Heated debate: Where does Northern Germany really end? Hello or not?

Heated debate: Where does Northern Germany really end? Hello or not?

In the last few days, an explosive debate has taken hold on social media and is causing heated discussions: Where is the border of Northern Germany? On platforms like TikTok, users from all corners express themselves, share their personal opinions and drive the discussion forward. A TikTok user from Hanover caused a stir when he claimed that his city was no longer part of northern Germany. According to a controversial coastal definition, only areas within 50 kilometers of the sea count as northern Germany - which excludes Hanover.

Of course, opinions about where Northern Germany begins and ends remain far apart. Some suggestions, such as a landscape definition that could even label Brandenburg as northern German, are met with resistance. Interesting theories say: “Northern Germany ends where no one says hello anymore.” This linguistic perspective could jeopardize long-standing traditions as the Low German language is increasingly pushed into the background. A humorous comment says: “Everything under Hamburg is abroad,” which illustrates the amplitude of this debate.

Historical context and geographical differences

A look at history shows that the North German Confederation of 1867 originally included areas in what is now Poland, which many consider to be inconvenient for today's times. Even NDR's broadcasting areas cause irritation because Bremen is left out. One user finally defined Northern Germany as a combination of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. But the alleged dividing line of the “Aldi equator” is also classified as too far south and is causing debate. One thing is clear: the debate remains complex and reflects the cultural and identity-related aspects of the North.

The emergence of Aldi, one of the most popular discount stores in Germany, is particularly exciting in this context. Around 85 percent of Germans regularly shop in Aldi. The geographical separation between Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd has existed since 1961; it runs along the “Aldi equator”, which extends from the Lower Rhine via Mülheim to north of Fulda. This separation resulted from a dispute between brothers Theo and Karl Albrecht - while Theo wanted to sell tobacco products for higher profit margins, Karl spoke out against this practice.

Aldi as a trademark of the north

The conflict led to “healthy brotherly competition” that lasted until Theo’s death in 2010. Until 2019, there were even both Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd in two German cities - a sign of how closely the company is interwoven into the regional identity. Over the years, Aldi has established itself as the undisputed number one in the German discount sector and can look back on 111 years of retail tradition. With around 88,000 employees across Europe, Aldi offers a wide range of high-quality products with a commitment to a sustainable future. The company's history is marked by many successes, and today Aldi still stands for traditional values: simple, responsible and reliable.

The discussion about what Northern Germany is all about will continue to heat up people's minds - whether on social media or the next time you go shopping at Aldi. Regardless, one thing is clear: the cultural, geographical and historical facets of Northern Germany are as complex as the opinions of the people who live there.