The union of the hanseatic cities in the International Federation of the Hanse has the name "THE HANSE",

A new beginning of the old merchant-Hanse was experienced by the federation in 1980. The federation of the Hanse of modern times with 186 cities and 17 nations was founded in the Dutch hanseatic city named Deventer.

The federation of the Hanse has the task "to reanimate the thoughts and the spirit of the European cities and communities on the basis of the border-crossing Hanseatic thought and the historical experiences. It is also supposed to support the self-esteem of the hanseatic cities, to develop the cooperation between the cities and communities. The 9oalls to make a contribution to the economic, cultural, social and national unification of Europe and to stren9then the confidence of the cities and communities that they are able to see their task as a kind of livin9 democracy. (Extract from the statute for " THE HANSE”)

The following activities serve for the composition of those goals:

	activities in the area of public relations, which emphasize the similarities of the hanseatic cities
	cultural and traditional exchange
	the transfer of social and common knowledge and information
	strengthen of the economic and trade contacts
	including of the youth in the development of the Hanse

We have to notice that in the northern region of the Altmark there are 8 hanseatic cities active members of the Federation of the Hanse and they act as a unit "the hanseatic cities of the Altmark”. Those cities are Stendal, Salzwedel, Tangermünde, Havelberg, Osterburg, Werben, Seehausen and of course Gardelegen.

The activities of the town Gardelegen in the Federation of the hanseatic cities can be seen on an example: the first participation during the hanseatic days in 1995 in the town Soest.

The federation developed with the reception of the Baltic hanseatic cities. The town Gardelegen is going to act active with its slogan "Future out of tradition".