Major Lumber Shipping Ports in Poland During the Hanseatic League Era (Late 14th and Early 15th Centuries)
During the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the Hanseatic League facilitated extensive trade in Baltic timber, particularly oak, which was exported in large quantities to Western Europe for shipbuilding, construction, and other uses. The primary sources were the vast forests of Poland (including regions under the Teutonic Order, known as Prussian territories). Timber was typically floated down rivers like the Vistula and loaded at Baltic ports.Primary Port: Danzig, Prussia
Danzig emerged as the dominant export hub for Polish timber during this period. Located at the mouth of the Vistula River, it served as the main gateway for goods from the Polish hinterland, including vast quantities of timber, grain, tar, wax, and amber. By the late 14th century, Danzig had become the largest and most prosperous Hanseatic city in the eastern Baltic, overtaking others in trade volume.Its strategic position allowed efficient rafting of logs downstream, making it the principal shipping point for lumber destined for the Netherlands, England, Flanders, and beyond.
Secondary Port: Elbing
Elbląg was another significant Hanseatic port involved in timber exports. Situated near the Vistula Lagoon, it handled grain, amber, metals, and forest products, including timber. While not as dominant as Danzig, Elbing played a key role in regional trade and benefited from privileges for exporting forestry goods. It thrived alongside Danzig but saw its relative importance decline as Danzig grew.Other Contributing Areas
- Inland cities like Thorn on the Vistula acted as transit hubs for timber (along with grain and honey), rafting goods downstream to coastal ports like Danzig.- Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, then in Prussian territory) later gained prominence for amber and some timber, but in the early 15th century, Danzig remained preeminent.
- No other Polish ports matched the scale of Danzig and Elbing for lumber exports in this era.
Trade Context
The Hanseatic network enabled this trade, with Prussian/Polish ports supplying high-quality oak that was denser and more durable than Western European alternatives. Demand drove imports despite the distance, as local forests in the Netherlands and elsewhere were depleted. By the early 15th century, Danzig's role solidified, contributing to its status as a leading Hanseatic powerhouse.Belw is a map of the Hanseatic League showing lumber ports on the Baltic in Prussia and waterways to the Netherlands. Note the inset at upper left is a street map for part of London.
Today, Gdansk (the renamed Danzig) is proud of its medieval crane on the waterfront. This crane was no doubt used to load lumber onto the ships bound for the Netherlands.
The Danzig Crane, known in German as the Krantor ("crane gate"), is one of the most iconic symbols of medieval Danzig. The first documented mention of a crane structure at this site dates to 1367, when a wooden tower and gate existed at the end of Szeroka Street on the Motława River. This early version was entirely wooden and served basic port functions. Note that is only 40 years before the cog ship was built.
The original wooden crane burned down in 1442. Between 1442 and 1444, a new, more advanced structure was built under the initiative of mayor Heinrich Vorrath. This version featured two massive brick towers flanking a wooden lifting mechanism, combining the roles of a port crane, city gate, and defensive fortification. It became the largest port crane in medieval Europe, with a lifting capacity of up to 4 tons to 36 feet or 2 tons to 90 feet It was powered by human-operated treadwheels (two pairs of 20 foot diameter wooden wheels walked inside by workers). [Human Hamsters!]
During Danzig's golden age as a key Hanseatic League city (full member from around 1361), the crane was essential for handling heavy cargo like timber, grain, and ship masts, as well as reloading goods in the bustling port. It also provided defense, with spaces for cannons and firearms.
The crane remained operational until the mid-19th century, though its importance waned with technological advances. By the 17th-19th centuries, parts were repurposed for residential and commercial use (e.g., workshops).
In 1945, during World War II, the crane was heavily damaged— the wooden parts burned completely, and about 60-80% of the brick structure was destroyed. Post-war reconstruction occurred from the late 1950s to 1960s, faithfully recreating the mechanism. In 1962, it was handed over to the Maritime Museum (now National Maritime Museum in Gdańsk). Major renovations occurred in the 2000s-2020s, with the latest completing in 2024. Now a branch of the National Maritime Museum, the crane houses exhibitions on 16th-18th century port life, navigation, trade, and shipbuilding, allowing visitors to see the impressive treadwheel mechanism up close.
Today, you can visit the crane that was used to load lumber bound for the Netherlands and shipbuilding. You would probably be seeing the crane that loaded the lumber used to fabricate the Svælget 2!