In the centre of Swakopmund we come across the Bismarckstrasse to the Woermannhaus. Built in 1905, it was the registered office of the Damara & Namaqua Handesgesellschaft (trading company). Four years later the Woermann Company, Brock & Co., emerged from it.
After being used as youth hostel from 1924 until 1972, the house was threatened to be pulled down. Fortunately, the citizens stood up for the Woermannhaus. That’s why the building was renovated and the public library of Swakopmund was placed there.

After surprisingly many stairs we have a good view onto the sea sight resort. Whereas the lighthouse and the old pier fit well in the scenery, the old Hohenzollern building seems to be somehow out of place in the dunes of the Namib. This contrast is of course one of the reasons why lots of tourists come to Swakopmund. Or can you find another place in Africa that has kept the German colonial heritage until today? Furthermore most inhabitants of the town are able to understand German.

But it looks as if the German customs are more important for the inhabitants than the old buildings and language. Swakopmund is one of the cleanest towns that we have visited on our journey (the dust which was brought from the east wind on the day of our arrival is one day later vanished). The Namibians estimate the German cuisine as well. And, of course, the beer which is brewed after the German purity law and that attracts numerous guests into the Swakopmundian Brew house each night. What’s not that nice indeed is that it can become very loud in the evening. Somebody who’s searching calmness won’t find it there.

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