Dr Jan Zimmermann and the Historical Photographs in the New 7Türme+ Calendar

The new 7Türme+ Calendar 2027 will be published on 4 October 2026 as a special World Heritage edition marking the 40th anniversary of Lübeck’s UNESCO World Heritage status. Contemporary photographs by Olli Zimtstern are paired with historical images of the Hanseatic city. The historical photographs have been selected, contextualised and explained by Dr Jan Zimmermann, who has been working with historical photographs of Lübeck for more than 30 years.

Making Historical Photographs Accessible – and Bringing Their Stories to Light

Jan Zimmermann does far more than simply collect old photographs. He catalogues and researches photographic collections, makes images searchable and ensures that digitisation keeps them accessible both today and in the future.

His work extends well beyond the individual photograph. Zimmermann conducts research, investigates unanswered questions and looks closely at the people behind the camera. He explores the biographies of photographers, curates books and exhibitions, and tells the stories connected with their images.

Seeing More Than What Is in the Picture

Some historical photographs speak for themselves. Others only reveal their full significance once we know when and under what circumstances they were taken, who took them, or what changes in the city can be traced through them.

This is precisely where Jan Zimmermann’s work comes in. His expert texts provide additional context and turn historical photographs into sources that can tell us far more than is visible at first glance. In this way, photographs become records of a city in transition – while also offering small windows into everyday life in decades gone by.

Analogue Photography as Cultural Heritage

Since 2025, analogue photography has been recognised as part of intangible cultural heritage. Jan Zimmermann has been working with this photographic heritage for many years, making it accessible through collections in Lübeck.

From 2020 to 2023, he worked with the extensive photographic archive of the Lübecker Nachrichten. Since 2023, he has been a member of staff at the Lübeck Museums. There, he continues his work with historical photography and helps ensure that valuable collections are not only preserved, but also researched, catalogued and made accessible to the public.

From Hamburg to Lübeck – and from Lübeck Across Germany

Jan Zimmermann studied and completed his doctorate in Hamburg. His professional career has also included working as an editor at the Hoffmann und Campe publishing house.

He later founded his own picture agency, Vintage Germany. For the past 15 years, the agency has supplied historical photographs to publishers and editorial teams throughout Germany.

Lübeck remains a particular focus of his work. Historical photographs reveal not only what the city once looked like. They also show what has disappeared, what has changed – and what has endured across decades and generations.