29th International Hanseatic Days of New Time were held in Veliky Novgorod on June 18-21, 2009.

75 young delegates from 32 Russian and European cities took part in the youth Hansa program, as well as 35 volunteers of Veliky Novgorod local youth Hansa group.Youth Hansa delegates came to Veliky Novgorod from the cities of Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Finland, Russia, and Sweden.

Specially prepared for the youth Hansa delegates program included official meetings, seminars, sightseeing, sport competitions, exhibitions, etc. Youth Hansa delegates also participated in the most important events of the Hanseatic Days program, such as opening and closing ceremonies, festive procession, and Hansa party.

During the youth Hansa delegates’ meeting many opportunities of the youth Hansa international cooperation in different spheres were discussed. 28th Hanseatic Days 2008 in Salzwedel were reviewed, as well as the past project “Youth Hansa Historical Expedition to Veliky Novgorod - 2008”.

Besides, the delegates worked out the ways of youth Hansa informational supply improvement. It was suggested to create an article about the youth Hansa for the “Wikipedia”, and translate it into the “Hansa languages”.

Realization of the “Voices of the youth” project will be also continued on the Internet. This project was suggested a few years ago by the hanseatic city of Luebeck, Germany; its idea is to gather songs of youth music bands from different hanseatic cities.

Participation of young people in preservation of cultural and historical heritage of the hanseatic cities was the main topic within the youth Hansa historical colloquium. The place for its organization - Troitsky excavation, situated near the Kremlin, - was chosen not by accident. On the territory of the Troitsky excavation sensational archaeological discoveries were made, which let us present Veliky Novgorod as the fatherland of Russia and the city-museum with unique ancient history. During the youth Hansa historical colloquium academician Valentine Yanin shared his rich knowledge and experience with the participants. Youth Hansa delegates made presentations of the most famous historical monuments of their cities and offered many ideas of their preservation with indispensable participation of the youth.

Informal part of the youth Hansa program also included a lot of nice surprises and interesting events. Novgorod citizens suggested their young guests to take part in the Festival of sand sculptures and “Art-city”, which was creating of the dream city out of plastic bottles, boxes, etc.

Also youth Hansa delegates created the Hansa map with matryoshkas on it, symbolizing the cities. Guests invented the designs of their matryoshkas, characterizing the cities, and painted them by themselves.

Moreover youth Hansa delegates participated in friendly matches on floor-ball, beach volley-ball, carting, and team competition “Survival Rally”.

29th International Hanseatic Days of New Time were finished with handing over the Hansa flag from Veliky Novgorod to Parnu (Estonia) which is going to become the capital of the Hanseatic Days in 2010. Youth Hansa commission participated in this symbolic ceremony. Honor to lead the Hansa procession and to hand over the flag was for the first time given to the youth Hansa.

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