The city of Gdańsk (or Danzig in German) has a long tradition as an important haven in the region of the western Baltic Sea. Its history is very much intertwined with the history and tradition of the Hanseatic league, a trade confederation of sailors, which dominated the waters of Northern Europe for centuries. The city was largely destroyed during the II Word War and restored after the war by Polish specialists. Today Gdańsk is visited by many millions every year from Poland and abroad. It offers beautiful architecture and a rich cultural life.