With the Weser tunnel to the north, which was opened to road traffic in January 2004, Brake was given even better connections to the region's Autobahn network.

The term "Brake" first cropped up in the 14th century when an unsealed break in a dike led to flooding in the Harrier area.

In 1936 – the National Socialists had taken power in Germany by this time – the Admiral Brommy Barracks were built for the German Navy.

The barracks were not destroyed in World War II, so the buildings could be used as home for refugees from the former Eastern provinces of Germany.

In 1974, building began on the District Professional School Centre (Kreisberufsschulzentrum), and the communities of Golzwarden and Schmalenfleth were amalgamated into Brake.

At the Admiral Brommy Barracks built in 1936, seamen and junior officers were readied for duty on board ship.

Brake's location on a deepwater waterway such as the Weser was the deciding factor in the town's development and its harbour's competitiveness.

The harbour was shaped by its function as a trade centre for traditional bulk cargoes such as cereals, feed and manure, sulphur, as well as general goods such as wood, paper, iron and steel.

Furthermore, trade was further bolstered by project loading, packaged goods and heavy cargo as well as containerized freight, giving the port a further focus of activity.

The north strait was closed to public traffic, and together with the old Navy school lands, added to the harbour area, which may now be entered only by authorized persons.

These include a broad array of healthcare services, many public institutions and manifold cultural offerings.

These opportunities are fulfilled by the nearby universities and technical colleges in Bremerhaven, Bremen, Oldenburg and Wilhelmshaven.