Hanseatic city of Hamburg? Yes. Hanseatic city of Bremen? Of course! But the Hanseatic city of Osnabrück? Of course! It was not only in the late Middle Ages that the city on the River Hase joined the important trading alliance of cities on the North and Baltic Seas. Osnabrück has also been a member of the League of Cities in modern times and thus also in the present day, focussing on cultural and social aspects in addition to economic exchange.

Whether Bergen in Norway, Riga in Latvia, Aberdeen in Scotland or La Rochelle in France, all of these cities currently belong to the "International Hanseatic League of Modern Times". And Osnabrück is right in the middle of it all. A total of 192 Hanseatic cities in 16 countries are members of the association of cities, which was founded in 1980 in the Dutch city of Zwolle with Osnabrück's participation. There are numerous activities that promote exchange between the cities. Once a year, the Hansa Convention is held in a member city. In 2006, Osnabrück hosted the 26th International Hanseatic Day, which was celebrated to mark the 650th anniversary of the League of Cities. In addition, delegates from Hanseatic cities regularly visit each other to exchange views on urban development, discuss future problems and intensify cultural co-operation between the municipalities. Last but not least, the youthHansa, the "Hanseatic League of tomorrow", ensures friendships across national borders.

When the Hanseatic League was founded in the Middle Ages, the alliance quickly developed into an economic power with assertiveness. Osnabrück's merchants also appreciated the connections to Hamburg, Bremen and Lübeck, to cities in Friesland, Holland or on the Baltic Sea, which led to economic success when Osnabrück joined the League of Cities in 1412.