8

It‘s closing time!

In order to protect the Hamburg against attacks the city gates were closed at nightfall and only opened again at daybreak. Residents who did not make it home in time were forced to spend the night outside the city walls and were frequently robbed. It is easy to imagine that sunset caused haste and sometimes even panic among those who had to return in time. Only in the 19th century, when industrialisation accelerated the city‘s expansion, large parts of the city walls were slighted; since then revellers can saunter home without the fear of being excluded.