Himmelpforten is a municipality in the district of Stade in Lower Saxony, west of Hamburg. The town belongs to the joint municipality of Oldendorf-Himmelpforten and has around 5,700 inhabitants. Himmelpforten is primarily known as the "Christmas village" because many wish letters to Father Christmas are answered there every year and the Christmas market has been held there for over 20 years and is known far beyond the borders of Lower Saxony. Himmelpforten covers an area of 18.29 m² and has good infrastructural connections thanks to the B73 motorway and the connection to the Hamburg-Cuxhaven railway line. In addition, a newly developed industrial estate is currently under construction, offering available areas for companies to settle. Historically, the town developed around the "Porta Coeli" ("Heaven's Gate") monastery in the 13th century, which gave rise to the town its current name.