Stade is a riverfront town located in the northwestern state of Lower Saxony. It lies along the Schwinge River near its intersection with the Elbe River. This historic town is a frontrunner in the commercialised chemical, aerospace, and oil industries and boasts a number of architectural monuments, a living juxtaposition of the modern world against an ancient backdrop.

Visitors to Stade are attracted to its rich history and enjoy time hopping through the Museum Schwedenspeicher or walking along the Hansehafen. The waterfront town boasts shops, bars, and restaurants blending the old and new ambience together, offering a unique tourist experience. Other notable places include St. Cosmae et Damiani Lutheran Church, St. Wilhadi, and Old Town Hall.

Stade is situated an hour’s drive from downtown Hamburg and is easily accessible by car or taxi. Public transportation is limited to the S-Bahn rail line S3 of the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund, connecting Hamburg to Stade. The Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport is the closest international airport, located 32 kilometres away.

The city of Stade is historically a Swedish fortress and is still surrounded by its representative moat, along with various old military buildings. Sweden ruled over Stade throughout much of the 1600s and during that time period served as the capital of the province.