Flensburg - Holm

With a population of about 90.000, Flensburg is, after Kiel and Lübeck, the third-largest town in Schleswig-Holstein.

Flensburg was founded at the latest by the middle of the 12th century at the end of the Flensburg Firth by Danish settlers, who were soon joined by German merchants. The place was considered a safe haven with protection from strong winds. Two important trade routes of the time crossed here and the large number of herrings in the firth was a factor for economic well-being. These herrings (pickled in salt) were sent across Europe in medieval times.

In 1284 Danish King Erik Glipping granted the new town charter, the content of which suggests a very lively trade. Duke Waldemar IV of Schleswig confirmed the town charter. Flensburg quickly became the most important city in the Duchy of Schleswig, a Danish fiefdom with the Danish king as feudal lord, which, in contrast to Holstein, which is adjacent to the south, did not belong to the Holy Roman Empire.

During Denmark's war against the Hanseatic League and Holstein, Danish mercenaries first conquered and looted the city in 1426, followed by Holstein and Hanseatic mercenaries in 1431.

About 50.000 people belong to the "Danish ethnic minority" in Southern Schleswig. Most of them live in and around Flensburg. In 1920 the Schleswig Plebiscite split German-ruled Schleswig into two parts, the Northern Schleswig, with a Danish majority and a German minority was united with Denmark, while Southern Schleswig remained a part of Germany and had a German majority and Danish and Frisian minority populations.

Danish schools and organizations have been run in Flensburg since 1920. Today the Danish minority is politically represented by the SSW ("South Schleswig Voter Federation") in the Diet of Schleswig-Holstein. The SSW is not subject to the general requirement of passing a 5% vote threshold in order to receive proportional seats in the state parliament.

It is no surprise to see the "Danebrog" (Flag of Denmark) in Flensburg.