The Nordstadt (North City) is the university quarter in the German city of Hanover. Part of the borough Hanover-Nord, it has 17,684 inhabitants (2020).[1]
It was originally characterized by small factories and a big railway freightyard closed in 1996. During World War II large parts of the district were destroyed. Today, due to the university and cultural clubs, this district is a preferred residential area for students and people of immigrant background. An almost village-like atmosphere exists around the Luther Church (see photo) where a lot of pubs and small shops resides. Many alternative project groups have settled here and also numerous communes live in these houses.[citation needed]
The area of the former "Sprengel Chocolate Factory" was squatted and later legalized.[2] It formed the base for the annual German punk festival called the Chaos Days, every first weekend in August.[3]