On the section of the Elbe between Hamburg and the North Sea, in the town of Wedel, lies the Willkomm-Höft, the welcome point for ships arriving or leaving the port of Hamburg.

Ships passing through this point are greeted by the playing of the national anthem of the country in which the ship is registered, or dismissed by raising the “bon voyage” signal flag. The greetings database contains 152 hymns and greetings in various languages.