from many parts of the world. In the 19th International New Hanse Meeting in Visby in 1998, President of Toruń, Zdzisław Bociek and chairman of the City Council of Toruń, Bogdan Major, in accordance with the decision of the City Council of Toruń that adopted a bill no. 715/98, filed official motion for membership in New Hanse Cities Association. General Meeting of Delegates, which, like in historical Hanse, is authorised to admit new members to New Hanse Cities Association, accepted the motion and greeted Toruń among its members. The revival of Hanse Cities Association is not only symbolic. Association objectives:
New Hanse Association acts strongly to strengthen democratic structures in Polish society utilising experience of west European partner-cities. Meetings of representatives of many Polish and New Hanse cities help to intensify actions promoting good Polish-German relations and establishing closer contacts between inhabitants of eastern and western Europe. It allows for better understanding and acceptance of certain dissimilarity of many nations, learning tolerance and mutual respect. Common actions and meetings create a broader perspective beyond interests of individual cities. Co-operation between cities within New Hanse Association also facilitates acceptance of cultural, political and social differences. Polish cities in New Hanse Association
Calendar of New Hanse Meetings
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