Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost German state, and the second-smallest in terms of area. Its capital is Kiel. The state was formed in 1946, from the Prussian province of the same name.

For 400 years, the history of the region was tied to Denmark's royal house. Today, out of some 2.8 million residents, there are still 50,000 Danes who live in the north of Schleswig-Holstein. Most households earn their income in the service sector.

Tourism is key to economy

Tourism plays a big role in the region's economy, especially on the coast and its islands. But in recent decades, the state has begun turning itself from an agricultural and shipbuilding center to a place where high-tech industries flourish. Medicine, energy, environmental technology, maritime trade, IT, and food industries are all important sectors.

Schleswig-Holstein also has a cultural side - in Luebeck, people can visit the Buddenbrook House, where works from Nobel Prize winning novelist Thomas Mann and his brother Heinrich Mann are on display. And music and film festivals draw crowds, especially in summer.