Welcome to Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig-Holstein is Germany's northernmost federal state located next to Denmark and Hamburg. The Land between the North and the Baltic Sea offers you cultural diversity, friendly atmosphere and natural landscape. Between the seas runs the Kiel Canal, the busiest man-made waterway in the world. Schleswig-Holstein has been an independent federal state of the Federal Republic of Germany since 1949. It has an own constitution since 1990. More than 2.8 million people live in Schleswig-Holstein. Kiel, the capital of the Land, is also its largest city with around 234,000 inhabitants.

With around 2,700 windmills, it is among the world's leading wind power locations. Over 5,000 people work in companies in this industry and the amount per capita of electricity derived from wind power is the highest in the country. Wind power currently already covers one-third of the total demand for electricity in Schleswig-Holstein.

The Land is an efficient location for institutions of higher education and other scientific establishments. Nine state and three private institutions of higher education offer a broad spectrum of study programmes leading up to the internationally accepted Bachelor's and Master's degree. Currently, more than 47,000 students are enrolled.

Besides its beautiful coast and countryside offers the Land a rich cultural programme ranging from museums, theatres, cinemas and exhibitions to concerts and large events, e.g. the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, JazzBaltica or Kieler Woche, which is the largest sailing event in the world. There are excellent opportunities for water sports and recreation on marvellous sandy beaches, in cosy bars, restaurants or beer gardens. Or just watch a handball game of THW Kiel or SG Flensburg-Handewitt. The teams have won more than two dozen national and international titles.