Bremen

The Klimahaus in Bremerhaven — the futuristic science and experience centre shown in a striking, dramatic low-angle perspective. The ship-like architecture, two gulls and a suggestion of the harbour underscore Bremen's identity as a maritime centre of knowledge. The occasion 'BREMEN' appears to the right; the country code 'D' along the upper edge; the year '2026' along the lower edge; and the mint mark ('A', 'D', 'F', 'G' or 'J') to the left. The designer's initials appear at the lower left.

Bremen is Germany's smallest federal state — and, at the same time, a location of unusual scientific standing. The Klimahaus, opened in Bremerhaven in 2009, combines marine research, climate science, and science communication across an exhibition area of about 15,000 square meters. Bremerhaven belongs to the state of Bremen and, as a port city, is historically closely linked to seafaring, whaling, and German emigration history — more than seven million people set off from here toward America between 1830 and 1974. The Klimahaus builds on this maritime identity by focusing on the world's oceans as a climate system and making tangible the effects of temperature change across different latitudes.

The building's architecture — striking for its curved, ship-like form situated directly on the Weser river — is itself part of the message: water, movement, and change define its appearance. The state of Bremen, though the smallest of Germany's federal states by area, has set an accent with this institution that reaches far beyond the region. As part of the German federal states series, which has honored all sixteen states in turn since 2006, the 2026 issue is dedicated to Bremen — taking up a theme that represents both the maritime character of the Hanseatic city and its ambition as a center of science.